"Stars on Stevie" a.k.a. "Stars Medley" a.k.a. "Stars on 45 III: A Tribute to Stevie Wonder" is a song issued in 1982 by the Dutch studio group Stars on 45, in the UK credited to 'Starsound', in the US 'Stars On'. It was the first single from the band's third full-length release The Superstars (UK title: Stars Medley, US title: Stars on Longplay III) and was Stars on 45's fourth single release in both Europe and North America.
| "Stars on Stevie" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Original Dutch single sleeve | ||||
| Single by Stars on 45 | ||||
| from the album The Superstars | ||||
| B-side | "It's Not a Wonder, It's a Miracle" | |||
| Released | February 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 5:19/7:42 | |||
| Label | CNR Records (NL) CBS Records (UK) Radio Records (US) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | See track listing for each song. | |||
| Producer(s) | Jaap Eggermont | |||
| Stars on 45 singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The "Stars on Stevie" medley featured a selection of songs made famous by Stevie Wonder, ranging from his first US hit "Fingertips" released in 1963 via classics like "Isn't She Lovely", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Sir Duke" and "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" to his then most recent American charttopper "Master Blaster (Jammin)". The soundalike vocals were provided by established Dutch singer Tony Sherman (born Renold Shearman in Curaçao), who had started his career in music as early as in 1970 with Dutch-Caribbean funk band Reality and releasing a series of albums with them before going solo in the late 70s.
"Stars on Stevie" became the highest charting Stars on 45 single in the US since their first charttopping Beatles medley, peaking at #28 on Billboard's Hot 100. In the UK it became the group's fourth consecutive Top 20 hit, peaking at #14 in February 1982, slightly higher in Ireland at #10 and it was indeed a #20 hit in most parts of Europe. In the Netherlands "Stars on Stevie" reached #6, making it their fourth Top 10 hit within the space of twelve months.
The "Stars on Stevie" medley was re-issued in 1991 under the title "Stars on Stevie Megamix" on the German Arcade label to promote The Very Best of Stars on 45 and has since appeared on a number of other greatest hits compilations with the group; the only difference between these two versions however is the sound of a live audience that has been overdubbed throughout the "Megamix", in all other respects they are in fact identical.
Track listing 7" single
editSide A
edit"Stars on Stevie" (7" Mix) - 5:19
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder unless otherwise noted
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (Moy, Cosby, Wonder)
- "My Chérie Amour"
- "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" (Miller, Wells)
- "Master Blaster (Jammin)"
- "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
- "Isn't She Lovely"
- "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sir Duke"
- "I Wish"
- "I Was Made to Love Her" (Wonder, Hardaway, Moy, Cosby)
- "For Once in My Life" (Miller, Murden)
- "Superstition"
- "Fingertips" (Paul, Cosby)
Side B
edit"It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle" (7" Mix) (Eggermont, Duiser) - 3:09
Track listing 12" single
editSide A
edit"Stars on Stevie" (12" Mix = album version) - 7:42
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder unless otherwise noted
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" (Moy, Cosby, Wonder)
- "My Chérie Amour"
- "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" (Miller, Wells)
- "Master Blaster (Jammin)"
- "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
- "Isn't She Lovely"
- "Stars On" Jingle (Eggermont, Duiser)
- "Sir Duke"
- "I Wish"
- "I Was Made to Love Her" (Wonder, Hardaway, Moy, Cosby)
- "For Once in My Life" (Miller, Murden)
- "Superstition"
- "Sir Duke"
- "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
- "A Place in the Sun" (Miller, Wells)
- "Fingertips" (Paul, Cosby)
Side B
edit"It's Not A Wonder, It's A Miracle" (12" Mix) (Eggermont, Duiser) - 7:11
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Sources and external links
edit- Mawer, Sharon. Biography of Stars on 45/Starsound at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04025.
- Stars on 45 discography at Discogs
- Rateyourmusic.com biography and discography
- The Dutch Stars on 45 fansite
- Dutch Top 40
- UK Top 40
- Irish Charts.ie
References
edit- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid 1983 and 19 June 1988.
- ^ "Stars On 45 – Stars On Stevie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6484." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6525." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
- ^ "Danish Chart Archive - Singles 1979 - ____ (B.T./IFPI DK)". www.ukmix.org. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Stars on 45". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Stars on 45".
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Stars On 45" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Stars On 45 – Stars On Stevie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Stars On 45 – Stars On Stevie". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Star Sound: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Stars On Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Stars On Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Stars On Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, May 8, 1982
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1982: Singles". Ultratop & Hung Medien.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982". Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982". Hung Medien.
