Today’s classic song of the day is a megahit from Motown legend Stevie Wonder, “Superstition.” This track was released as a single in October of 1972 and shot all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and R&B charts. It won two Grammy Awards, for Best Rhythm & Blues Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
“Superstition,” written by Mr. Wonder, was the first track on side two of his Talking Book album. That album was chock full of classic tracks, including “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Tuesday Heartbreak,” “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love,” “You’ve Got It Bad Girl,” and, of course “Superstition.” To be honest, there’s not a bad cut on the album.
Stevie’s string of albums from 1972-1976 just can’t be matched. We’re talking Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and the epic Songs in the Key of Life, which included previous classic songs of the day “As” and “I Wish.” I don’t think there’s a bad tune on any one of those albums. It was just an incredible output from an incredible musician, all of these songs were outstanding then and have stood the test of time.
There’s an interesting backstory to “Superstition.” Superstar guitarist Jeff Back liked Stevie’s work and agreed to play guitar on the Talking Book sessions, but only if Stevie wrote him a song. That song was “Superstition,” which the two of them worked on together in the studio. Stevie originally agreed to let Beck record his own version and release it first, but after Beck’s upcoming Beck, Bogert & Appice album got delayed and Motown realized they had a sure-fire hit on their hands, the label released Stevie’s version (and the entire Talking Book album) first. I’m pretty sure Mr. Beck wasn’t entirely happy with that, especially since he helped Stevie come up with some of the song’s signature riffs in the studio. Stevie’s version is far superior, however. Far superior.
On Stevie’s recording of the tune, Mr. Wonder played all the instruments himself, except sax and trumpet. That drum groove of his is infectious, and nobody plays it like Stevie. Mr. Wonder wasn’t a drummer but he could play drums and was actually quite influential with his loose, almost sloppy style. I know I’ve copped some grooves from him, including and especially the one on “Superstition.”
I started listening to Stevie in high school but really got into him in 1976, my freshman year in college. I originally taped the albums (on cassette, of course) from friends and then just had to buy the vinyl. I played those albums over and over and over, and we played a lot of these tunes in our little work-for-hire band, too.
“Superstition” is one of those songs that never fails to get my feet tapping and my body moving. If you want a song to perk up your day, “Superstition” is the way.
