"Hotter than July" is the nineteenth studio album by Stevie Wonder, released on 29 September 1980 by Tamla, a subsidiary of Motown Records. The album was primarily recorded in Los Angeles at Wonderland Studios, which Wonder had recently acquired. It reached number three on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on 3 February 1981. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number two on the UK Albums Chart and produced four top ten singles. Music videos were created for several of the album’s singles. The album was nominated for Favourite Soul/R&B Album at the 1982 American Music Awards. Following the release of "Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"" (1979), which received a more limited commercial response, Wonder undertook a range of collaborative projects at the turn of the decade. He co-wrote "Let's Get Serious" with Lee Garrett for Jermaine Jackson, and "You Are My Heaven" with Eric Mercury, which was recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. He also appeared as a guest musician on recordings by artists including B.B. King, James Taylor, Quincy Jones and Smokey Robinson. For "Hotter than July", Wonder wrote, arranged and produced the material. The album’s lead single, "Master Blaster (Jammin')", was influenced by reggae and inspired by Bob Marley, whom Wonder had met in 1979. Other singles included "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It", "Lately" and "Happy Birthday". In the United Kingdom, all four sing