| "He's Misstra Know-It-All" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byStevie Wonder | ||||
| from the albumInnervisions | ||||
| B-side | "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover" | |||
| Released | April 1974 | |||
| Recorded | April 5-8, 1973 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Soul,pop[1] | |||
| Length | 3:25 (single version) 5:38 (album version) | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Songwriter | Stevie Wonder | |||
| Producers |
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| Stevie Wonder singles chronology | ||||
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| Official audio | ||||
| He's Misstra Know-It-All (album version) onYouTube | ||||
"He's Misstra Know-It-All" is a single byStevie Wonder for theTamla (Motown) label, from hisInnervisions album, which reached number 10 on theUK Singles Chart in April 1974.[2] The song takes the form of a mellow ballad with a steady beat, principally a solo performance with Wonder providing lead vocal, background vocal, piano, drums, handclaps and congas.[3] Horn sounds are played on theMoog synthesizer that is programmed byMalcolm Cecil andRobert Margouleff.[4] Ethereal flute-like sounds are provided by theTONTO modular synthesizer that is also programmed by Cecil and Margouleff.Willie Weeks, on electric bass, is the only other musician.[3] Towards the end of the song the mood changes to a stronger feel, more strident singing and with hand-claps emphasising the beat, half-beat and quarter-beat.
"He's Misstra Know-It-All" was re-released in 1977 in both the UK and US as theB-side to "Sir Duke".
The song is essentially a long description of aknow-it-allconfidence trickster character who is a "man with a plan", who has a slick answer to all his critics and who has "acounterfeit dollar in his hand". It has been alleged that this is a reference to United States' PresidentRichard Nixon, who resigned the same year the single was released.[5][6][7]
The song was started and completed in a matter of three days.Piano,drums and lead vocals were recorded on April 5, 1973.Harp[clarification needed] and background vocals were recorded on April 6. Synthesizer overdubs and mixing took place on April 8.[4]
A. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" – 3:25 (Stevie Wonder)
B. "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover" – 2:32[8] (Wonder,Henry Cosby,Sylvia Moy)[9]
Information is based on the album’s liner notes[3]
