I remember way back when there was a really heated debate on a thread entitled "Who's more talented? Stevie wonder or prince?" and the debate (somewhat stupidly) boiled down to whether or not Stevie could play a real guitar or bass. The "prosecution" was challenging the stevie fans to come up with proof that he could and the only two examples I remember were Jermaine Jackson's "Let's Get Serious" and the Spinner's "It's a Shame". Are there any others? It was also really bothering me whether or not the bass parts on Superstition on Higher Ground specifically were "real" or not.

anyone, anyone...buhler...okaypimpin?
[Edited 1/8/05 15:02pm]

Years ago, with the release of Characters, MTV aired a video companion special that featured Stevie performing gems like "Skeletons" and "Dark & Lovely."

Well, there came a time where Stevie Wonder and Stevie Ray Vaughan were fooling around during a break. SRV had strapped his guitar on Stevie, and the dude was playing it. No, not wailing like Prince or SRV, but demonstrating at least a basic knowledge of guitar work.

Now, how that affects a subjective comparison of talent is beyond me. But Steveland definitely knows his way about a fretboard.

ThreadBare said:

I'd heard about this, but I was thinking more along the lines of recorded material. I was recently listening to Talking Book and I swear to god there's an acoustic guitar that isn't credited to anybody else. I also thought that there was a guitar solo he did on "Keep on Running" but now I'm pretty sure it was just a clavinet VERY well disguised as a guitar.

jacktheimprovident said:

Ahhhhh. Yeah, Stevie's good at that kind of trickery.

ThreadBare said:

I'm not convinced that what I heard on Blame it on the sun isn't an acoustic guitar but yes, stevie is good at "trickery"

jacktheimprovident said:

Oh and there are clearly two acoustic guitars on "visions" only one of which is credited (I'm grasping at straws aren't I? )

Man, I've looked and looked online and I can't find any specific liner notes, sessionography etc.. that have this information, anyone out there who wants to point me in the right direction and end my little pet quest?