Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul song, by American musician Stevie Wonder, released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart.[2] In the same year, the song was also released on the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Single by Stevie Wonder
from the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered
B-side"I'm More Than Happy (I'm Satisfied)"
ReleasedJune 3, 1970
RecordedAugust 26, 1969 (track)[1]
February 26, 1970 (horns added)
April 23, 1970 (lead vocals, instrumental overdubs)
April 28, 1970 (additional recording)
StudioHitsville U.S.A. Studio A, Detroit, MI
Golden World Studios, Detroit, MI
GenreSoul
Length2:41
LabelTamla 54196
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Never Had a Dream Come True"
(1970)		 "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
(1970)		 "Heaven Help Us All"
(1970)

The song was arranged by Paul Riser and featured a distinctive "sitar-guitar" in the introduction.[3]

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. The song also gave Wonder his sixth Grammy nomination, with the award that year going to the Clarence Carter song "Patches".

During a 2008 appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Wonder 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.

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[7] Platinum 600,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Political significance

During the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama's presidential campaign frequently played the song immediately after 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 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.

At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, the song played after Barack Obama's speech, at which point Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton came out on stage.

Peter Frampton cover
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Single by Peter Frampton
from the album I'm in You
B-side"Rocky's Hot Club"
ReleasedAugust 1977
GenrePop
LabelA&M
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton singles chronology
"I'm in You"
(1977)		 "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
(1977)		 "Tried to Love"
(1977)

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". Mick Jagger is featured on backing vocals. Frampton's version was released as a single, reaching number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Cashbox Top 100.[9] His cover also reached number 13 in Canada. In Chicago, the song reached number nine on superstation WLS-AM,[10] and in Toronto it reached number one on CHUM.[11]

Charts

Blue, Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone version
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Single by Blue featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone
from the album Guilty
B-side
  • "One Love"
  • "4-Play"
ReleasedDecember 15, 2003
Recorded2002
Genre
Length3:33
LabelInnocent
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Martin Harrington, Ash Howes
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.[17]

Track listing
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

Charts
Chart (2003–04) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[18] 31
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 38
Denmark (Tracklisten)[21] 7
Germany (Official German Charts)[22] 29
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[23] 12
Ireland (IRMA) 17
Italy (FIMI)[24] 11
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 11
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 16
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 22
Romania (Romanian Top 100) 37
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[28] 11
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[29] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[30] 36
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[31] 53
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[32] 11

Year-end charts
Chart (2003) Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[33] 168
Chart (2004) Position
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[34] 82
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 99
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[36] 192

Ronan Keating version
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Single by Ronan Keating
from the album Postman Pat: The Movie
Released2014
Recorded2014
LabelPolydor
Songwriter(s)Ronan Keating
Producer(s)Ronan Keating

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was covered in 2014 by Ronan Keating for the film Postman Pat: The Movie.

Other covers

  • Shortly before being signed by Uni Records, Elton 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 Attraction starring 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.[37]
  • In 1975, The Osmonds covered the song, and it appears on their album Around the World, Live in Concert.
  • In 1976, Marcia Hines covered the song on her album, Shining.
  • In 1980, co-writer Syreeta Wright released her own version of the song on her second self-titled album.
  • In 1981, Jermaine Jackson covered the song on his album, I Like Your Style.
  • In 1982, the Boys Town Gang covered "Signed, Sealed, Delivered". It became a Top 10 hit in the Netherlands.[38]
  • In 1988, Chaka Khan released her album CK of which the song was the first track. Wonder played harmonica on Khan's version.
  • Released in 1988, the TV special Meet the California Raisins! featured the song covered by fictional band The California Raisins.
  • During the mid-1990s, Mazda released a series of TV commercials that used a re-recorded version of the song, with the lyrics "Here it is/Signed, sealed, delivered/It's yours!" including a Mazda 626 commercial from 1995.[39]
  • Jamiroquai covered this song live on several occasions during the 1990s.
  • In 1995, Kim Wilde performed the track during the last episode of Don't Forget Your Toothbrush on UK television.[40]
  • Jazz fusion and contemporary jazz group Pieces of a Dream presented their version from the band's 1998 album Pieces.[41]
  • In 2000, Samantha Mumba covered and performed it for a televised ITV tribute to Motown. The track later appeared on the UK and Japanese re-issue of her debut album Gotta Tell You. It also went on to feature in her 2006 compilation album, The Collection.
  • In 2003, for his first in a two-volume collection of Motown cover songs, Michael McDonald recorded his own version of the song.
  • Lead singer for the band Train, Pat Monahan, covered the hit in 2003.
  • Former adult film star Colton Ford and dance diva Pepper Mashay recorded a club version of this song in 2004. This version went to number 9 on the Hot Dance Club Play and number 25 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales charts.[42]
  • In 2004, Arkells released a version of the song as the A-side to their Record Store Day release entitled Arkells Sing Motown.
  • Human Nature successfully remade the song to feature in their Motown album Dancing in the Street: the Songs of Motown II released in 2006.
  • The Blenders included a version of the song in their album Songs from the Soul, released in 2006.
  • A mostly instrumental version of the song has been released by the James Taylor Quartet on their 2007 album Don't Mess with Mr. T: James Taylor Quartet Plays Motown.
  • English singer Craig David has covered the song on his fifth studio album, inspired by the same name Signed Sealed Delivered (2010).
  • British singer Olly Murs covered the song as part of a medley of Stevie Wonder hits in his 2011 theatre tour of the UK.
  • The song was part of a medley of songs in the 2012 film Joyful Noise, starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah.
  • 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 of Glee "Wonder-ful" in 2013.
  • Michael Bolton released a cover of the song in early 2013 on his album Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville.[43]
  • In 2013, Straight No Chaser covered the song with Wonder on their Under the Influence album.[44]
  • In 2014, Delvin Choice vs. Josh Kaufman love this song in the Battles, round 2 covered as a duet on sixth season of The Voice.
  • In 2015, Ariana Grande and Babyface covered the song as part of the "Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life — An All-Star Grammy Salute" at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on February 16, 2015.
  • In 2015, Mark Hood covered the song through the instant save he has eliminated ninth season of The Voice.
  • Rufus Wainwright released a version in 2017 that was part of a tribute for a fundraising gala that honored Wonder. [45]
  • In 2018, The Fearless Flyers covered the song (as ″Signed Sealed Delivered") as part of their eponymous debut EP. The track features Sandra Crouch on tambourine and Blake Mills on guitar.[46]
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References
  1. http://www.pfunkportal.com/recordings/4583
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 635.
  3. Perone, James E. (January 1, 2006). "The Sound of Stevie Wonder: His Words and Music". Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved January 29, 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. "Top 100 1970-08-22". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  5. "Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  6. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1970". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
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  8. Zeleny, Jeff (October 26, 2008). "Long by Obama's Side, an Adviser Fills a Role That Exceeds His Title". The New York Times. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  9. Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-1999 (Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, 2000), 239.
  10. http://www.oldiesloon.com/il/wls102277.htm
  11. "1050 CHUM – CHUM Charts > Frampton, Peter". CHUM Charts. 1050 Chum. October 1, 1977. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  12. Flavour of New Zealand, 18 December 1977
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  39. "Mazda 626 TV ad (USA) - "Signed, sealed, delivered"". July 28, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2016 – via YouTube.
  40. "Wilde Life TV 1995". Wilde-life.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  41. "Pieces of a Dream - Pieces". AllMusic.
  42. "Colton Ford Billboard singles". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2007.
  43. "Michael Bolton - Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville (2013)". AllMusic.
  44. Collar, Matt. "Under the Influence - Straight No Chaser". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  45. "Rufus Wainwright releases cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)". rufuswainwright.com/.
  46. Kahn, Andy. "The Fearless Flyers Share 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' Video Featuring Blake Mills & Sandra Crouch". JamBase.
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