In Square Circle cover art

  Studio Album · No. 20

In Square Circle Songwriting Credits by Stevie Wonder

1985 Tamla 10 tracks 46 min

Produced by Stevie Wonder  ·  Engineered by Gary Olazabal

Tamla R&BSoulPopSynth
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Stevie Wonder carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
10 trackswritten by Stevie Wonder 0 tracksoutside writers
Stevie Wonder's roles on this album

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
1
Lyricists
1
Producers
1
No.1 Single
Over 2 million copies in the US
Worldwide Copies Sold
1985
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (28th Annual Grammy Awards, 1986)
Data Insight

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

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(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)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 1 contributor

More from Stevie Wonder

1962 22%
The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie
Tamla
9 tracksProd. Clarence Paul
1962 10%
Tribute to Uncle Ray
Tamla
10 tracksProd. Clarence Paul
1963 0%
With a Song in My Heart
Tamla
10 tracksProd. Clarence Paul
1963 0%
Workout Stevie, Workout
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Clarence Paul
1964 0%
Stevie at the Beach
Tamla
11 tracksProd. Clarence Paul
1966 42%
Up-Tight (Everything's Alright)
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1966 33%
Down to Earth
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1967 0%
Someday at Christmas
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1968 33%
I Was Made to Love Her
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1968 67%
For Once in My Life
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1969 42%
My Cherie Amour
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Hank Cosby
1970 58%
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Tamla
12 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1971 100%
Where I'm Coming From
Tamla
9 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1972 100%
Talking Book
Tamla/Motown
10 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1972 100%
Music of My Mind
Tamla
9 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1973 100%
Innervisions
Tamla/Motown
9 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1974 100%
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Tamla
10 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1976 100%
Songs in the Key of Life
Tamla/Motown
17 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1979 100%
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Tamla
20 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1981 100%
Hotter Than July
Tamla/Motown
10 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1987 100%
Characters
Motown
10 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
1995 100%
Conversation Peace
Motown
13 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder
2005 100%
A Time to Love
Motown
15 tracksProd. Stevie Wonder

Frequently Asked Questions In Square Circle

Did Stevie Wonder write all the songs on In Square Circle?
Yes. Every track on In Square Circle was written by Stevie Wonder, with no outside songwriting credits. He also served as the sole producer and performed the majority of the instrumentation himself.
Why is "Part-Time Lover" by Stevie Wonder considered a milestone?
"Part-Time Lover" topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and also reached number one on the R&B, adult contemporary, and dance/club charts. That made Wonder the first artist to hit number one on all four Billboard charts at the same time with a single record.
What is "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder about?
"Overjoyed" is the album's signature ballad, a tender love song built around piano and naturalistic sound effects. Wonder had worked on the song for years before completing it for In Square Circle, and it peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 while becoming one of his most frequently covered later compositions.
What does "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" address?
"It's Wrong (Apartheid)" is a direct protest song against South Africa's apartheid system, featuring chanted vocals and African-influenced arrangement. It reflects Stevie Wonder's political activism during the 1980s, the same period in which he campaigned for a Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.
What singles were released from In Square Circle?
The album produced four singles: "Part-Time Lover" (number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Go Home" (number 10), "Overjoyed" (number 24), and "Land of La La" (number 86).
Did In Square Circle win a Grammy Award?
Yes. Stevie Wonder won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for In Square Circle at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards in 1986.
How well did In Square Circle perform on the charts?
The album reached number 5 on the US Billboard 200 and number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. It also spent 12 weeks at number one on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.
Is In Square Circle certified platinum?
Yes. The album was certified 2x Multi-Platinum by the RIAA on December 4, 1985, for two million copies sold in the United States.
What label released Stevie Wonder's In Square Circle?
In Square Circle was released on September 13, 1985, on Tamla, a Motown subsidiary. Wonder recorded it at his own Wonderland Studios in Los Angeles.

Sources