Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
"Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" | ||||
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Single by Stevie Wonder | ||||
from the album Where I'm Coming From | ||||
A-side | "We Can Work It Out" | |||
B-side | "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" | |||
Released | 1971 | |||
Recorded | October 1970–1971 | |||
Genre | Soul | |||
Length | 2:56 | |||
Label | Tamla | |||
Songwriter(s) | Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright | |||
Producer(s) | Stevie Wonder | |||
Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
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"Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" is a 1971 song by Stevie Wonder, featured on his album Where I'm Coming From. The song is a ballad, describing a failed relationship using the metaphor of changing seasons. Co-written by Syreeta Wright and released on Tamla 54202 in 1971 as the flip side of "We Can Work It Out", the single stalled at #78 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it remains one of Stevie Wonder's most popular ballads to this day. Cash Box described the song by saying that "lively melodic work is heightened by an exceptional performance."[1]
Wonder performed a version of the song at Michael Jackson's memorial service on July 7, 2009, his voice cracking with emotion as he called out his friend's name during the song's final refrain, "Why didn't you stay?"[2]
Chart performance
Chart (1971) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard Hot 100[3] | 78 |
Cover versions
- The song was covered by Three Dog Night and included on their album Harmony. [4]
- The song was also covered by Joan Baez on her 1975 album Diamonds and Rust.[5]
- Phil Collins also recorded the song for his album of soul covers, Going Back.[6]
- James Blake also recorded the song for his cover album, simply titled 'covers' [7]
Popular culture
- A large portion of the song is played during a scene in the film, Poetic Justice; the full song is on its accompanying soundtrack album.
- A portion of this song was also remade by Lauryn Hill on Hip-Hop artist Common's "Retrospect For Life," found on his 1997 album One Day It'll All Make Sense.
References
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. May 8, 1971. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
- ^ "Michael Jackson memorial:Stevie Wonder sings "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer". LA Times. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 925.
- ^ "Three Dog Night - Harmony Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "Phil Collins - Going Back Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ "James Blake - Covers Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic.
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- The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie
- Tribute to Uncle Ray
- With a Song in My Heart
- Stevie at the Beach
- Up-Tight
- Down to Earth
- I Was Made to Love Her
- Someday at Christmas
- Eivets Rednow
- For Once in My Life
- My Cherie Amour
- Signed, Sealed & Delivered
- Where I'm Coming From
- Music of My Mind
- Talking Book
- Innervisions
- Fulfillingness' First Finale
- Songs in the Key of Life
- Hotter than July
- In Square Circle
- Characters
- Conversation Peace
- A Time to Love
- Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius
- Stevie Wonder Live
- Live at the Talk of the Town
- Natural Wonder
- Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"
- The Woman in Red
- The Last Dragon
- Jungle Fever
- Looking Back
- Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
- Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection
- At the Close of a Century
- The Definitive Collection
- The Complete Stevie Wonder
- "Fingertips"
- "Hey Harmonica Man"
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
- "With a Child's Heart"
- "Blowin' in the Wind"
- "A Place in the Sun"
- "Someday at Christmas"
- "Hey Love"
- "I Was Made to Love Her"
- "I'm Wondering"
- "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day"
- "You Met Your Match"
- "Alfie"
- "For Once in My Life"
- "I Don't Know Why"
- "My Cherie Amour"
- "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"
- "Never Had a Dream Come True"
- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
- "Heaven Help Us All"
- "We Can Work It Out"
- "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"
- "If You Really Love Me"
- "What Christmas Means to Me"
- "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)"
- "Superstition"
- "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
- "Higher Ground"
- "Living for the City"
- "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
- "He's Misstra Know-It-All"
- "You Haven't Done Nothin'"
- "Boogie On Reggae Woman"
- "I Wish"
- "Sir Duke"
- "Another Star"
- "As"
- "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)"
- "Send One Your Love"
- "Master Blaster (Jammin')"
- "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It"
- "Lately"
- "Happy Birthday"
- "That Girl"
- "Ebony and Ivory"
- "Do I Do"
- "Ribbon in the Sky"
- "Front Line"
- "I Just Called to Say I Love You"
- "Love Light in Flight"
- "Part-Time Lover"
- "That's What Friends Are For"
- "Go Home"
- "Overjoyed"
- "Stranger on the Shore of Love"
- "Skeletons"
- "You Will Know"
- "Get It"
- "Gotta Have You"
- "For Your Love"
- "So What the Fuss"
- "From the Bottom of My Heart"
- "All About the Love Again"
- "Faith"
- "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"
- "My Love"
- "How Come, How Long"
- "California Roll"
- "You and I (We Can Conquer the World)"
- "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)"
- "Golden Lady"
- "All in Love Is Fair"
- "They Won't Go When I Go"
- "Love's in Need of Love Today"
- "Knocks Me Off My Feet"
- "Pastime Paradise"
- "Isn't She Lovely"
- "Black Man"
- "We Are the World"
- "Just Good Friends"
- "Seasons of Love"
- "True to Your Heart"
- "Stop Trying to Be God"
- "It's a Shame"
- "Tears of a Clown"
- "Tell Me Something Good"
- "Uptown Festival"
- "Let's Get Serious"
- "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"
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