Supernatural Thing Explained

Supernatural Thing
Type:	single
Artist:	Ben E. King
Album:	Supernatural
B-Side:	Supernatural Thing Pt. 2
Released:	1975
Recorded:	1974
Genre:	Funk^[1]
Length:	4:12
Label:	Atlantic 45-3241
Producer:	Tony Silvester, Bert DeCoteaux
Prev Title:	Spread Myself Around
Prev Year:	1973
Next Title:	Do It in the Name of Love
Next Year:	1975

"Supernatural Thing" is a song recorded by American soul and R&B singer Ben E. King. The single, released in 1975 by Atlantic Records,^[2] was a No. 1 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart for one week.^[3] It also reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Supernatural Thing" was written by Haras Fyre (pseudonym Patrick Grant) and Gwen Guthrie and was produced by Tony Silvester and Bert DeCoteaux.^[4] The song was included on King's 1975 album Supernatural.^[5]

Personnel

Musicians

• Al Caiola – guitar
• Ben E. King – vocals
• Charles McCracken – guitar
• Ernie Hayes – piano
• Gary Chester – drums
• Lloyd Trotman – bass
• Phil Kraus – percussion

Production

• Bert "Super Charts" De Coteaux – arranger
• Tony "Champagne" Silvester – producer

Cover versions

• Rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees recorded it in 1981 as the B-side of their "Arabian Knights" single; it was later included on the band's 2004 Downside Up collection.
• American soul duo Charles & Eddie covered the song on the 1993 soundtrack album .
• British breakbeat producer Adam Freeland recorded a cover of the song for his 2003 album Now & Them,^[6] which was released as a single the following year.^[7]

Popular culture

• The song was featured on the soundtrack to the 2020 film Spenser Confidential.

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1975 (U.S.)

Notes and References

1. Book: Bradley, Larry. The Alternative Jukebox. November 4, 2014. The 1970s: Ben E. King - "Supernatural Thing. 72. Cassell. 978-1-84403-789-6.
2. Web site: Ben E. King – Supernatural Thing. Discogs. 1975 .
3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

   . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 325.

4. Book: The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits. White . Adam . Bronson . Fred . Fred Bronson . 1993 . Billboard Books:Watson-Guptill Publications, New York . 199.
5. Web site: Ben E. King – Supernatural (1975, Presswell Pressing, Vinyl). 1975 . www.discogs.com.
6. Web site: Freeland: Now & Them: Review . Dene . Lewis . 2003 . bbc.co.uk. 30 October 2022.
7. Web site: Freeland - Supernatural Thing (Marine Parade) . . 13 August 2004 . . 30 October 2022.