Studio Album · No. 7
Down to Earth Songwriting Credits by Stevie Wonder
Produced by Hank Cosby, Clarence Paul
Holds writing credit on 4 of 12 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 4 / 12 documented
Scored across the 12 tracks with documented writers, by whether Stevie Wonder carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 12 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Down to Earth splits between Motown originals and pop and folk covers, the formula Tamla used to rebuild Stevie Wonder as a hitmaker after his voice changed at sixteen. The lead single "A Place in the Sun," written by Ron Miller and Bryan Wells, became the album's centerpiece and his biggest hit of the period, while Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, and Wonder supplied in-house originals such as "Thank You Love," "Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together)," and "Sylvia." The rest of the record reaches outside Motown for material, covering Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang," Holland-Dozier-Holland's "My World Is Empty Without You," Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," and Merle Travis's "Sixteen Tons." Clarence Paul and Cosby produced the sessions at Hitsville U.S.A. with backing from the Funk Brothers, including James Jamerson on bass.
Down to Earth is the seventh studio album by Stevie Wonder, released in 1966 on Tamla Records. Released the same year as Up-Tight, the album continued to develop Wonder's profile as a teenage R&B star while the Motown writing staff continued to supply most of his material. The record includes 'A Place in the Sun,' a Ron Miller and Bryan Wells composition that became one of Wonder's most graceful singles of the era, reaching the Top 10 on the pop charts. Down to Earth shows Wonder becoming more comfortable and expressive as a vocalist even when working with outside material, you can hear his personal style asserting itself through the restraint of songs he didn't write. A transitional record in every sense, bridging his child-star past with the artist-in-development that he was becoming.
Track Listing & Credits 12 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Place in the Sun
#9
|
Ron MillerBryan Wells | Ron MillerBryan Wells | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 2 |
Bang Bang
|
Sonny Bono | Sonny Bono | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 3 |
Down to Earth
|
Ron MillerAvery Vanderberg | Ron MillerAvery Vanderberg | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 4 |
Thank You Love
|
Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 5 |
Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together)
|
Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 6 |
Sylvia
|
Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Henry CosbySylvia MoyStevie Wonder | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 7 |
My World Is Empty Without You
|
Brian HollandLamont DozierEddie Holland | Brian HollandLamont DozierEddie Holland | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 8 |
The Lonesome Road
|
Gene AustinNat Shilkret | Gene AustinNat Shilkret | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 9 |
Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)
|
Henry CosbySylvia Moy | Henry CosbySylvia Moy | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 10 |
Mr. Tambourine Man
|
Bob Dylan | Bob Dylan | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 11 |
Sixteen Tons
|
Merle Travis | Merle Travis | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 12 |
Hey Love
#90
|
Morris BroadnaxClarence PaulStevie Wonder | Morris BroadnaxClarence PaulStevie Wonder | Hank CosbyClarence Paul | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |