By drums (192.245.175.45) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 11:51 am:

Hi all!

I have loved this song since the age of 10 and recently bought the cd and listened to it again now. My question is does anyone know what the inspiration for this song came from? Santana? I hear the salsa/afro cuban influence but I am trying to get other ideas from its whereabouts .

Also did any of the motown musicians assist Stevie after his big contract resigning in the 70's??

Just being nosy

Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 01:16 pm:

Daren,
speaking of Stevie's re-signing with Motown: I remember the day well. It looked like a convention for attorneys that day.At the end of that long day I went into Harry Balk's office where the day long meetings had been taking place. Harry was sitting behind his big desk looking very tired. He motioned for me to sit down and I asked him how things went. He was thoughtful for a moment and then said " You know, this used to be a hell of a good business. There was a time that you could shake a man's hand and go to bed that night knowing you had a deal. But today...."
And at that point he kind of panned the office with his open hand, indicating all that had taken place there that long day. Harry was definitely an old school pro that had little patience for the complex legalities of the present day record business.

By drums (192.245.175.45) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 01:58 pm:

Hi Mr. Ralph!!!

I bought the DVD for the making of the "Songs in the Key of Life" and Stevie and Berry Gordy were smiling, but you could tell that those meetings for the $13 Million must have been hell!!! !!

But Stevie was worth it!!

A question, if Berry had 416 million in the bank as he said in his book, why was he so cheap!!??

Just a question

Daren Metz

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 02:07 pm:

Ralph:
Have you checked out the latest issue of MOJO magazine? They ran an article on Stevie's "Declaration of Independence" and interviewed Malcolm Cecil & the TONTO Team that helped engineer Stevie's albums as well as his attorney Johann Vigoda. This is the same issue that ran the one-pager on the Power Of Zeus album.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Sly fan (67.115.72.219) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 06:57 pm:

I would die to hear the alternate versions of "Innervisions" or "Songs In The Key Of Life" Stevie and MOTOWN in general had THE BEST ENGINEERS EVER!! Its like the band was playing in you living room!!

"Dont You Worry Bout Thing" is my favorite cut off that album. Stevie was WORTH EVERY DIME and then some!!

By Sly fan (67.115.72.219) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 06:57 pm:

correction: in your living room.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

Drums,
I don't know why it was all so dramatic to get Stevie re-signed but it was. fortunately Stevie opted to stay with the company that made him a star.
Kevin,
I haven't had a chance to get a Mojo yet but I will soon. I want to see that Power Of Zeus article.

By Edgar (200.46.134.46) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

Drums, I am just speculating, but because of the Spanish chorus of "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" (Todo está bien chévere), I think the influence must have been Puerto Rican salsa (or Newyo'-Rican salsa), rather than Santana who is more into the Mexican school of Afro-Latino music. "Todo está bien chévere" (Everythin's alright) is a very common Puerto Rican expression (actually I think Stevie is saying "Todo 'ta bien chévere" -it means the same, but it's more like the way Latin American people talk.)

By Sly fan (63.207.60.81) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:41 am:

I agree Edgar, the piano riffs and the whole vibe is very Nuyorican for sure.

By drums (192.245.175.45) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 08:31 am:

Hi again all!


Thank you for the response to my question! I didnt realize that there was a difference between salsa in the different spanish cultures! Please excuse my lack of recognition. ! I love all latin music and am becoming a student in the art of latin drumming. And boy is it a lot!! (Guagano, Bembe,Rumba, Clave etc.)When I listened to the song as a child, I didnt hear it for the afro cuban culture, but growing up in Philly this song seemed to make everybody feel good!! It is like a song you play at a barbeque!!

Anyway on the dvd, Stevie and the band that created "Songs in The Key of Life" made quite a few references to the fact that we are only hearing a fraction of the music that was created during the project!!!

One can only guess at what we havent heard!!! Why wont they release the rest???? I know I would buy it even if the tracks were "scratch" tracks!!

This DVD is a must buy if you dont have it!!

Daren Metz
Sony / Studio 4



Anyway,

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 11:23 am:

Daren:
During the time Stevie cut "Innervisions" he lived in New York City and recorded his work here with Malcolm Cecil and his team of engineers. NYC at that time was seeing an artistic explosion from different cultures (for example the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, co-founded by the late poet/playwright Miguel Pinero of "Short Eyes" fame). From African beats to Latin rhythms to contemporary jazz & pop along with the music in his own head, it was no wonder Stevie created so many great songs using many flavors.

"Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing" was a great tune because it was so DIFFERENT than what Stevie had done before, which is what made "Innervisions" an eclectic album and a Grammy winner.

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By LTLFTC (12.210.76.205) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:00 pm:

I always thought that song may have been influenced by the Fania All Stars who were getting a lot of play and ink at the time.

SteveK

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:11 pm:

FYI:
NYC radio legend Frankie Crocker was a very close friend of Stevie's during the early to mid 1970s. During Frankie's tenure at WBLS-FM radio, he played a wide variety of music from R&B to jazz to pop to Latin and helped expose Stevie to what was hip at the time.
When Frankie Crocker died in November 2000, Stevie credited Frankie in a radio interview for being a musical guide for him and giving his music the exposure it needed at the time.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Uptight! (24.55.6.144) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 12:45 pm:

Edgar, thanks for clearing up the "Todo está bien chévere" part of "Don't You Worry..." I'd been wondering what he was saying. It sounds like he is trying to impress a woman (whom you can hear at his microphone). What else is he saying in the intro?

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 02:35 pm:

I bought the DVD about a year ago, and it's really a good thing to have. Very interesting stories and you get to hear a few of the songs raw and in their early stages.

By drums (192.245.175.45) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 03:21 pm:

Hi dvdmike!

I agree totally!! To watch Stevie playing the Dream Machine nad how he came up with "Pastime Paradise" is awesome!! And the harmonica mistake on "Isnt She lovely" or .......

Hey you guys go and buy it see for yourself!!



Daren Metz
Sony/Studio 4

By stephanie (64.63.221.13) on Tuesday, April 01, 2003 - 06:39 pm:

I have a question. I know Stevie is not dumb but he was and still is blind. WHO guided him and schooled him on getting those lawyers and asking for more money so he would be in a position to get what he wanted from Motown?
Stephanie