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"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul single by Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart.[1] In the same year, the song was also released on the albumSigned, Sealed & Delivered.

The song was a series of firsts for the 20-year-old Wonder: "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was the first single Wonder produced on his own, and was also the first to feature his female backup singing group composed of Lynda Tucker Laurence (who went on to become a member of The Supremes), Syreeta Wright (who also co-wrote the song), and Venetta Fields.

During a 2008 appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, he credited the song title and chorus "signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours" to his mother Lula, who exclaimed the words after listening to her son experiment with the melody. This song also marked Wonder's first Grammy nomination. The award went to Ronald Dunbar and General Johnson for writing the Clarence Carter song "Patches".

Contents[]

 [hide*1 Covers

Covers[edit][]

Shortly before being signed by Uni RecordsElton John (then performing under his birth name, Reg Dwight) recorded a cover of it for a collection of top hits of the day that were released as discount LP "sound-alike" versions. It was later released on several CD compilations, perhaps the most notable of which was "Reg Dwight's Piano Goes Pop!" Elton's (or rather Reg's) version was later included under the end titles of the 2004 romantic comedy film Laws of Attractionstarring Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore.

In the early 1970s, Bobby Byrd performed an up-tempo cover of this song on a single with other songs performed by James Brown and Lyn Collins.[2]

In 1975, The Osmonds covered the song, and it appears on their album "Around the World, Live in Concert".

In 1977, Peter Frampton recorded the song on his album I'm in You. His version also contains instrumental elements from Wonder's hit For Once in My Life. Frampton's version was released as a single, reaching #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #13 on the Cashbox chart.[3]

In 1988, Chaka Khan released her album CK of which the song was the first track. Stevie Wonder played harmonica on Khan's version.

During the mid-1990s, Mazda released a series of TV commercials that used a rerecorded version of the song, with the lyrics "Here it is/Signed, sealed, delivered/It's yours!"

In 1995, Kim Wilde performed the track during the last episode of Don't Forget Your Toothbrush on UK television.[4]

Jazz fusion\contemporary jazz group Pieces of a Dream presented their version from the band's album "Pieces."[5]

In 2003, for his first in a two-volume collection of Motown cover songs, Michael McDonald recorded his own version of the song. Later that same year, Wonder recorded a similar remake with British boy bandBlue. The song hit #11 in the UK charts.

Human Nature successfully remade the song to feature in their Motown album released in 2006.

Lead singer for the band TrainPat Monahan, covered the hit in 2003.

A mostly instrumental version of the song has been released by the James Taylor Quartet.

Former adult film star Colton Ford and dance diva Pepper Mashay recorded a club version of this song. This version went to #9 on the Hot Dance Club Play and #25 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts.[6]

English R&B singer Craig David has covered the song on his fifth studio album, inspired by the same name "Signed Sealed Delivered".

The television reality show The Glee Project featured the song as a homework assignment, in the first episode of season one. Also, Becca Tobin as Kitty Wilde covered the song in the Season 4 episode ofGlee "Wonder-ful".

British singer Olly Murs covered the song as part of a medley of Stevie Wonder hits in his 2011 theatre tour of the UK.

Michael Bolton released a cover of the song in early 2013 on his album Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville.[7]

In 2004, Arkells released a version of the song as the A-side to their Record Day Store release entitled Arkells Sing Motown.

In movie Valentine's Day (2010) soundtrack there is a version sung by Anju Ramapriyam.

Political significance[edit][]

During the 2008 presidential electionBarack Obama's presidential campaign frequently played the song immediately after President Barack Obama's speeches at campaign events. Wonder performed the song live on the final night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado. During the campaign, Obama's chief campaign strategist, David Axelrod, used the song as the special ring tone on his cellular phone whenever he received a call from Obama.[8]

At Obama's election night rally at Grant Park in Chicago, the song was one of the first of three songs played to warm up the audience for Obama's victory speech upon winning the 2008 presidential election. The song was used in the same fashion the Clinton-Gore campaign used Fleetwood Mac's hit, "Don't Stop." The Obama family came out to the song again on Election Night in 2012 for Obama's victory speech.

Blue, Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone version[edit][]

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
[2]
Single by Blue featuring Stevie Wonderand Angie Stone
from the album Guilty
B-side "One Love", "4-Play"
Released December 15, 2003
Format CD single
Recorded 2002
Genre Pop soulfunk
Length 3:33
Label Innocent
Writer(s) Stevie WonderLee Garrett,Syreeta WrightLula Mae Hardaway
Producer(s) Stevie Wonder
Blue singles chronology
"Guilty"

(2003)

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"

(2003)

"Breathe Easy"

(2004)

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was covered in 2003 by English boy band Blue. Their version included vocals from Angie Stone and Wonder. This was the second single from Blue's third album, Guilty (2003), and it peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart. In Japan, the song was issued as a double A-side with Japanese exclusive track "The Gift". Janet Jackson was originally approached to cover the song with the group, but could not proceed due to scheduling conflicts.[9]

Tracklisting[edit][]

UK CD1
  1. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered... I'm Yours" - 3:39
  2. "One Love" - 3:25
UK CD2
  1. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered... I'm Yours" (Radio Edit) - 3:33
  2. "4 Play" - 3:22
  3. "Guilty" (Original Demo) - 3:25
  4. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered... I'm Yours" (Video) - 3:33
Japanese Double A-Side Single
  1. "The Gift" - 4:58
  2. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered... I'm Yours" (Radio Edit) - 3:33
  3. "4 Play" - 3:22
  4. "Guilty" (Original Demo) - 3:25

Chart positions[edit][]

Chart (2003) Peak

position

Australia (ARIA)[10] 31
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 38
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13] 7
Germany (Media Control Charts)[14] 29
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[15] 12
Ireland (IRMA) 17
Italy (FIMI)[16] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[17] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 22
Romanian Top 100 37
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[19] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 53
Turkish Singles Chart 22
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 11
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