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Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

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For other uses, see Signed Sealed Delivered.

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
One of side-A labels of the US single
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 – April 28, 1970[1]
StudioHitsville U.S.A. Studio A, Golden World (Detroit, Michigan)
Length2:41
LabelTamla
Songwriters
ProducerStevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder singles chronology
"Never Had a Dream Come True"
(1970) 		"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
(1970) 		"Heaven Help Us All"
(1970)
Audio
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" on YouTube

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" is a song by American musician Stevie Wonder. It was written by Wonder along with Lee Garrett, Syreeta Wright, and Lula Mae Hardaway for his twelfth studio album Signed, Sealed & Delivered (1970), with production overseen by the singer. The song was released in June 1970 as a single on Motown's Tamla label. It spent six weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2]

Background

[edit]

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 later married Wonder), and Venetta Fields. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was arranged by Paul Riser and features an electric sitar[3] played by Eddie "Chank" Willis.[citation needed] In the lyrics, the singer has left his girlfriend but realizes it was a mistake. "I've done a lot of foolish things that I really didn't mean." Now he has returned, making the commitment that he's back, similar to a special delivery package from the post office, "signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours."

Critical reception

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The song gave Wonder his sixth Grammy nomination, with the award that year going to the Clarence Carter song "Patches". Cash Box stated that "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" was "polished and powerful enough to maintain an adult market power as well pointing toward giant sales."[4] Billboard called it a "funky beat swinger" with "blockbuster sales appeal."[5] Rolling Stone ranked the song 203rd on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[6]

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Signed, Sealed & Delivered.[7]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

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Certifications of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[15] Gold 45,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[16] 3× Platinum 90,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[17] 2× Platinum 1,200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Peter Frampton cover

[edit]
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
ocver art
Artwork for some non-UK releases
Single by Peter Frampton
from the album I'm in You
B-side"Rocky's Hot Club"
ReleasedAugust 1977
GenrePop
LabelA&M
Songwriters
ProducerPeter Frampton
Peter Frampton singles chronology
"I'm in You"
(1977) 		"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
(1977) 		"Tried to Love"
(1977)
Audio
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" on YouTube

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.[18] His cover also reached number 13 in Canada. In Chicago, the song reached number nine on superstation WLS-AM,[19] and in Toronto it reached number one on CHUM.[20]

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

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Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21] 13
New Zealand (Listener)[22] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 18
U.S. Cash Box Top 100[24] 13
U.S. Cash Box R&B Singles[25] 96

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (1977) Rank
Canada[26] 117
U.S. Billboard[27] 125

Blue version

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"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
Single by Blue featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone
from the album Guilty
B-side
ReleasedDecember 1, 2003 (2003-12-01)
Length3:33
Label
Songwriters
Producers
Blue singles chronology
"Guilty"
(2003) 		"Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
(2003) 		"Breathe Easy"
(2004)
Music video
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" on YouTube

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was covered in 2003 by English boy band Blue. Their version includes vocals from Angie Stone and Wonder. The song was released as the second single from Blue's third album, Guilty (2003). In Australia, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was released two weeks before it was issued in the United Kingdom. American singer Janet Jackson was originally approached to cover the song with the group but could not proceed due to scheduling conflicts.[28]

Critical reception

[edit]

Betty Clarke from The Daily Telegraph called the song a "grunting cover,"[29] while AllMusic's Sharon Mawer found that "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was "just not as strong a song" as "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word."[30] In a negative review, BBC Music critic Chris Long wrote: "Not even the presence of the legendary Stevie Wonder and the equally fantastic Angie Stone on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" can get the party started. Their appearance only serves to show how untalented these four lads are."[31]

Chart performance

[edit]

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.[32] It was Blue's first single to miss the chart's top ten.[32] Elsewhere, the song reached the top 20 on the charts of six other countries, including Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain.[33]

Music video

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A music video for "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was directed by Max & Dania and largely filmed on the roof of the Maxfield Building on Santee Street in Downtown Los Angeles.[34] The visuals tell the story of a group of boys trying to sneak into the rooftop party attended by Blue, Wonder, and Stone.[35]

Track listings

[edit]
UK CD1[36]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (featuring Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone)
3:39
2."One Love"
Stargate3:25
UK CD2[37]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (radio edit)
  • Wonder
  • Garrett
  • Wright
  • Hardaway
  • Harrington
  • Howes
3:33
2."4 Play"
The Big Pockets3:22
3."Guilty" (original demo)
  • True North
  • Harrington
  • Howes
3:25
4."Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (video and photo gallery enhanced)  3:33

Credits and personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Guilty.[38]

Charts

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
List of releases of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
Region Version Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Australia Solo release December 1, 2003 CD
[64]
United Kingdom December 15, 2003 [65]
Japan with "The Gift" December 17, 2003 [66]

Other covers

[edit]

Political usage

[edit]
Barack Obama, a fan of Wonder's music, used the song frequently during campaign events in the 2008 presidential election

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.[78]

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.[79]

References

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  1. ^ "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours | Stevie Wonder | Recording". Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  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. ISBN 9780275987237. Retrieved January 29, 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 20, 1970. p. 18. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. June 20, 1970. p. 54. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time | #203 Stevie Wonder, 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours'". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Signed, Sealed & Delivered (Media notes). Stevie Wonder. Tamla. 1970.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4532." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Stevie Wonder Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  12. ^ "Top 100 1970-08-22". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  13. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1970". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  15. ^ "Danish single certifications – Stevie Wonders – Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 16, 2021. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2021 to obtain certification.
  16. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered". Radioscope. Retrieved April 25, 2025. Type Signed, Sealed, Delivered in the "Search:" field.
  17. ^ "British single certifications – Stevie Wonder – Signed Sealed Delivered (I'm Yours)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  18. ^ Joel Whitburn, Top Pop Singles 1955-1999 (Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, 2000), 239.
  19. ^ "Wls102277".
  20. ^ "1050 CHUM – CHUM Charts > Frampton, Peter". CHUM Charts. 1050 Chum. October 1, 1977. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  21. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5430a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  22. ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 18 December 1977
  23. ^ "Peter Frampton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  24. ^ "Top 100 1977-10-22". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  25. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 15, 1977". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  26. ^ "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 11, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
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  28. ^ "Janet Love". Janet Love. October 28, 2003. Archived from the original on November 23, 2003. Retrieved January 14, 2014.[dead link] [dead link]
  29. ^ Clarke, Betty (October 31, 2003). "Blue: Guilty". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  30. ^ Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours at AllMusic
  31. ^ cLong, Chris. "Blue release their third and possibly final album..." BBC Music. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  32. ^ a b c "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  33. ^ a b "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  34. ^ "Blue Feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone: Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours". IMDb. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  35. ^ "Blue – Making of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours"". YouTube. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  36. ^ Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (UK CD1 liner notes). Virgin Records, Innocent Records. 2003. SINCDY 54.
  37. ^ Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (UK CD2 liner notes). Virgin Records, Innocent Records. 2003. SINDX 54.
  38. ^ Guilty (Media notes). Blue. Virgin Records. 2003.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. ^ "Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone – Signed, Sealed and Delivered". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  40. ^ "Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone – Signed, Sealed and Delivered" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  41. ^ "Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone – Signed, Sealed and Delivered" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  42. ^ Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone — Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours. TopHit. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  43. ^ "Top Lista Hrvatskog Radija". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on February 5, 2004. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
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  45. ^ "European Radio Airplay" (PDF). Billboard. Nielsen Music Control. January 24, 2004. p. 39. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  46. ^ "Blue feat. Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone – Signed, Sealed, Delivered i'm yours" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  47. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
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  53. ^ "Arhiva romanian top 100 – Editia 12, saptamina 22.03 – 28.03, 2004" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on February 21, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  54. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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  58. ^ "Top 50 Airplay Chart" (PDF). Music Week. January 10, 2004. p. 22. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
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  65. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. December 13, 2003. p. 23.
  66. ^ "ギフト | ブルー" [Gift | Blue] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  67. ^ "Dusty Groove review". Dusty Groove. Retrieved February 19, 2008.
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  69. ^ "Wilde Life TV 1995". Wilde-life.com. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 16, 2008.
  70. ^ "Pieces of a Dream - Pieces". AllMusic.
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  72. ^ "Michael Bolton - Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville (2013)". AllMusic.
  73. ^ Collar, Matt. "Under the Influence - Straight No Chaser". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
  74. ^ Gonzalez, Sandra. "Glee recap: Stevie Wonder Season 4 Episode 21". Entertainment Weekly.
  75. ^ "Rufus Wainwright releases cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)". rufuswainwright.com/.
  76. ^ Kahn, Andy. "The Fearless Flyers Share 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' Video Featuring Blake Mills & Sandra Crouch". JamBase.
  77. ^ Serba, John (December 11, 2021). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Trolls: Holiday in Harmony' on Hulu, an Animated Joysplosion of Annoying Singing and Visual Delight". Decider.
  78. ^ 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.
  79. ^ "Watch President Barack Obama's full speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention". YouTube. PBS NewsHour. July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
[edit]
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