A Time to Love | ||||
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Studio album by Stevie Wonder | ||||
Released | October 18, 2005 | |||
Recorded | 2004–2005 | |||
Genre | Ballad, R&B | |||
Length | 77:41 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Producer | Stevie Wonder | |||
Stevie Wonder chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 66/100 |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
Blender | |
Robert Christgau | A− |
Entertainment Weekly | C |
Los Angeles Times | |
New York Times | mixed |
PopMatters | favorable |
Rolling Stone | |
Slant | |
Stylus | B− |
A Time to Love is the twenty-third studio album by Stevie Wonder, his first since 1995's Conversation Peace. Originally to have been completed in 2004, it was finally released to stores on October 18, 2005, following an exclusive digital release on Apple's iTunes Music Store on September 27.
The first single, issued in April 2005, was "So What the Fuss", which featured Prince on guitar and En Vogue on backing vocals. Follow-up singles included "Positivity" with his daughter Aisha Morris, "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Shelter in the Rain".
The song "Shelter in the Rain" was in tribute to his first wife, singer Syreeta Wright, who died of cancer the year before this album was released. Wonder was quoted as saying he would've had Wright singing lead on "Shelter", had she have lived.
Wonder makes a brief reference to singer Minnie Riperton in the song "Positivity".
His first new studio album in a decade, the album was received with generally positive reviews, despite its having been delayed several times during the year of its release. In 2005, Wonder won the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards for "From the Bottom of My Heart". This was his fourth win in this category. Wonder last won this award twenty-nine years earlier in 1976 for Songs in the Key of Life. His other wins in this category were in 1973 ("You Are the Sunshine of My Life") and 1974 (Fulfillingness First Finale).
All tracks written by Stevie Wonder, except where noted.
^shipments figures based on certification alone