Stevie Wonder: Superstition (1972)

"Superstition" was Stevie Wonder's first #1 since 1963. The song is fairly straight forward and is about superstitions. Jeff Beck played the guitar parts on the Talking Book album while Wonder played the other instruments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

Jeff Beck: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2009

Jeff Beck joined the Rumbles in 1963. He worked as a session guitarist next before being recruited for The Yardbirds.
Shapes of Things by The Yardbirds (1966): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc17DqcA6Qc



The band fired Beck in 1966 for his temper. He recorded with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Keith Moon....

Beck's Bolero (1967): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeT1sXLzAko



Afterward, he formed The Jeff Beck Group with Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. They released two albums and split up.

Morning Dew (1968): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK86g9HONDA

Rice Pudding (1969): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvz1RNIJ3Fk



In 1969, he suffered a fractured skull in a car accident. He recovered in 1970.

He also played with Stevie Wonder.

Superstition (1972): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE



Back to Beck...

I've Been Drinking (1973): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQm9fRLYLwU

Cause We Ended as Lovers (1975): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC02wGj5gPw



Tax problems forced him to flee to the US in 1977.

Benny Benjamin: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2003

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/benny-benjamin/bio/

Benny Benjamin was the drummer for Motown’s Funk Brothers.

His work:

Money  by Barrett Strong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5KU34DrrPI

Uptight by Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZf3Byq8oLA

Going to a Go-Go by The Miracles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWt4Hz1KGcQ

 

James Jamerson: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2000

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/james-jamerson/bio/

James Jamerson played bass on many Motown hits. He performed on 30 #1 hits and over 70 #1 R&B hits. Both totals are the most ever by an artist.

Some of his work:

Shotgun by Jr. Walker and the All Stars: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk

I Was Made to Love her by Stevie Wonder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYux5-d1Es

Going to a Go-Go by the Temptations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Tfm70dL5s

Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight and the Pips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvwP72FuVg

What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f39Zs0gB87c

Rock the Boat by Hues Corporation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBwsG8ubFw

Jamerson died in 1983 from heart failure and pneumonia at age 47.

 

Paul McCartney: Rock n Roll HOF part 2

By 1980, McCartney dispatched Wings and went solo again.

Coming Up (1980):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBkySeyiDo

Ebony and Ivory w/Stevie Wonder (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmALA8miQY8

The Girl is Mine w/Michael Jackson (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHp0s2wKajw

Say Say Say w/Michael Jackson (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9jGSdGVNFI

In 1983, he paid homage to the 1914 Christmas Truce along the Western Front.

Pipes of Peace (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVK_mJrLbmY

Paul starred in the film Give My Regards to Broad Street in 1984.

No More Lonely Nights w/David Gilmour (1984):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxYpsB_jdH8

Live Aid (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsZUvmZUYTU

Spies Like Us (1986):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27ATt3FXAUY

He worked with Elvis Costello for his Flowers in the Dirt album.

My Brave Face (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h85OGkCaKIg

This One (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pb-8bdhogs

Figure of Eight (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlwLo8txw1k

Elton John: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1994

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/elton-john/bio/

Began playing pub piano at 15. He formed his first band in 1964. John met Bernie Taupin in 1967 and the two became staff songwriters at DJM Records.
Eventually, they wrote for John to record.

Border Song (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VIH11m6QGk

　
John Lennon called this the greatest thing since the Beatles:

Your Song (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBCVEcjScTQ&ob=av2n

Levon (1971):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vke6sYTxgJA

Tiny Dancer (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBS-fGJUVNY

Rocket Man (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNl3C0qvKg&ob=av2n

Crocodile Rock (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Ta0qCG8No

Daniel (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA78e27R_J4

Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26wEWSUUsUc

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7wwZVB4yMI

Candle in the Wind (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoOhnrjdYOc&ob=av2e

Bennie and the Jets (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjUk3Bp16zs

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rijQG1zlp7s

The Bitch is Back (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HxYuCsj26s

Philadelphia Freedom (1975):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sd6P2Tu8rw

Somebody Saved My Life Tonight (1975):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1Ap66som1o

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart w/Kiki Dee (1976):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwJ_XuAgMNM

I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6KYAVn8ons

I’m Still Standing (1983):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHwVBirqD2s&ob=av2e

Sad Songs (1984):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X23v5_K7cXk&ob=av2e

Nikita (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIi8LZZJIVo

That’s What Friends Are For w/ Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, & Gladys Knight (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbnua2kSa8

I Don’t Wanna Go on with You Like That (1988):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wyi9AbfUa1E

Healing Hands (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEJxSrblQMs

Sacrifice (1989):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrLkTZrPZA4&ob=av2n

Club at the End of the Street (1990):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgYVoBjHFuk

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me w/George Michael (1991):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsKqMNDoR4o&ob=av2e

True Love w/Kiki Dee (1993):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhLjyuXpgfk

Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1994):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9_nXlvY6Io

Circle of Life (1994):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ok_3j0Ijd4

Candle in the Wind 1997 (1997):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0PKcKbjlKg

This Train Don’t Stop Here No More (2002):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsuHAn54wPs

Are You Ready For Love (2003):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT5qv1BlbZc

If It Wasn’t For Bad w/Leon Russell (2010):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBlkpXE3lkM

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (1996)

"Don't Look Back in Anger" is the first single to feature Noel Gallagher on lead vocals. The band admits to swiping lines from John Lennon and the piano resembles Lennon's "Watching the Wheels." Lennon was not the only legend Oasis borrowed from. The b-side "Step Out" resembled Stevie Wonder's "Uptight" leading Wonder to request 10% royalties. The song went platinum following its release.


...and yes that's Patrick Macnee (aka John Steed) in the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8OipmKFDeM

Stevie Wonder: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

His career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:

 http://rockhall.com/inductees/stevie-wonder/bio/

Born: May 13, 1950
He went blind shortly after birth.
1961: He was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles. He introduced Stevie Wonder to Berry Gordy, who was impressed and signed him.

Fingertips Pt 2 (1963):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iioFz1wA1pY

Uptight (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbyOLzEyfk

I Was Made to Love Her (1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYux5-d1Es

For Once in My Life (1968):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours (1970):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inXC_lab-34

From 1972-1976: Stevie Wonder released some of the greatest albums of all time with Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life.

Superstition (1972):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDZFf0pm0SE

Living for the City (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rid-xkNS67Q

You Are the Sunshine of My Life (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyq4iqt6Go

Higher Ground (1973):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnbdXWvmysg

A shot at Richard Nixon...

You Haven’t Done Nothin’ w/the Jackson 5 (1974):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2ma2mfyhU

I Wish (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYKYka-PNt0

Sir Duke (1977):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH36ugGsy4M

Send One Your Love (1979):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMvVYCV-d8E

Master Blaster (Jammin’) (1980):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyqClwGu_Sk

Ebony and Ivory w/Paul McCartney (1982):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmALA8miQY8

I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwOU3bnuU0k&ob=av2e

Part Time Love (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6LLGePYwM

That’s What Friends Are For w/Elton John, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight (1985):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbnua2kSa8

My Eyes Don’t Cry (1988):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgH2yswwywI

Fun Day (1991):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Uk5f8ZGz1o

Gotta Have You (1991):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev_-RfTmAl0

So What The Fuss (2005):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6dvy4m-LyE

Superbowl XL Pregame Show (2006):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvyZsIbX9jE

Obama Inaugural (2009):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTA_J37kKx4

Special Olympics in Greece (2011):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_CYCLqipqM

Berry Gordy: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1988

His life and career in links.

Rock Hall Bio:
http://rockhall.com/inductees/berry_gordy_jr/bio/

Motown site:
http://www.motown.com/

Berry dropped out of school to be a boxer and got drafted to fight in Korea. He worked as a janitor before Jackie Wilson recorded his “Reet Petite.”

Reet Petite by Jackie Wilson (1957):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ3-NnNx6Zs

Gordy also co-wrote “Lonely Teardrops” for Wilson and “All I Could Do Was Cry” for Etta James. He took the money from songwriting and reinvested it eventually creating Motown Records.

The First Motown Release: Bad Girl by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1959):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca9pyyu7dpM

Shop Around by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (1960): helped put Motown on the map
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGXa3FiXKM

Please Mr. Postman by the Marvelettes (1961): Motown’s first #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dVt11UZ0uA

My Guy by Mary Wells (1964):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgwpHYzcwUA

Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas (1964):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdvITn5cAVc

My Girl by the Temptations (1965):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltRwmgYEUr8

You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes (1966):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyxVYl8DrKI

Uptight by Stevie Wonder (1966):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDbyOLzEyfk

Reach Out I’ll Be There (1966): Notice the change in tone from earlier Motown hitshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvoPOrBm-4w

I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (1968):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajBdDM2qdg

ABC by the Jackson 5 (1970):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOXG8wtxx_w

The Tears of a Clown (1970):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kxlZDOHeQ

What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5c5o85SGo

In 1972, Gordy relocated Motown Records to Los Angeles.

Lady Sings the Blues:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z39AXp-uWzQ

The company continued into the eighties, but never achieved its previous success. Gordy sold the company in 1988.

In 2006, Dream Girls based its character Curtis Taylor Jr. on Gordy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owpvh1821tU

RS Mag's Top 500 Songs #71-80

71. Papas a Brand New Bag: James Brown- Considered the first funk hit.

72. California Girls: The Beach Boys- Not to be confused with Katy Perry crap.

73. Superstition: Stevie Wonder- IMO his best work. Jeff Beck on guitar.

74. Summertime Blues: Eddie Cochrane- The ultimate teen summer anthem. Later covered by the Who.

75. Whole Lotta Love: Led Zeppelin- Robert Plant’s lyrics paid homage to old blues legends…and  the band in court ended up in court until 1985.

76. Strawberry Fields Forever: The Beatles- John looks at his childhood.

77. Mystery Train: Elvis Presley- This song was 2 years old when Elvis did it. It sounds like it came out of the thirties.

78. I Feel Good: James Brown- Brown performed the song in a Frankie Avalon movie--very strange.

79. Mr. Tambourine Man: The Byrds- When the Beatles meet Dylan, you get the Byrds.

80. You Really Got Me: The Kinks- James Hetfield later claimed Metallica got schooled by Ray Davies

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #261-275

261. Wild Thing: The Troggs- I am burnt out on this one.


262. I Can See For Miles: The Who- The Who do a love song. Naturally, it’s angry. Should be about 200 spots higher.

263. Oh, What a Night: The Dells- No it’s not the Four Seasons.

264. Hallelujah: Jeff Buckley- Buckley reworks Leonard Cohen with amazing effect.

265. Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder- Before the Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder…

266. Ooh Baby Baby: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- Smokey and the Miracles wrote this on stage in the middle of a gig.

267. He’s a Rebel: The Crystals- More Phil Spector. He produced this at 21. Fine line between genius and psychosis.

268. Sail Away: Randy Newman- This is about being on a slave ship. Not sure why Newman’s version is on the list as opposed to Ray Charles.

269. Walking in the Rain: The Ronettes- Phil Spector answers the British Invasion.

270. Tighten Up: Archie Bell- This became a hit when Bell was in Vietnam. He had to convince people it was his song.

271. Personality Crisis: New York Dolls- They dressed like Poison but thrashed like the Sex Pistols.

272. Sunday Bloody Sunday: U2- About 200 spots too low.

273. Jesus Walks: Kanye West: Kanye? hahahahahaha

274. Roadrunners: The Modern Lovers- It’s about driving around with the radio on. Kind of a surprise entry...at least to me.

275. He Stopped Loving Her Today: George Jones- This is country. He stopped loving her because he died!

Rolling Stone Mag's Top 500 Songs #276-300

276. Sloop John B: The Beach Boys- I think of Forrest Gump in the rain when I hear this.

277. Sweet Little Sixteen: Chuck Berry- The Beach Boys ripped this off and now Chuck Berry has a writing credit on “Surfin’ USA.”

278. Something: The Beatles- Pattie Boyd influenced this, and Layla and Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton.

279. Somebody to Love: Jefferson Airplane- Grace Slick accidentally got invited to the Nixon White House. She wanted to plant LSD in his drink, but got caught.

280. Born in the USA: Bruce Springsteen- The song’s message got lost in the flag.

281. I’ll Take You There: The Staples Singers- Still appears in commercials…It will never die!

282. Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie- Bowie makes a plastic rock star and becomes a real rock star.

283. Pictures of You: The Cure- Robert Smith does a love song…and of course it is about a broken dream.

284. Chapel of Love: Dixie Cups- Phil Spector was behind this (of course). It appears in wedding movies and will never die.

285. Ain’t No Sunshine: Bill Withers- Not sure why this is so high up.

286. Seven Nation Army: White Stripes- One of the last of the classic rock bands…even though they are newer.

287. You Are the Sunshine of My Life: Stevie Wonder- I vaguely remember this from childhood. I’m surprised it is not used in commercials nowadays.

288. Help Me: Joni Mitchell- Jazz meets the singer/songwriter genre.

289. Call Me: Blondie- More hookers.

290. What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding): Elvis Costello- Great song/long title.

291. Smokestack Lightin’: Howlin’ Wolf- Now we’re talking!

292. Summer Babe: Pavement- Pavement does a Lou Reed imitation.

293. Walk this Way: Run DMC and Aerosmith- They created a monster. Now we can’t get rid of rap rock.

294. Money (That’s What I Want): Barrett Strong- Motown’s First Hit

295. Can’t Buy Me Love: The Beatles- More hookers

296. Stan: Eminem and Dido: Not very often a song becomes a hit twice during the same period of time. This happened for Dido.

297. She’s Not There: The Zombies- The British Invasion meets jazz.

298. Train in Vain: The Clash- An uplifting end to an album about the post modern apocalypse

299. Tired of Being Alone: Al Green- Al Green was huge many moons ago.

300. Black Dog: Led Zeppelin- Robert Plant’s ode to a dog’s upfrontness. No courting rituals here!