How Jeff Beck Helped Stevie Wonder Write His Biggest Hits
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Superstition is a timeless masterpiece that is instantly recognizable anywhere in the world. The Stevie Wonder classic has become a staple at parties, social events and even local concerts with bands paying homage to the legendary musician. While the song has become a trademark of the artist, it was originally intended as a gift for someone else.
It all started in 1972 when Producers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil suggested Stevie to bring in Jeff Beck to record guitar for his song “Lookin’ For Another Pure Love” on the “Talking Book” album. While Jeff was on a break, he started playing the drums for fun, Stevie came dancing into the studio and encouraged him to go on, while improvising over it with his keyboard, and thus “Superstition” was born.
Stevie decided to give the song to Jeff as a gift for his work on the album, which was used by his rock band Beck, Bogart and Appice, which had the first recorded version of Superstition, even though it was released much later due to delays. No one could have imagined that a simple drum beat played at random would become the intro to one of the most iconic songs in the world. Jeff Beck said it best in his own words “That was my song, in return for “Talking Book” I thought he’s given me the riff of the century.”
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