He's Misstra Know-It-All

"He's Misstra Know-It-All" is a single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label, from his Innervisions album, which reached number 10 on the UK 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. Ethereal flute-like sounds are provided by his TONTO modular synthesiser. Willie Weeks, on electric bass, is the only other musician. 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.

The song was released again in 1977 in both the UK and US as the B-side to "Sir Duke".

The song is essentially a long description of a know-it-all confidence trickster character who is a "man with a plan", who has a slick answer to all his critics and who has "a counterfeit dollar in his hand." It has been alleged that this is a reference to United States' President Richard Nixon, who resigned the same year the song was released.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Recording

The song was started and completed in a matter of three days. Piano and vocals were recorded on April 5, 1973. Harp and background vocals were recorded on April 6. Synthesizer overdubs and mixing took place on April 8.^[6]

Track listing

A. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" – 3:25 (Stevie Wonder)
B. "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover" – 2:32^[7] (Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy)^[8]

Personnel

Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, drums, handclaps, TONTO synthesizer, congas
Willie Weeks – electric bass

References

^ John McFerrin. "Stevie Wonder- Innervisions". Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
^ "Official Charts Company - Stevie Wonder". Official UK Charts. July 23, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
^ Arthur Chappell, "The Story In The Song - Stevie Wonder - He's Misstra Know It All", Bubblews, January 10, 2014. Archived April 22, 2015, at archive.today.
^ Daniel E. Frick, "Reinventing Richard Nixon", 2008.
^ Lynskey, Dorian (May 4, 2007). "Readers recommend: Songs about politicians". The Guardian.
^ "Expanding Soul". wax-poetics. July 15, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
^ "Stevie Wonder – He's Misstra Know It All", discogs.com.
^ "Stevie Wonder – He's Misstra Know It All" Archived December 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine at Discogs.

v t e Stevie Wonder
Discography
Studio albums	The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Tribute to Uncle Ray With a Song in My Heart Stevie at the Beach Up-Tight Down to Earth I Was Made to Love Her Someday at Christmas Eivets Rednow For Once in My Life My Cherie Amour Signed, Sealed & Delivered Where I'm Coming From Music of My Mind Talking Book Innervisions Fulfillingness' First Finale Songs in the Key of Life Hotter than July In Square Circle Characters Conversation Peace A Time to Love
Live albums	Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius Stevie Wonder Live Live at the Talk of the Town Natural Wonder
Soundtracks	Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" The Woman in Red The Last Dragon Jungle Fever
Compilations	Looking Back Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection At the Close of a Century The Definitive Collection The Complete Stevie Wonder
Singles	"Fingertips" "Hey Harmonica Man" "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" "With a Child's Heart" "Blowin' in the Wind" "A Place in the Sun" "Someday at Christmas" "Hey Love" "I Was Made to Love Her" "I'm Wondering" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "You Met Your Match" "Alfie" "For Once in My Life" "I Don't Know Why" "My Cherie Amour" "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" "Never Had a Dream Come True" "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" "Heaven Help Us All" "We Can Work It Out" "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" "If You Really Love Me" "What Christmas Means to Me" "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)" "Superstition" "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" "Higher Ground" "Living for the City" "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" "He's Misstra Know-It-All" "You Haven't Done Nothin'" "Boogie On Reggae Woman" "I Wish" "Sir Duke" "Another Star" "As" "Pops, We Love You (A Tribute to Father)" "Send One Your Love" "Master Blaster (Jammin')" "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" "Lately" "Happy Birthday" "That Girl" "Ebony and Ivory" "Do I Do" "Ribbon in the Sky" "Front Line" "I Just Called to Say I Love You" "Love Light in Flight" "Part-Time Lover" "That's What Friends Are For" "Go Home" "Overjoyed" "Stranger on the Shore of Love" "Skeletons" "You Will Know" "Get It" "Gotta Have You" "For Your Love" "So What the Fuss" "From the Bottom of My Heart" "All About the Love Again" "Faith" "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate"
Featured singles	"My Love" "How Come, How Long" "California Roll"
Other songs	"You and I (We Can Conquer the World)" "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" "Golden Lady" "All in Love Is Fair" "They Won't Go When I Go" "Love's in Need of Love Today" "Knocks Me Off My Feet" "Pastime Paradise" "Isn't She Lovely" "Black Man" "We Are the World" "Just Good Friends" "Seasons of Love" "True to Your Heart" "Stop Trying to Be God"
Songwriting credits	"It's a Shame" "Tears of a Clown" "Tell Me Something Good" "Uptown Festival" "Let's Get Serious" "You're Supposed to Keep Your Love for Me"
Tours	Songs in the Key of Life Tour
Related articles	Lula Mae Hardaway Syreeta Wright KJLH SuperEgo Wonderin' "Wonder-ful" Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show
Category

This 1970s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Read other articles:

Shilling Tanzania

Shilling TanzaniaShilingi ya Tanzania (Swahili) 1000 shillingBank Tanzania ISO 4217KodeTZSDenominasiSubsatuan 1/100sentiSimbolx/yUang kertas500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 shilingiUang koin50, 100, 200 shilingiDemografiPengguna TanzaniaEmisiBank sentralBank Tanzania Situs webwww.bot.go.tzValuasiInflasi11,6% SumberThe World Factbook, 2009 est. Shilling Tanzania (bahasa Swahili: Shilingi; tanda: TSh; kode: TZS) adalah mata uang resmi Tanzania yang diterbitkan oleh Bank T...

Kabinet Burhanuddin Harahap

Kabinet Jendral Burhanuddin HarahapKabinet Pemerintahan IndonesiaDibentuk12 Agustus 1955Diselesaikan3 Maret 1956Struktur pemerintahanKepala negaraSoekarnoKepala pemerintahanBurhanuddin HarahapJumlah menteri23Total jumlah menteri23Partai anggotaMajelis Syuro Muslimin IndonesiaPartai Indonesia RayaPartai Syarikat Islam IndonesiaDemokratNahdlatul UlamaPartai Sosialis IndonesiaPartai Katolik Republik IndonesiaPartai BuruhPartai Rakyat NasionalPartai Republik Indonesia RayaPartai Rakyat IndonesiaP...

List of companies of Guatemala

Location of Guatemala Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, Honduras to the east and El Salvador to the southeast. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2010 was estimated at US$70.15 billion. The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 63%, followed by the industry sector at 23.8% and the agriculture sector at 13.2% (2010 ...

George H. Williams (Missouri politician)

American politician and attorney George H. WilliamsUnited States Senatorfrom MissouriIn officeMay 25, 1925 – December 5, 1926Appointed bySam Aaron BakerPreceded bySelden P. SpencerSucceeded byHarry B. Hawes Personal detailsBorn(1871-12-01)December 1, 1871California, Missouri, USDiedNovember 25, 1963(1963-11-25) (aged 91)Sarasota, Florida, USPolitical partyRepublicanSpouseHarriet C. (Stewart) WilliamsChildrentwo sonsAlma materDrury CollegePrinceton UniversityWashington Universi...

History of the foreign relations of the United Kingdom

The history of the foreign relations of the United Kingdom covers English, British, and United Kingdom's foreign policy from about 1500 to 2000. For the current situation since 2000 see foreign relations of the United Kingdom. Britain from 1750 to the 1910s took pride in an unmatched economic base; comprising industry, finance, shipping and trade that largely dominated the globe. Foreign policy based on free trade (from the 1840 to 1920s) kept the economy flourishing. The overseas First Brit...

2018 Cuyahoga County executive election

American county executive election 2018 Cuyahoga County executive election ← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 → Turnout54.5%[1] 14.9 pp Candidate Armond Budish Peter J. Corrigan Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 318,612 153,630 Percentage 67.5% 32.5% Results by municipalityBudish: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ...

Concetto Lo Bello

Concetto Lo Bello Lo Bello allo stadio San Siro di Milano per la finale di Coppa dei Campioni 1969-70 tra Feyenoord e Celtic Informazioni personali Arbitro di Calcio Sezione Siracusa Professione AssicuratorePoliticoDirigente sportivo Attività nazionale Anni Campionato Ruolo 1954-1974 Serie A e B Arbitro Attività internazionale 1958-1974 UEFA Arbitro Esordio Egitto-Germania Ovest28 dicembre 1958 Premi Anno Premio 1963 Premio Giovanni Mauro Concetto Lo Bello (Siracusa, 13 maggio 1924 – Sir...

Révolution allemande de 1918-1919

Révolution allemande de 1918-1919 Révolution de novembre 1918 à Berlin : un groupe de soldats brandissant le drapeau rouge, le 9 novembre à la porte de Brandebourg. Données clés Autre nom Révolution de novembre Date Hiver 1918 - printemps 1919 Lieu Allemagne Cause Défaite de l'Allemagne lors de la Première Guerre mondialeSoulèvements du Parti communiste d'Allemagne à Berlin et en Bavière Résultat Abdication de Guillaume II, fin de l'Empire allemand (en novembre 1918)Écrase...

BBC East

BBC EastBBC East's area within the UKTV stationsBBC OneTV transmittersSandy HeathSudburyTacolnestonRadio stationsBBC Radio NorfolkBBC Radio SuffolkBBC EssexBBC Radio CambridgeshireBBC Radio NorthamptonBBC Three Counties RadioHeadquartersThe Forum, Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1BH, (Since 2003)AreaNorfolkSuffolkEssexCambridgeshireNorthamptonshireBedfordshire northern Hertfordshirenorthern BuckinghamshireNationBBC English RegionsRegionsEast and parts of the East MidlandsKey peopleMick Rawsth...

Renin–angiotensin system

Hormone system Anatomical diagram of RAS[1] The renin–angiotensin system (RAS), or renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), is a hormone system that regulates blood pressure, fluid and electrolyte balance, and systemic vascular resistance.[2][3] When renal blood flow is reduced, juxtaglomerular cells in the kidneys convert the precursor prorenin (already present in the blood) into renin and secrete it directly into the circulation. Plasma renin then carries o...

Robert Sheaffer

American writer, and UFO skeptic (born 1949) Robert SheafferSheaffer at home in January 2012Born1949 (age 74–75)Chicago, Illinois, U.S.OccupationFreelance writer, skeptic, author, investigatorNationalityAmericanAlma materNorthwestern UniversityNotable worksUFO Sightings: The Evidence; Psychic Vibrations: Skeptical Giggles from the Skeptical InquirerWebsitedebunker.com Robert Sheaffer (born 1949) is an American freelance writer and UFO skeptic. He is a paranormal investigator o...

Clarke Gayford

First partner of New Zealand (2017–2023) Clarke GayfordGayford in 2021BornClarke Timothy Gayford (1976-10-24) 24 October 1976 (age 47)[1]Gisborne, New ZealandOccupationBroadcasterSpouse Jacinda Ardern (m. 2024)Children1 Clarke Timothy Gayford[2] (born 24 October 1976)[1] is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day. He is the husband of Jacinda Ardern, who was prime mi...

Tmesisternini

Tmesisternini Tmesisternus distinctus Klasifikasi ilmiah Kerajaan: Animalia Filum: Arthropoda Kelas: Insecta Ordo: Coleoptera Famili: Cerambycidae Subfamili: Lamiinae Tribus: Tmesisternini Tmesisternini merupakan suatu tribus dari kumbang tanduk panjang (familia Cerambycidae) subfamilia Lamiinae.[1] Taksonomi Tribus ini beranggotakan sejumlah genus berikut: Arrhenotoides Breuning, 1945 Blapsilon Pascoe, 1860 Buprestomorpha Thomson, 1860 Epiblapsilon Gressitt, 1984 Falsapolia Breuning...

Lincoln International

Multinational financial services company This article is about the investment banking firm. For the insurance and investment management company, see Lincoln Financial. Lincoln International LLCHeadquarters at 110 North WackerCompany typePrivate companyIndustryInvestment bankingPredecessorLincoln PartnersPeters AssociatesFounded1996FounderRobert B. Barr, Jim LawsonHeadquartersChicago, Illinois, United StatesProductsMergers & Acquisitions, Fairness Opinions, Capital Advisory, Joint Ventures...

الفتوحات المكية

الفتوحات المكية الصفحتان الافتتاحيتان لمخطوطة قونية لكتاب الفتوحات المكية اللتان خططهما الشيخ محيي الدين ابن عربي بخط يده معلومات الكتاب المؤلف محيي الدين ابن عربي البلد الأندلس اللغة العربية الناشر دار الكتب العلمية تاريخ النشر 2006 السلسلة تصوف الموضوع موسوعة تصوف الت�...

Філософія

Частина серії проФілософіяLeft to right: Plato, Kant, Nietzsche, Buddha, Confucius, AverroesПлатонКантНіцшеБуддаКонфуційАверроес Філософи Епістемологи Естетики Етики Логіки Метафізики Соціально-політичні філософи Традиції Аналітична Арістотелівська Африканська Близькосхідна іранська Буддій�...

Félix-Henri Giacomotti

Cet article est une ébauche concernant un peintre français. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Félix-Henri GiacomottiFélix-Henri Giacomotti, photographie anonyme,musée des beaux-arts de Besançon.Naissance 19 novembre 1828Quingey, Doubs (France)Décès 10 mai 1909 (à 80 ans)Besançon, Doubs (France)Nationalité Italienne FrançaiseActivités PeintreAutres activités Conservateur de musée...

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (film)

1957 film by John Sturges For the 1881 event, later retroactively named after the film, see Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Gunfight at the O.K. CorralGunfight at the O.K. Corral/Last Train from Gun Hill 1963 film posterDirected byJohn SturgesScreenplay byLeon UrisBased onThe Killer1954 article Holiday Magazineby George Scullin[1]Produced byHal B. WallisStarring Burt Lancaster Kirk Douglas Rhonda Fleming Jo Van Fleet John Ireland CinematographyCharles B. Lang Jr.Edited byWarren LowMusic ...

Gangtou station

Station of the Shenzhen Metro Gangtou岗头General informationLocationLonggang District, Shenzhen, GuangdongChinaOperated bySZMC (Shenzhen Metro Group)Line(s) Line 10Platforms2 (1 island platform)Tracks2ConstructionStructure typeUndergroundAccessibleYesHistoryOpened18 August 2020Services Preceding station Shenzhen Metro Following station Huaweitowards Futian Checkpoint Line 10 Xuexiangtowards Shuangyong Street Gangtou station (Chinese: 岗头站; pinyin: G...

Kristina Nenadovic

Kristina NenadovicInformationsNaissance 1er avril 2002 (22 ans)KragujevacNationalité françaiseÉquipe non-UCI 2019-2021St Michel-Auber 93Équipe UCI 2022-2023Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritimemodifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Kristina Nenadovic, née le 1er avril 2002 à Kragujevac en Serbie, est une coureuse cycliste française. Palmarès sur route 2019 Médaillée de bronze du championnat d'Europe junior Palmarès sur piste 2019 Championne de France de poursuite junior 2...