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"Master Blaster (Jammin')" is a 1980 song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, released as the lead single from his nineteenth studio album, Hotter than July (1980). It was a major hit, spending seven weeks at number one on the US Billboard R&B singles chart, reaching number five on Billboard's pop singles chart in the fall of 1980 and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and number one in New Zealand.
History
The song, built on a heavy reggae feel, is an ode to reggae legend Bob Marley; Wonder had been performing live with Marley (billing him as an opening act) on his US tour in the fall of that year. Lyrics mention "children of Jah", "Marley's Hot on the box" and the end of the civil war in Zimbabwe. The song has a similar feel to Marley's own song "Jamming," from his 1977 album Exodus.
Record World said that it combines "topical urban street themes with reggae-pop rhythms."
Personnel
- Stevie Wonder – vocals, Fender Rhodes, clavinet
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Nathan Watts – bass
- Benjamin Bridges – guitar
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Dennis Davis – drums
- Earl DeRouen – percussion
- Isaiah Sanders – organ
- Hank Redd – saxophone
- Larry Gittens – trumpet
- Rick Zunigar – guitar
- Background vocals – Angela Winbush, Alexandra Brown Evans, Shirley Brewer, Marva Holcolm
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
| Chart (1980)
|
Position
|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)
|
27
|
| Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)
|
9
|
| Italy (FIMI)
|
10
|
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)
|
11
|
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)
|
18
|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)
|
19
|
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)
|
13
|
| UK Singles (OCC)
|
25
|
| US Cash Box Top 100
|
38
|
| Chart (1981)
|
Position
|
| US Billboard Hot 100
|
69
|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)
|
2
|
|
Certifications
DJ Luck & MC Neat version
"Master Blaster (Jammin')" was covered by UK garage duo DJ Luck & MC Neat featuring singer JJ, initially titled as "On da Street" which was released on the Red Rose EP in 1999. The following year, on 15 May 2000, the song was released as a single and retitled as "Masterblaster 2000". This version was a top-five hit, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. It samples the All-Star Remix of "No Diggity" by Blackstreet, which itself samples "As Long as I've Got You" by the Charmels.
In November 2016, UK duo Gorgon City compiled a list of their top UK garage songs for Billboard, with "Masterblaster 2000" at number 29. In 2018, the House & Garage Orchestra together with MC Neat and Oggie recorded an orchestral version for the UK garage covers album Garage Classics.
Charts
Certifications
