Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Brooklyn
years is two guitars or keyboards? If it is two guitars can anyone tell me
who it that is playing? It is incredible.
Thanks
Count Scrofula
Brooklyn <cbe...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:zKZha.66915$o8.13...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
I can't tell you right off (although keys are usually more upfront on
stevie's records), but anyone familiar with Jeff Beck's version from Beck,
Bogert and Appice? Get past the horrendous vocals and there is some nice
guitar there.
Steve2000indeja
Stevie was doing a lot of one-man-band/playing all instruments on his early 70s
recordings. He's said he wanted a guitar to play the Superstition lick, didn't
play guitar.. so he used stereo clavinets (keyboards which pluck rather than
hammer a string) to get a guitar-like sound.
In doing so Stevie introduced the clavinet sound as one damn funky sound, and
it began showing up on other R+B/funk recordings.. still shows up
occasionally-even if it's as a synth emulation.
-----
"Superstition" was originally written by Stevie for his then-pal Jeff Beck to
record, a friendly payback for some session work Jeff had done for Stevie on
'Talking Book.' The song was quickly withdrawn as Motown convinced Stevie it
had major hit potential. Stevie rush recorded/released it..and it Was the
breakout hit for him as he started his post motown hit machine/ 70s artistic
(best) period.
Jeff Beck eventually released Beck, Bogert and Appice's heavier version of the
song a few months later on their debut album, but Stevie's defining version was
already a major chart hit.
Steve
Dlg
> years is two guitars or keyboards? If it is two guitars can anyone tell me
> who it that is playing? It is incredible.
That's Stevie playing his synclavier isn't it?
SRV did a fair cover version though...check out the 'Live Alive' album.
Dlg.
OzBass
Joe S.
"Brooklyn" <cbe...@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
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Brooklyn
"Dlg" <d...@davidgelder.nospam.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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info
Dan Stanley
"Dlg" <d...@davidgelder.nospam.fsnet.co.uk> wrote in message
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> news:zKZha.66915$o8.13...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
> > Can anyone tell me if what I have been hearing on that song for the last
30
> > years is two guitars or keyboards? If it is two guitars can anyone tell
me
> > who it that is playing? It is incredible.
>
> That's Stevie playing his synclavier isn't it?
That was WAY before the Synclavier.
The name of the instrument does have "clav-" in it, though...
Clavichord? Clavinova? Something like that.
But the Synclavier wasn't around until the mid or late 80's, if I remember
right.
Dan
TAPKAE
>>> Can anyone tell me if what I have been hearing on that song for the last 30
>>> years is two guitars or keyboards? If it is two guitars can anyone tell me
>>> who it that is playing? It is incredible.
>>>
>> That's Stevie playing his synclavier isn't it?
>>
> That was WAY before the Synclavier. The name of the instrument does have
> "clav-" in it, though... Clavichord? Clavinova? Something like that.
>
> But the Synclavier wasn't around until the mid or late 80's, if I remember
> right.
Clavinet, dudes.
Synclavier was around in the early 80s, at least the earliest ones. But its
something only guys like Peter Gabriel, Sting and Zappa could dig into
because it was prohibitively expensive. Clavichord is a Renaissance/Baroque
instrument, precursor to the piano. I think Clavinova is a synth of some
sort, and I don't think its much of one at that.
"The music industry has nothing to do with music. "
--Robert Fripp
Nil
news:BAADEE86.18983%e...@shit.com:
> Synclavier was around in the early 80s, at least the earliest
> ones. But its something only guys like Peter Gabriel, Sting and
> Zappa could dig into because it was prohibitively expensive.
Stevie Wonder was very into the Synclavier, too. I think they designed
a special interface for the blind. I seem to recall reading the most of
The Secret Life of Plants was done on one. It was made by New England
Digital, who I think is still alive as a company - I drove by their
plant in Waltham, Mass. a few years ago, but I don't think they make
musical instruments any more.
(not much info here, surprisingly.)
ts duke
"TAPKAE" <e...@shit.com> wrote in message news:BAADEE86.18983%e...@shit.com...
> Clavinet, dudes.
> Synclavier was around in the early 80s, at least the earliest ones. But
its
> something only guys like Peter Gabriel, Sting and Zappa could dig into
> because it was prohibitively expensive. Clavichord is a
Renaissance/Baroque
> instrument, precursor to the piano. I think Clavinova is a synth of some
> sort, and I don't think its much of one at that.
>
It's no synth, it's just a keybord instrument that plucks the strings, kinda
an electric version of a clavichord.
¤ Alias
wrote:
Hohner Clavinet:
http://www.gti.net/junebug/clavinet/clav.html
Also used by John Paul Jones for Led Zep's "Trampled Underfoot".
¤ Alias
Thunder
"¤ Alias" <-@-.> wrote in message
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¤ Alias
>Good call. Is it me, or is the Trampled Riff a rip of Superstious?
Not really - that's just the way you play a clav - they just happen to
be well suited for making funky staccato type grooves.
¤ Alias
Thunder
> be well suited for making funky staccato type grooves.
Yes. Funky staccato-type grooves they both are.
Good call again.
Daniel Dreibelbis
wrote:
> Hohner Clavinet:
> http://www.gti.net/junebug/clavinet/clav.html
>
> Also used by John Paul Jones for Led Zep's "Trampled Underfoot".
and a huge part of NRBQ's sound, it's the instrument Terry Adams
plays the most in the band.
And let's not forget Max Middleton did some funky stuff on a couple
of Jeff Beck LPs with a Clav.
This company called Big Tick Software has a really cool freeware Clav
VST out, complete with phase shifting. I'm playing with it, but I don't
think I'll ever be as good with it as Stevie is. :)
--
Dan Dreibelbis, Guitar Nerd - Better Living Through Home Recording
song #5 - "Cranked Old Man" - now available
http://www.mp3.com/dan_dreibelbis
¤ Alias
<dre...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> This company called Big Tick Software has a really cool freeware Clav
>VST out, complete with phase shifting. I'm playing with it, but I don't
>think I'll ever be as good with it as Stevie is. :)
Keyboard mag had an excellent tutorial on Clav playing a while back.
I don't have a direct link, so this is a bit tricky to follow...but if
you go to
http://archive.keyboardonline.com/index_old.htm
Click on the "master class" navigation bar on the right,
and then scroll down the lessons till you get to the link for
"two-phisted phonk" (it's under "p" instead of "t" for some reason)
you'll find the remnants of their lesson - a bunch of sound files from
the original article.
for example
http://archive.keyboardonline.com/db_area/sounds/phisted/phisted13.mp3
http://archive.keyboardonline.com/db_area/sounds/phisted/phisted18.mp3
They don't have the original sheet music on the site but you could
probably suss it out from the MIDI file.
Anyway, it's a pretty good beginners guide into the art of the clav.
Shame they didn't reprint the original article - it would be so much
more instructive .
Maybe you can do something with it, maybe not - but hey, I figure I'll
at least let you know the page exists.
¤ Alias
Nil
news:dreibel-123DAB...@nr-tor02.bellnexxia.net:
> This company called Big Tick Software has a really cool freeware
> Clav VST out, complete with phase shifting.
Thanks for mentioning it. I'm checking it out now, and it's fun!
Frank D. Greco
>"Superstition" was originally written by Stevie for his then-pal Jeff Beck to
>record, a friendly payback for some session work Jeff had done for Stevie on
>'Talking Book.' The song was quickly withdrawn as Motown convinced Stevie it
>had major hit potential. Stevie rush recorded/released it..and it Was the
>breakout hit for him as he started his post motown hit machine/ 70s artistic
>(best) period.
>
>Jeff Beck eventually released Beck, Bogert and Appice's heavier version of the
>song a few months later on their debut album, but Stevie's defining version was
>already a major chart hit.
Didn't Stevie Wonder write "Cause We Ended as Lovers" as a replacement
for taking Superstition back from Jeff Beck?
With all due respect to SRV and Jeff Beck (two of my favs),
Stevie Wonder's version of Superstition is the killer version imho.
Isn't the chord progression (after the riff-based verse) slightly
different in Stevie's version?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I hear:
Stevie Wonder plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bbdim7-A7 Baug7
SRV plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bb7-A7 - B7+9 (Eb tuned of course)
Frank G.
Adam Childers
Steve2000indeja
>
>>"Superstition" was originally written by Stevie for his then-pal Jeff Beck
>to
>>record, a friendly payback for some session work Jeff had done for Stevie on
>>'Talking Book.' The song was quickly withdrawn as Motown convinced Stevie it
>>had major hit potential. Stevie rush recorded/released it..and it Was the
>>breakout hit for him as he started his post motown hit machine/ 70s artistic
>>(best) period.
>>
>>Jeff Beck eventually released Beck, Bogert and Appice's heavier version of
>the
>>song a few months later on their debut album, but Stevie's defining version
>was
>>already a major chart hit.
>
> Didn't Stevie Wonder write "Cause We Ended as Lovers" as a replacement
> for taking Superstition back from Jeff Beck?
According to the Beck bio "Crazy Fingers," the song 'Thelonius' (from 'Blow By
Blow') was 'given' to Beck by Stevie in 1972. BBA recorded it for their
aborted second album. It was re-recorded by Beck with George Martin for 'B By
B' in 1975.
"Crazy Fingers" offers Wolf Marshall's praise of Beck's defining version of
"Cause We've Ended As Lovers": "We know that Stevie wrote..'Superstition' for
Jeff but the way Beck plays this (song) leaves you with the impression that it
was crafted for him as well."
In fact, the song originally appeared a year earlier on an album by Stevie's
sometime songwriting partner of that era, singer/lyricist Syreeta Wright.
The Syreeta album features tunes all co-written by Stevie and Syreeta. Stevie
produced it and the musicians and synth programmer are the same team he used on
his golden era 70s work. AllMusicGuide says the Syreeta album makes a fine
companion to "Innervisions' and 'Talking Book.' High praise.
"Cause We've Ended as Lovers" is a Wonder/Wright composition on Syreeta's album
because it has the lyrics she wrote and sang. All other versions of the
song-including Beck's great one- are listed as "Stevie Wonder' compositions
because (imo) after Beck recorded it the song became a jazz rock instrumental
classic and subsequent recordings were always instrumentals...
Apparently Beck heard the Syreeta album and decided to cover "Cause We've Ended
Lovers" on his own, though he noted that Stevie loved the instrumental
treatment when he finally heard it. (Who doesn't?).
Beck dedicated the song to Roy Buchanan in 'Blow By Blow's" liner notes. In
'Crazy Fingers' Beck acknowledges that he was using some of the techniques and
concepts he learned from listening to Roy when he recorded 'Lovers."
-----
There's also some interesting info in this book re: the exact moment of birth
for 'Superstition.'
According to the author, Stevie was in the with studio with Beck (Beck's
session) to write a song as payback for Jeff playing on 'Talking Book'. Beck
was fooling around on the drums and played a beat Stevie liked. Wonder
-apparently- ran to a keyboard and wrote the Superstition lick. He then ran to
the control room and jotted down some words. They recorded a quick demo. Wonder
listened to it, heard A Hit and insisted on paying for the session...and
absolutely securing the rights to the song.
Believe it or not.
>
> With all due respect to SRV and Jeff Beck (two of my favs),
> Stevie Wonder's version of Superstition is the killer version imho.
> Isn't the chord progression (after the riff-based verse) slightly
> different in Stevie's version?
>
> Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I hear:
>
> Stevie Wonder plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bbdim7-A7 Baug7
> SRV plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bb7-A7 - B7+9 (Eb tuned of course)
>
> Frank G.
You're probably right. I've always thought SRV's cover of the song sounded like
a bar band cover-admittedly with a red hot guitarist. Sounds like something
they jammed on at soundchecks and it got good enough to add into the live set.
'Approximate' chord changes:)
To me, Stevie Wonder's recording of 'Superstition' leaves everyone else's
(including BBA's) in the dust. No one can touch his funk, groove, production
and especially his great lead vocal.
Steve
Spyder Barques
"Steve2000indeja " <sslag...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20030401104545...@mb-fd.aol.com...
>
> To me, Stevie Wonder's recording of 'Superstition' leaves everyone else's
> (including BBA's) in the dust. No one can touch his funk, groove,
production
> and especially his great lead vocal.
I'm glad to hear Stevie getting some recognition. He was the one who turned
me on to heavy/funky riff-based music, and is a big influence on my
guitaring.
As a graduation present to me and my best friend/ jamming partner Bryan I
got up early and stood in line for concert tickets for Stevie. He was
playing on my 18th birthday, and I was stoked just to be seeing him live. I
ended up getting front row tickets and was in heaven- until my appendix
ruptured and I spent my 18th in the hospital with gangrene and peritonitis.
Bryan and my other friend who took my ticket came to see me in the hospital
after the show. They didn't want to tell me how awesome it was, but I made
them and was devastated to miss the show.
--
Thad
ffohkce at hotmail dot com
Frank D. Greco
>According to the Beck bio "Crazy Fingers," the song 'Thelonius' (from 'Blow By
>Blow') was 'given' to Beck by Stevie in 1972. BBA recorded it for their
>aborted second album. It was re-recorded by Beck with George Martin for 'B By
>B' in 1975.
Cool info Steve!
>> Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is what I hear:
>>
>> Stevie Wonder plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bbdim7-A7 Baug7
>> SRV plays it: B7-C7-B7-Bb7-A7 - B7+9 (Eb tuned of course)
>You're probably right. I've always thought SRV's cover of the song sounded like
>a bar band cover-admittedly with a red hot guitarist. Sounds like something
>they jammed on at soundchecks and it got good enough to add into the live set.
>'Approximate' chord changes:)
Yep. I feel the same way. SRV's B7+9 instead of that Baug7 is
exactly what a blues (nee rock) guitarist would play...
very turnaround-like. Personally I would've liked a different bridge
or vamp to solo over.
For the same reason I like the Chili Pepper's arrangement
of "Higher Ground" more than I like SRV's cover of "Superstition".
Its just different and a bit more creative.
>To me, Stevie Wonder's recording of 'Superstition' leaves everyone else's
>(including BBA's) in the dust. No one can touch his funk, groove, production
>and especially his great lead vocal.
No argument there.
Kinda funny to discuss SW, SRV and JB, three of the greatest musicians
of all time, and put them in a horse race. ;)
Frank G.