Down to Earth is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder, released on November 16, 1966, on the Tamla (Motown) label. The album was a departure from Wonder's earlier, teen pop-driven albums, and, along with its predecessor, Up-Tight, it re-established the sixteen-year-old Wonder, whose voice had recently changed, as a Motown hitmaker.
The album features the hit single "A Place in the Sun". Another single, "Hey Love", became a hit for Detroit soul singer Bettye LaVette in 1969 (released as a B-side to "With a Little Help from My Friends").
Track listing
Side One "A Place in the Sun" (Ron Miller, Bryan Wells) - 2:52 "Bang Bang" (Sonny Bono) - 2:42 "Down to Earth" (Miller, Avery Vanderberg) - 2:50 "Thank You Love" (Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder) - 2:55 "Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together)" (Cosby, Moy, Wonder) - 2:43 "Sylvia" (Cosby, Moy, Wonder) - 2:34
Side Two "My World Is Empty Without You" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) - 2:53 "The Lonesome Road" (Gene Austin, Nat Shilkret) - 3:06 "Angel Baby (Don't You Ever Leave Me)" (Cosby, Moy) - 2:45 "Mr. Tambourine Man" (Bob Dylan) - 2:30 "Sixteen Tons" (Merle Travis) - 2:42 "Hey Love" (Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Wonder) - 2:41
Personnel
Stevie Wonder – harmonica, keyboards, drums, percussion, vocals The Originals – backing vocals The Andantes – backing vocals Benny Benjamin – drums James Jamerson – bass guitar The Funk Brothers – instrumentation Clarence Paul and Henry Cosby – producers
References