Studio Album · No. 5
Stevie at the Beach Songwriting Credits by Stevie Wonder
Produced by Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby
Holds writing credit on 0 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 0 / 11 documented
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether Stevie Wonder carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Stevie at the Beach is an early novelty record built around the surf and beach craze of 1964, released on Tamla when Wonder was 13 and still billed as Little Stevie Wonder. The material was assembled for him rather than by him: it mixes pop standards and covers such as "Ebb Tide," "Red Sails in the Sunset," and "Beyond the Sea" with surf-themed songs written by Motown's West Coast team of Hal Davis and Marc Gordon. Wonder did not write any of the tracks, and his role is as a performer, singing and playing harmonica over arrangements steered by producers Davis, Gordon, and Dorsey Burnette. The album's lasting interest is "Hey Harmonica Man," a genuine hit that pointed past the beach gimmick toward his later sound.
Stevie at the Beach is the fifth studio album by Stevie Wonder, released in 1964 on Tamla Records. The album was Motown's attempt to position Stevie as a surf pop and teen idol crossover act, capitalizing on the Beach Boys-era craze for sunny, youth-oriented pop. Songs like "Castles in the Sand," "Beachstomp," and "Happy Street" leaned into a lighthearted summery aesthetic unusual for a Motown record. Stevie Wonder was 14 years old at the time of recording, and while the album is far from his best work, it demonstrates the extraordinary vocal presence he brought to any material. None of the songs were written by Wonder. The record is largely a footnote today, remembered mainly as evidence of just how different Stevie's career would have been without his eventual negotiation of creative control.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Castles in the Sand
#52
|
Hal DavisMarc GordonMary O'BrienFrank Wilson | Hal DavisMarc GordonMary O'BrienFrank Wilson | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 2 |
Ebb Tide
|
Robert MaxwellCarl Sigman | Robert MaxwellCarl Sigman | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 3 |
Sad Boy
|
Dorsey BurnetteGerald Nelson | Dorsey BurnetteGerald Nelson | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 4 |
Red Sails in the Sunset
|
Hugh WilliamsJimmy Kennedy | Hugh WilliamsJimmy Kennedy | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 5 |
The Beachcomber
|
Arthur Wright | Arthur Wright | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 6 |
Castles in the Sand (Instrumental)
|
Hal DavisMarc GordonMary O'BrienFrank Wilson | Hal DavisMarc GordonMary O'BrienFrank Wilson | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 7 |
Happy Street
|
George Everette HermicJule Styne | George Everette HermicJule Styne | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 8 |
The Party at the Beach House
|
Frank Wilson | Frank Wilson | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 9 |
Hey Harmonica Man
#29
|
Marty CooperLou Josie | Marty CooperLou Josie | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 10 |
Beachstomp
|
Hal DavisFrank Wilson | Hal DavisFrank Wilson | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |
| 11 |
Beyond the Sea
|
Charles TrenetJack Lawrence | Charles TrenetJack Lawrence | Clarence PaulHank Cosby | Stevie Wonder (Vocals, Harmonica) |