When I first came across “I Do Love You,” a song written by Stevie Wonder and recorded by The Beach Boys for their 1985 album The Beach Boys, I had a hard time believing that it was real. How did it happen that two of my favorite artists, who come from such different backgrounds and musical worlds, each totally immersed in their own unique and unmistakable sound, somehow found each other and did a beautiful song together? In this track, I heard Stevie’s lush jazz harmony, signature harmonica solo and funky Motown groove, but I also heard the Beach Boys “blend” - the sound of a vocal harmony that is as recognizable as one’s own voice. At first I didn’t ask questions, I just accepted the mystery and enjoyed this song as my special little secret, but now I know who is to thank - The LinnDrum.

As it turns out, one day in 1984 producer Steve Levine, who was working with the Beach Boys at West Lake Studios, received a call from Stevie Wonder. They had never met before, but Stevie knew that Levine was at West Lake, and also knew that he was the owner of a LinnDrum - one of the first studio-caliber drum machines of the 80’s, and one that would redefine music production of that era and beyond. It has been made famous with recordings by Prince, Tears For Fears, Michael Jackson, Madonna and countless others. Stevie owned two of these machines (out of the 500 that were made of that first original model) and wanted to ask for Levine’s help in getting them to synchronize, so that he could use one to play drum sounds and the other to play percussion on the same beat and tempo. Levine was honored and came over the next day, and after he helped Stevie with his request, Stevie asked if Levine was looking for a song for the new Beach Boys album. Levine’s answer prompted the following demo, recorded live to cassette with Stevie on Fender Rhodes, accompanied by the twin LinnDrums:

Levine brought the tape to the studio, and the Beach Boys said they’d be happy to record it if Stevie could record the track for them. Stevie then came to the studio and, as was his method of recording at the time, played all the individual instruments himself. In seven hours he recorded drums, bass, Rhodes, piano, LinnDrum, harmonica and a vocal guide, and all that was left then was for Carl Wilson to record lead vocals, and for the rest of The Beach Boys to record back vocals on the finished track. Levine said he feels fortunate to have met and worked with one of his heroes, and that Stevie was a pleasure to work with, both kind and professional. After all the hard work and providence that brought this song to fruition, the task of transcribing it seemed worth the effort to me, and so below is a video and sheet music transcription of the bass, keyboard and vocal harmony. Enjoy!