Studio Album · No. 20
In Square Circle Songwriting Credits by Stevie Wonder
Produced by Stevie Wonder · Engineered by Gary Olazabal
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Stevie Wonder carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Awards & Recognition 1
In Square Circle was written, produced, and largely performed by Stevie Wonder, continuing the self-contained studio approach he had refined since the early 1970s and leaning heavily on the synthesizer textures that defined mid-1980s soul. The lead single "Part-Time Lover" became a crossover landmark, topping the Billboard Hot 100, the R&B, adult contemporary, and dance charts, a feat that made Wonder the first artist to reach number one across all four lists simultaneously. "Overjoyed" emerged as the album's signature ballad, a song Wonder had carried for years before finishing it for this record, and it remains one of his most covered later compositions. "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" closed the album as a direct protest against South African apartheid, tying the record to Wonder's broader activism of the decade.
In Square Circle is Stevie Wonder's twentieth studio album, released in 1985 on Tamla Records after a five-year gap following Hotter Than July. The album marked his commercial comeback, producing 'Part-Time Lover', his first #1 pop hit in nearly a decade and a sleek, synthesizer-driven pop track that dominated radio in 1985. 'Overjoyed,' a tender, understated ballad that Wonder had written years earlier, became one of his most beloved slow songs, a favorite for wedding ceremonies and quiet moments for generations afterward. 'Go Home' and 'Land of La La' rounded out a strong commercial collection. Written entirely by Wonder, the album showed him adapting his songwriting to the synthesizer-heavy pop production of the mid-1980s without losing his melodic and emotional depth.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Part-Time Lover
#1
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 2 |
I Love You Too Much
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 3 |
Whereabouts
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 4 |
Stranger on the Shore of Love
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 5 |
Never in Your Sun
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 6 |
Spiritual Walkers
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 7 |
Land of La La
#86
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 8 |
Go Home
#10
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 9 |
Overjoyed
#24
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |
| 10 |
It's Wrong (Apartheid)
|
Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica, Multi-Instrumentalist) |