Isn't She Lovely

1976 promotional single by Stevie Wonder From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Isn't She Lovely

"Isn't She Lovely" is a song by Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. The lyrics celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris. Wonder collaborated on the song with Harlem songwriter and studio owner Burnetta "Bunny" Jones.[1]

Quick Facts Promotional single by Stevie Wonder, from the album Songs in the Key of Life ...
"Isn't She Lovely"
Thumb
Motown CD single reissue (1996)
Promotional single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Songs in the Key of Life
Released1976 (1976)
Recorded1975
GenreSoul
Length
  • 6:33 (album version)
  • 3:20 (radio version)
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Stevie Wonder
Producer(s)Stevie Wonder
Licensed audio
"Isn't She Lovely" on YouTube
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The song opens side 3 of Songs in the Key of Life, and starts with a baby's first cry recorded during an actual childbirth. A recording of Wonder bathing Aisha as an older toddler is brought into the final section of the song, mixed with Wonder's extended chromatic harmonica solo. All of the instruments heard in the song are played by Wonder, except for some keyboard parts played by Greg Phillinganes. During the recording process, bassist Nathan Watts laid down a bass guitar line to serve as a guide track for Wonder, but Wonder eventually replaced this with his own keyboard bass performance.[2]

The more-than-six-minute song was not released as a single, as Wonder was unwilling to shorten the song to fit the 7", 45 rpm format.[2] Even without a single release, the song received so much airplay that it reached number 23 on the Adult Contemporary chart in January 1977. Since then, the song has become a jazz and pop standard, covered by many artists.[3]

Wonder performed the song live for Queen Elizabeth II at her Diamond Jubilee Concert on June 4, 2012, with lyrics modified to refer to the Queen.[4]

Releases

The song was not issued as a commercial single and therefore it did not appear on the major charts in the US and UK. However, due to radio airplay, it reached number 23 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart (then known as the Easy Listening chart) on January 29, 1977.[5] In June 2012, after Wonder performed the song at the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the song finally charted in the UK (#94) due to download sales.

Personnel

Cover versions

Chart history

More information Year, Artist ...
Year Artist IR SA UK U.S. Billboard
IRMA Springbok Singles Chart U.S. Hot 100 U.S. AC
1976 Stevie Wonder
23[5]
1977 David Parton
3
105
1977 Leslie Kleinsmith
12[6]
2012 Jimmy Higham & Jon Walmsley
41[8]
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Stevie Wonder
More information Chart (2010), Peak position ...
Chart (2010) Peak
position
South Korea International (Circle)[10] 15
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Certifications

Stevie Wonder
More information Region, Certification ...
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[11] Gold 400,000
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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Notes

  1. The track reached #94 on the UK Singles Chart in June 2012, based on download sales

References

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