jimct
MusicFan
Joined: 07 April 2006
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3906
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| Posted: 09 February 2016 at 2:48pm | IP Logged
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Just to re-affirm/add to Aaron's statement to you above, Tim, I pulled out
my mono/stereo promo 45, confirmed as Tamla 54226. Both sides have a
listed time of (3:59). The stereo side has an actual time of (4:06), with
handwritten deadwax of "T-54226-A-1A S DJ 61565-S MBG". The mono
side has an actual time of (4:09), with handwritten deadwax of "T-54226-
A-1B DJ 61565-M MBG".
Years later, we often forget that label moguls have never been shy to
express their wants/desires, to even their top artists. In order to re-sign
him in late '71, Berry Gordy had to give Stevie the same "full creative
freedom" contract he'd reluctantly given to Marvin Gaye the year before.
But Wonder's first LP under his new deal, "Music Of My Mind", was, unlike
Marvin's "What's Going On", a huge sales and airplay disappointment, with
his "Superwoman" 45 the only single to barely even eke into the Top 40.
So while working on his next album, "Talking Book," Wonder, who
could/can play most any instrument, still preferred to use session
guitarists. Guitar legend Jeff Beck had previously let Stevie know that he
was a big fan of his. So a deal was struck: Beck would play guitar on the
"Talking Book" sessions, and Stevie would write a song for exclusive
inclusion on Beck's upcoming power-trio debut, "Beck, Bogert & Appice"
LP.
But after BG had heard the demo of the song that Stevie had written for
Beck, called "Superstition", which Wonder initially had no plans at all to
record/release the song himself, plans changed. Even though Gordy knew
of the "quid pro quo" deal between Wonder and Beck, all is fair in love,
war and hit records, and the Motown founder now had other ideas for the
song.
So Gordy counters with, and I paraphrase: "I gave you the contract you
wanted, Stevie. Your last record didn't do squat for my company. This is
yet another crossroads in your career right now, Stevie. We need to sell
lots of records on you this next time. You still need to prove yourself as a
songwriter. So why on earth are you giving away one of the very best
songs you've *ever* written? No! I want you to keep "Superstition", record
it yourself, and put it on "Talking Book." I'll write Jeff a nice check. But
charity begins at home!"
So Stevie did. And it became his first #1 hit since "Fingertips". And, in
defense of Gordy, the song really did help to propel Wonder into a full
decade + of countless further classic hits, and into artist superstardom.
Although disappointed and angry, Beck understood how it all went down,
and did still opt to include a version of "Superstition" on his album. But
without him having "the exclusive" Stevie had initially promised him on
the track, much of the added impact and buzz Beck and his label (Epic)
had been expecting for his own trio's LP had been lost.
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Topic: Stevie Wonder Superstition
