# Part-Time Lover

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part-Time_Lover
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{{Short description|1985 single by Stevie Wonder}}
{{Distinguish|Night Time Lover|Part-Time Love}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Part-Time Lover
| cover      = Part-Time Lover.png
| type       = single
| artist     = [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder)
| album      = [In Square Circle](/source/In_Square_Circle)
| B-side     = Instrumental
| released   = August 24, 1985
| genre      = {{hlist|[Synth-pop](/source/Synth-pop)|[R&B](/source/Contemporary_R%26B)|[soul](/source/soul_music)}}
| length     = 4:12 (album version)<br />3:43 (7" version)<br />8:20 (12" version)
| label      = [Tamla](/source/Tamla)
| writer     = Stevie Wonder
| producer   = Stevie Wonder
| prev_title = [We Are The World](/source/We_Are_The_World)
| prev_year  = 1985
| next_title = [That's What Friends Are For](/source/That's_What_Friends_Are_For)
| next_year  = 1985
}}

"'''Part-Time Lover'''" is a song by American [R&B](/source/Contemporary_R%26B) singer and songwriter [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder), released as the first single from his twentieth studio album, ''[In Square Circle](/source/In_Square_Circle)'' (1985). The song reached number one on the US [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100), [R&B](/source/R%26B), [dance](/source/Dance_music), and [adult contemporary](/source/adult_contemporary) charts, becoming Wonder's final number one hit to date.  The song's simultaneous chart successes made Wonder the first artist to score a number-one 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 number three on the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart), thanks in large part to a performance by Wonder on ''[Top of the Pops](/source/Top_of_the_Pops)'' in late 1985.

The song featured R&B singer [Luther Vandross](/source/Luther_Vandross) singing the ad-libs and backing vocals, in addition to [Syreeta Wright](/source/Syreeta_Wright) and [Philip Bailey](/source/Philip_Bailey) of [Earth, Wind and Fire](/source/Earth%2C_Wind_and_Fire). Wonder earned a [Grammy Award](/source/Grammy_Award) nomination for [Best Male Pop Vocal Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Male_Pop_Vocal_Performance) in 1986, for the song. Wonder is noted in the liner notes of the four-CD set ''Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection Volume 2 1972-1992'' as describing the music for the song as an ode to "[You Can't Hurry Love](/source/You_Can't_Hurry_Love)" and "[My World Is Empty Without You](/source/My_World_Is_Empty_Without_You)", both by [the Supremes](/source/the_Supremes), former [Motown](/source/Motown) labelmates of Wonder.

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!scope="col"|Chart (1985–1986)
!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
|-
|Australia ([Kent Music Report](/source/Kent_Music_Report))<ref name="Australian Chart Book 1970–1992">{{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|type=doc|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W |year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|title-link=Kent Music Report}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
{{singlechart|Austria|11|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|-
|Belgium ([VRT Top 30](/source/VRT_Top_30) Flanders)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/song-info/1645 |title= part time lover - stevie wonder |work= VRT |publisher= Top30-2.radio2.be |language= nl |access-date= July 25, 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/song-info/1645 |archive-date= April 9, 2012 }} Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 1</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Canada [Retail Singles](/source/Retail_Singles) (''[The Record](/source/The_Record_(magazine))'')<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hits of the World: Canada|magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))|volume=97|issue=41|page=69|date=October 12, 1985}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Canada 100 Singles ([''RPM''](/source/RPM_(magazine)))<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0560&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |title= Top Singles - Volume 42, No. 22, September 10, 1985 |publisher= [Library and Archives Canada](/source/Library_and_Archives_Canada) |access-date= June 1, 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129045438/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0560&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |archive-date= November 29, 2014 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Canada Adult Contemporary ([''RPM''](/source/RPM_(magazine)))<ref name="govofcanada">{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0594&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0594.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0594|title=Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada |website=Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date=November 9, 1985 |access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|Finland ([Suomen virallinen lista](/source/The_Official_Finnish_Charts))<ref>{{cite book|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=284|first=Timo|last=Pennanen|year=2021|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021|section=Stevie Wonder|page=284|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|access-date=July 14, 2022|language=fi}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4
|-
{{singlechart|France|3|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover|access-date=21 July 2013}}
|-
{{singlechart|Ireland2|1|song=Part Time Lover|artist=Stevie Wonder}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|11|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|17|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|1|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover|access-date=21 July 2013}}
|-
{{singlechart|Norway|5|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|-
|Portugal ([Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa](/source/Associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Fonogr%C3%A1fica_Portuguesa))<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.laurentpons.com/charts/portugal/80s.htm | title=TOP 20 TMP Portugal - number one in the 80's airplay charts | access-date=August 9, 2019 | archive-date=August 30, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830094830/http://www.laurentpons.com/charts/portugal/80s.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
|South Africa ([Springbok](/source/Springbok_Radio))<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Charts 1965–March 1989|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(W).html|access-date=September 5, 2018}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|-
|Spain ([AFYVE](/source/Productores_de_M%C3%BAsica_de_Espa%C3%B1a))<ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 1985|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> 
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|3|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|- 
{{singlechart|Switzerland|5|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover}}
|-
|[UK Singles](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) ([OCC](/source/Official_Charts_Company))<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/God%27s%20Home%20Movie |title=Official Charts Company -   |publisher=[Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company) |access-date=March 28, 2014 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=Stevie Wonder}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardadultcontemporary|1|artist=Stevie Wonder}}
|-
{{singlechart|Billboarddanceclubplay|1|artist=Stevie Wonder}}
|-
{{singlechart|West Germany|12|artist=Stevie Wonder|song=Part Time Lover|songid=1321}}
|}

{|class="wikitable"
!Chart (2025)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Poland ([Polish Airplay Top 100](/source/Polish_music_charts))<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay|publisher=[OLiS](/source/OLiS)|language=pl|access-date=August 11, 2025|type=Select week 02.08.2025–8 August 2025.}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|66
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1985)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus85">{{cite web|url=https://i.imgur.com/SN2evHp.jpg|title=Kent Music Report No 599 – 30 December 1985 > National Top 100 Singles for 1985|publisher=[Kent Music Report](/source/Kent_Music_Report)|via=[Imgur](/source/Imgur)|access-date=January 23, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|29
|-
|Canada<ref>{{cite magazine|title= RPM's Top 100 Singles of 1985 |magazine= [RPM](/source/RPM_(magazine)) |volume= 43 |issue= 16 |date= December 28, 1985 |access-date= July 30, 2017 |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0619&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0619.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0619}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|9
|-
|New Zealand<ref>{{cite web|title= End of Year Charts 1985 |publisher= [Recorded Music NZ](/source/Recorded_Music_NZ) |access-date= July 16, 2017 |url= https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1985-12-31}}</ref>
|align="center"|34
|-
|UK<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 Singles |magazine=[Music Week](/source/Music_Week) |publisher=Spotlight Publications |location=London, England |page=24 |date=January 24, 1987}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|37
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1985.htm Musicoutfitters.com]</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|22
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|artist=Stevie Wonder|title=Part-Time Lover|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|award=Gold|source=infodisc}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Stevie Wonder|title=Part Time Lover|award=Gold|relyear=1985|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=April 25, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Stevie Wonder|title=Part-Time Lover|award=Silver|relyear=1985|certyear=1985|id=5004-3788-1|access-date=February 18, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

==Personnel==
*Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, synthesizers, drums
*[Luther Vandross](/source/Luther_Vandross) – lead vocal, background vocal
*[Syreeta Wright](/source/Syreeta_Wright), [Philip Bailey](/source/Philip_Bailey) ([Earth Wind & Fire](/source/Earth_Wind_%26_Fire)), Keith John, Melody McCully, Billy Durham, Peter Byrne ([Naked Eyes](/source/Naked_Eyes)), Renee Hardaway, Darryl Phinnessee - background vocal<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Stevie-Wonder-In-Square-Circle/release/745459 |title=In Square Circle on |year=1985 |publisher=[Discogs.com](/source/Discogs.com) |access-date=December 22, 2011}}</ref>

==Cover versions==
*Puerto Rican salsa musician [Bobby Valentin](/source/Bobby_Valentin) covered the song in 1986. His cover peaked at number 23 on the [Hot Latin Tracks](/source/Hot_Latin_Tracks) chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bobby valentín|chart=all}}|title=Bobby Valentin: Hot Latin Songs|date=September 27, 1986|magazine=Billboard|publisher=[Prometheus Global Media](/source/Prometheus_Global_Media)}}</ref>

==See also==
*[List of RPM number-one singles of 1985](/source/List_of_RPM_number-one_singles_of_1985)
*[List of number-one singles of 1985 (Ireland)](/source/List_of_number-one_singles_of_1985_(Ireland))
*[List of number-one singles in 1985 (New Zealand)](/source/List_of_number-one_singles_in_1985_(New_Zealand))
*[List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1985 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_Hot_100_number-one_singles_of_1985_(U.S.))
*[List of number-one R&B singles of 1985 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_number-one_R%26B_singles_of_1985_(U.S.))
*[List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1985 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_number-one_adult_contemporary_singles_of_1985_(U.S.))
*[List of number-one dance singles of 1985 (U.S.)](/source/List_of_number-one_dance_singles_of_1985_(U.S.))

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|MpDM6ygsb20|Listen to "Part-Time Lover"}}

{{Stevie Wonder}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1985 singles
Category:1985 songs
Category:American synth-pop songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Dance-pop songs
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:The Lost Fingers songs
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:The Record Retail Singles number-one singles
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Stevie Wonder
Category:Songs about infidelity
Category:Songs written by Stevie Wonder
Category:Stevie Wonder songs
Category:Tamla Records singles

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Part-Time Lover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part-Time_Lover) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Part-Time_Lover?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.