THE HIT HAMMER: Stevie Wonder's "Superstition"

(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"

Hit Number 1: January 27, 1973

Stay at Number 1: 1 Week

The last time Stevie Wonder appeared in this blog, he went by the name "Little Stevie Wonder" with "Fingertips (Part 2)". This was the song he recorded live at the age of 12, and immediately he stole America's hearts. This was not only a kid, but a blind one at that, and still played the hell out of a harmonica and had a powerful voice that was chill-inducing for anyone that got to hear it. That 12-year-old blind kid would wind up doing pretty well for himself, as he kept producing hits from then all the way to the present day. However, "Fingertips" proved to be his only #1 hit until finally, 10 years later, he got to #1 again with the almighty "Superstition".

Just because Wonder's first two #1 hits were 10 years apart doesn't mean he went away for those 10 years. In fact, he almost hit #1 again with the bright and positive "For Once in My Life", which peaked at #2. (It's an 8) Then he went on to release the album My Cherie Amour in 1969, and the title track proved to be a big hit for Wonder as well peaking at #4. (It's also one of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs. It's a 9) Wonder was a mainstay on the charts, and those two songs I mentioned are only two of the several songs that made it to the top ten. For whatever reason, that top spot became illusive for Stevie. His 12-year-old madness that got him to #1 all those years ago may have seemed like the only one he might get. Of course, we know now that that ended up being far from the case, but "Superstition" was meant to hit #1, and when it did it might have seemed like a breath of fresh air for Wonder. Though for just a week, he was King of the charts again.

At the time of Wonder recording "Superstition", he had been working on his new album Talking Book. Guitar God Jeff Beck had grown to take a liking to Wonder's music, and before Wonder got started on his Talking Book sessions, he was informed of Beck's admiration of his music. Wonder was known to play all of his instruments on his songs in the recording sessions, but he preferred that other guitarists play on his recordings. As anyone would, Wonder jumped at the chance to let Beck join him on his Talking Book sessions, and in return, Wonder would write a song for Beck. The opening drum beat you hear on "Superstition" is one that Beck came up with. While Beck was playing it, Wonder told him to keep playing it while he improvised over it. He improvised that guitar riff on the spot. Wonder planned on that being the song that Beck would record, but as we know now, it's all Wonder for "Superstition".

The original plan was for Beck to record "Superstition" first with his band Beck, Bogert & Appice, but their debut album was delayed and Motown CEO Berry Gordy was very high on "Superstition", predicting it to be a major hit. Gordy also thought that the release of "Superstition" would amplify the sales of Talking Book, so Wonder decided to just release the song. In the past, we've seen that Gordy could be pretty difficult to work with, but one thing he's proven he's had was a great ear for music. He called the success of "Superstition" and he also called the success that Talking Book would find after its release.

Of course, it's pretty easy to look at "Superstition" and realize that the song could never not be a hit. There's so much swag just oozing off of that guitar riff, the horns wail and soar, the drums collide with everything else going on, and it creates a big ball of funky, energetic heaven. The song names off different things people are superstitious about, but Wonder always ends with "Superstition ain't the way". There's many negative effects to being superstitious, and Wonder names those. However, I'm not paying any attention to what the lyrics are telling me. I'm lost in Wonder's own wonderland. If there was a musical heaven, you'd find songs like these. Songs that are so amazingly crafted by such a talented artist. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore.

Though it took Wonder a good deal of time to hit #1 again after "Fingertips", he finally found his way to the top. But we'll hear from him again in this blog. In fact, we'll hear from him many more times. We'll even get to hear another song from the Talking Book album pretty soon. But songs like "Superstition", even for someone like Wonder, are hard to top.

GRADE: 10/10