Jungle Fever (soundtrack)

Jungle Fever is a soundtrack album by American R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder, recorded for the film Jungle Fever. It was released by the Motown label on May 28, 1991.

Three singles were released from the soundtrack: the first and the biggest hit single was "Gotta Have You" (Hot 100 No. 92, R&B No. 3), with the second single "Fun Day" (R&B No. 6, UK No. 63) and the final single "These Three Words" (R&B No. 7).

Commercial performance

Jungle Fever became Wonder's ninth album, and fifth in a row, to reach number-one on the Billboard R&B Albums. The album debut at number 91 on the Billboard 200. After five weeks, Jungle Fever peak at number 24 on Billboard 200. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 10, 1991.

Critical reception

Jungle Fever received lukewarm reviews from critics. Reviewing for Entertainment Weekly in 1991, Bill Wyman said the album lacks worthwhile hooks and lyrics, and that Wonder's style of arrangement sounds "more and more dated as the years go by". In a positive review, Rolling Stone magazine called Jungle Fever a "welcome return to form" and said that Wonder has not "sounded so freewheeling, confident and engaging" since his 1980 album Hotter Than July. The Chicago Tribune wrote that it is "as direct and consistently tuneful as anything he has done in recent years". Robert Christgau of The Village Voice cited "Fun Day" and the title track as highlights and referred to Wonder as "a genius even if that's what he's selling".

In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine cited Jungle Fever as "Wonder's best work in years ... a considerable improvement from his bland late-'80s albums", although he said Wonder can be too sentimental on ballads such as "These Three Words". J. D. Considine wrote in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004) that it is "lightweight but likeable". In his 2000 Consumer Guide book, Christgau gave the album a three-star honorable mention, which indicated "an enjoyable effort consumers attuned to its overriding aesthetic or individual vision may well treasure".

Track listing

All songs written by Stevie Wonder, except "Chemical Love", lyrics by Stephanie Andrews.

1. "Fun Day" – 4:41
2. "Queen in the Black" – 4:46
3. "These Three Words" – 4:54
4. "Each Other's Throat" – 4:17
5. "If She Breaks Your Heart" (sung by Kimberly Brewer) – 5:03
6. "Gotta Have You" – 6:26
7. "Make Sure You're Sure" – 3:30
8. "Jungle Fever" – 4:55
9. "I Go Sailing" – 3:58
10. "Chemical Love" – 4:26
11. "Lighting Up the Candles" – 4:09

Personnel

Credits adapted from album's liner notes.

Charts

Certifications

See also

• List of number-one R&B albums of 1991 (U.S.)

References

External links

• Music from the Movie "Jungle Fever" at Discogs (list of releases)