Pick four songs from any band and you can tell a lot about their sound. This summer, I’m featuring #RockBlocks, four picks from bands across various genres. They might be wildly different from each other, but what binds them together is the fact that they’re all a part of my life soundtrack.
By 1970, Wonder was already ten studio albums in. Signed, Sealed and Delivered had a mix of originals and covers, demonstrating Stevie Wonder’s versatility as a co-writer and an arranger. Few artists have demonstrated the level of craft in arranging other people’s songs that he has achieved for more than half of a century. In his cover of The Beatles’ “We Can Work it Out” I’m reminded that aside from the melody and the lyrics, Stevie always saw everything else as fair game.
Deconstructing this cover, it’s easy to understand why this is considered a masterpiece in its own right. It’s not just another version. Stevie reimagined the song from the get go, inserting a soulful, driving guitar riff for the first 8 seconds. It’s a far better intro than the original. But the best thing about the recording is the complexity of the arrangement, using horns, backing vocals and more three part harmonies to add vigor and life to this Beatles classic.
“Try to see things my way. Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on while you see it your way. Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.”