It's probably my least favorite of the albums I have by him, but I absolutely adore "My Eyes Don't Cry" (my favorite Stevie Wonder song) and "Free". "You Will Know" is pretty decent too.

The last complete album of new material of Stevie's that I like is "Hotter Than July" from 1980. I like the album that followed it, "Original Musiquarium", for it's three new songs but the rest of the album is greatest hits so I don't count that one.

I just bought this one, too. It, along with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" from 1970, which is good but at that point, I think he was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do. I agree, while I don't think I've heard the entire CD, "Characters" is pretty much guilty eighties snyth pop/R&B with some ballads. Now, I realize it's called "Characters" but there is one song where he talks about seeing someone for the first time...rI mean, really? It's pretty much safe and nothing shocking but the only reason I wanted this album so badly was for "My Eyes Don't Cry", a jamming funky mix of dance and R&B and still a memorable song in Detroit.

PurpleKnight said:

I'd have to disagree with that part. I think "With Each Beat of My Heart", "You Will Know" and "Skeletons" can be considered certified classic Stevie.

vainandy said:

Hotter Than July was Stevie's last great album. However, Jungle Fever, was his last most complete album.

psykosoul said:

I've only heard the album once, so I'll go back to it. But I was just overwhelmed by how lackluster it was as a whole.

The album has aged badly ,mainly because of 80s production style.

"Skeletons" is a great track ,tho.

The main problem with this album is the late-80s production techniques,which makes most of the music from this period sound really dated.The lyrics and vocals on this album are great.It's just the cluttered,synth-heavy production that ruins the songs.If Stevie had recorded these same songs in a similiar fashion to his 70s albums (less synths,more horns,a good dose of piano and harmonica,real drums,etc),this album would have been so much better.

DavidEye said:

Right on , Dave. This is a problem with many 80s albums and no artists of the time seemed to be immune from it.

Another example : Chaka Khan's biggest hit album ( and most acclaimed ) was "I Feel For You ".Ironically , it is also her most dated and plasticky sounding, when compared to her first few solo LPs or her Rufus albums.

"You Will Know" is definitely a classic. "With Each Beat Of My Heart" is awesome too. Listen to these again (with headphones) and check the melody and background vocals. The rest of the album was a little underwhelming for me. Especially the duet with MJ.

I bet u it's thesexofits fav Stevie album!!!!!

lilgish said:

psykosoul said:

Man I love you.

I absolutely hate this record. It's a mess.

vainandy said:

I agree, and Hotter Than July is kinda spotty to me, but I still like it better than anything he's done since.

I don't think the album sucks, but it's definitely not his best 80s album. That would go to this joint.

okaypimpn said:

I Love it, love it, love it (too much).

Lots of great songs on there.

okaypimpn said:

In Square Cirlce gave me the same feeling I had when I purchased New Power Soul, a good ballad in the midst of some otherwise uneventful music...I just do not dig his post Hotter Than July Work, its too spotty.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

I consider Hotter Than July as the best album he ever made in the 1980's. It just sounded like an original, return to form album.

'The Woman in Red' soundtrack is worse than 'Characters' IMO.

I love "skeletons" "get it" and "one of a kind". Other then that, most of it is too hard to get into. its odd. It seems very busy or just overproduced in places. Plus those ballads are cheesy

Marrk said:

fuck that

okaypimpn said:

Oh my god! Marry me right now! I Love U 2 Much! Enuff fuckin' said!

okaypimpn said:

'In Square Cirlce' is a good album.There are some real gems here.The first single "Part Time Lover" gets on my nerves a little,but the other songs are cool.

MrTation said:

I can barely stand to listen to alot of late-80s music for this very reason.All of those programmed beats and heavy synths annoy me after awhile.There aren't too many albums from this period that have aged well.

Marrk said:

DavidEye said:

For years I was so confused at to why "Overjoyed" seemed so out of place on this album until I found out that Stevie actually recorded it back in early '79 with the intension of including it on Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants (which would've fit perfectly).

okaypimpn said:

I know. That soundtrack is cool!

okaypimpn said:

Wasn't there an album with a completely differen tracklisting that stevie was planning on releasing before In square circle that got cancelled? I've heard that that album would have been WAY better than anything he did in the 80s.