5 Famous Songs Fans Probably Don’t Know Stevie Wonder Wrote

Stevie Wonder isn’t just a legendary singer—he’s a musical powerhouse. A songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and performer, he’s spent over 60 years crafting songs that have shaped the sound of modern music. Sure, you know his own hits like “Superstition,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” but you may not realize just how many songs he’s written for other artists.

From funk to soul to pop, Stevie has contributed his talent far beyond his own albums. With a career that spans genres and generations, it’s no surprise he’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

Let’s take a closer look at seven great songs Stevie Wonder wrote for other artists.

1. “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)” – Aretha Franklin (1973)
Stevie first recorded this song in 1967 but didn’t release it. Years later, he handed it over to Aretha Franklin. “Aretha blew the thing out,” Wonder said. “Obviously we all know that is one of her all-time classics. You are convinced of what she says, of what she’s singing.” Written when Stevie was just 13, the track appeared on Franklin’s 20th album Let Me in Your Life, and Stevie’s version showed up years later on his 1977 compilation Looking Back.

2. “Bad Weather” – The Supremes (1973)
After Diana Ross left The Supremes, Wonder helped the group take a new direction. He co-wrote and produced “Bad Weather,” a track that hinted at disco’s rise. Though it only reached No. 74 on the R&B chart, it marked the final charting single for Jean Terrell, Ross’s replacement.

3. “Tell Me Something Good” – Rufus feat. Chaka Khan (1974)
Stevie was a big fan of Chaka Khan and wanted to give her a song that matched her power and style. “Tell Me Something Good” did exactly that, launching Rufus into the spotlight. It hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the group’s breakthrough. A decade later, Wonder played harmonica on Khan’s hit “I Feel For You,” written by Prince.

4. “Perfect Angel” – Minnie Riperton (1974)
Minnie Riperton’s Perfect Angel album, which included her timeless ballad “Lovin’ You,” was co-produced by Stevie and her husband Richard Rudolph. Stevie not only wrote the album’s title track but played drums, piano, and harmonica on the record under the alias “El Toro Negro.”

5. “I Can’t Help It” – Michael Jackson (1979)
Stevie co-wrote this smooth track with Susaye Greene, originally hoping to record it himself. Instead, it ended up on Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, produced by Quincy Jones. The album helped launch Jackson into solo superstardom and featured other legends like Paul McCartney, Rod Temperton, and David Foster.