AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| Stevie Wonder - Superstition |
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Welcome to the latest Production Workshop for the classic
Stevie Wonder
tune
Superstition
.
Please feel free to go listen hard to the tune and then engage here with our community of students, professionals, teachers, musicians and newbies.
Here we are concerned with the composition, recording, production and influence of this tune.
If you find resources please paraphrase them and comment on them for
yourself
in this thread and do not simply copy and paste.
So who will comment on when this was first released and where it was recorded?
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Mon Mar 08, 2004 10:12 pm |
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hoggs33
Joined: 09 Feb 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Nottingham, England |
| Stevie Wonder |
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First thoughts on the Stevie track after a couple of listens:-
Love the guitar hook that runs through most of the track - it gets you right from the start. The song is quite repetitive when you listen to it closely but it works well it is such a good groove. Very nice brass mix. Personally I think it lacks a bit of 'kick' in the bass and drum mix. I like the simple bass section in the verse that follows the kick drum, it gets the groove going well - reminds of the sort of stuff Stereo MC's did in the 90's - one of the best bands for a bass and drum groove in my opinion. There is quite a lot happening in the song - complex riffs etc but they all work well and sit together well in the mix. Obviously a classic!
It is now on my iPod for some closer listening
First released in 1972 I think. |
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Tue Mar 09, 2004 7:52 pm |
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griff505
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Bristol |
First Thoughts:
The song has a very strong groove, which is started by the funky sounding drums which are nicely balanced and sound like they were recorded dry with no reverb. The sound of the drums allows for the clavinet (Stevie) and guitar (Jeff Beck?) to cut through in the mix amazingly. They are panned to opposite sides, which is particularly effective as they sound quite similar. What strikes me about this song is the separation of sounds, even when there are vocals, drums, guitar, bass, clavinet and brass all the sounds can be separated with the ears easily. The mids in the production seem to be particularly well set, the high-hat cuts through very well.
It’s a shame the song fades out as I do not really like fade outs too much.
It was recorded in 1972, and released on Motown.
I’m going to give it the headphones treatment before leaving any more thoughts……
Mark. |
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Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:46 pm |
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hoggs33
Joined: 09 Feb 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Nottingham, England |
| Superstition |
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Been listening again both on headphones and through speakers - it is a fabulous mix - none of the parts are competing for space in the mix - they all sit together really well - good use of EQ and everything cuts through well. If I can produce a mix even close to that by the end of this course I will be very happy!
The 'sound stage' of the mix works even better on headphone - vocals sound central, bass and drums together 'at the back' with the guitar and brass etc nicely to the sides.
I would agree with Mark about the fade out - I always think a fade out is a bit of a 'cop out' when you can't decide how to finish a song (sorry Stevie). You don't hear many fade outs on songs these days - I much prefer a definite ending.
Duncan
(still addicted to the feedback trainer - keep trying to beat my last score and getting better at it every time) |
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Wed Mar 10, 2004 6:48 pm |
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AUdIoCoUrSeS
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 2014
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| Stevie Wonder Himself Drumming |
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Some good stuff building here guys.
Now let's get into the "nitty gritty" a little more and start to suggest how the individual instruments may have been recorded.
Let's start with the drums, I'm talking about using words to describe the sounds of the individual components etc. Any guesses at the type of mics.... studio.... engineer...
Can we find any resources to aid us in this?
And is it Stevie himself drumming?
_________________
It's all in the ears. - Learn the concepts not the software.
Audio Courses is a way into the music business for you
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Wed Mar 10, 2004 8:15 pm |
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griff505
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Bristol |
Damn, he was just 21 when he recorded this album!!
And damn, it appears that he played everything on it, including drums, apart from Sax and Trumpet - http://steviewonder.free.fr/html/frameset_albums.html
As for mics I’m not sure what they used back then, but there are at least 3 mics as the bass drum, snare and high hat are all panned separately. The guitar sounds like a single coil, maybe a Strat, with some short slap-back delay, no reverb and tight compression.
I’m gonna give it the headphones before adding anything else.
Mark. |
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Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:13 pm |
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griff505
Joined: 23 Feb 2004
Posts: 68
Location: Bristol |
Above I meant to say there are at least 3 mics on the drums. Sorry. |
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Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:14 pm |
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iNSTiNCT2765
Joined: 05 Nov 2003
Posts: 60
Location: Denmark |
First Impression:
The song has an amazing stereo field. The instruments are panned leaving the middle open for the vocals that cut right through as do the instruments. Everything is clear and nothing's fighting for space. The track has a sweet groove and it swings nicely. I noticed at around 0:58 when Stevie croons 'seven years of bad luck', the vocals take a little dip at the 'bad luck' part. It's nothing big but just something that caught my attention. A different vocal take maybe? All around, the song is cool. Not something I usually listen to but still funky as hell, especially the clavi. I'll get into the 'nitty gritty' after I've listened to it on headphones and done some research on the track. peace y'all!
- Aman |
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Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:24 am |
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albertom
Joined: 21 Jan 2004
Posts: 22
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First of all sorry for the spelling (N) 
For me the song has some good "specials" and one of those is the way the hi-hat is recorded,(espescially when it open and closes)i think it sounds very original. Another "special" is the way the wind intruments sound, not to much highs like the songs from kc and the sunshine band i Downloaded for some research.
I have a question... The guitar or the clavi used in the song sounded (flow-less?) It sounded like the same dynamics throughout all the song. Maybe thats what he wanted to proyect. Did he use a sequencer to record it? I heard that Stevie sometimes used a sequencer device to play live shows by himself.
bai bai |
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Thu Mar 11, 2004 6:51 am |
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