On this day in 1985: Stevie Wonder went to #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Part-Time Lover.” It would spend one week in the top spot.
“Part-Time Lover” is from his 1985 album ‘In Square Circle.’ The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, dance, and adult contemporary charts, becoming Wonder’s final #1 hit to date. The song’s simultaneous chart successes made Wonder the first artist to score a #1 hit on four different Billboard charts. The song was also released as a special 12″ version. Lyrically, it tells the story of a man who is cheating on his wife with a mistress, only to find out in the end that his wife is cheating on him as well.
“Part-Time Lover” also reached #3 on the UK Singles Chart, thanks in large part to a performance by Wonder on Top of the Pops in late 1985.
The song featured R&B singer Luther Vandross singing the ad-libs and backing vocals, in addition to Syreeta Wright and Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire. The song earned Wonder a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal performance in 1986,
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1985:
1 2 PART-TIME LOVER –•– Stevie Wonder (Tamla)-9 (1 Week at #1) (1)
2 4 MIAMI VICE THEME –•– Jan Hammer (MCA)-9 (2)
3 1 SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-12 (1)
4 5 HEAD OVER HEELS –•– Tears For Fears (Mercury)-8 (4)
5 3 TAKE ON ME –•– A-Ha (Warner Brothers)-17 (1)
6 10 YOU BELONG TO THE CITY –•– Glenn Frey (MCA)-8 (6)
7 13 WE BUILT THIS CITY –•– Starship (Grunt)-9 (7)
8 8 FORTRESS AROUND YOUR HEART –•– Sting (A&M)-11 (8)
9 11 LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT –•– Loverboy (Columbia)-11 (9)
10 16 BE NEAR ME –•– ABC (Mercury)-11 (10)
11 6 OH SHEILA –•– Ready For The World (MCA)-14 (1)
12 7 LONELY OL’ NIGHT –•– John Cougar Mellencamp (Riva)-11 (6)
13 14 I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN –•– Paul Young (Columbia)-9 (13)
14 17 ONE NIGHT LOVE AFFAIR –•– Bryan Adams (A&M)-8 (14)
15 20 SEPARATE LIVES –•– Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (Atlantic)-5 (15)
16 18 YOU ARE MY LADY –•– Freddie Jackson (Capitol)-9 (16)
17 23 NEVER –•– Heart (Capitol)-8 (17)
18 19 LAY YOUR HANDS ON ME –•– Thompson Twins (Arista)-7 (18)
19 9 I’M GOIN’ DOWN –•– Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)-9 (9)
20 27 BROKEN WINGS –•– Mr. Mister (RCA)-7 (20)