Powerslave title song - credits

[BludBrutha]

How on earth is this just credited to Bruce? No way he wrote the riff and all the complicated musical changes in this.

Was Steve just tossing him a bone because Bruce didn’t get any credit for the NOTB material?

 

[Randalf]

Was Steve just tossing him a bone because Bruce didn’t get any credit for the NOTB material?

I don't think so. If I remember correctly, both parties (Bruce & Steve) have cited the story that Powerslave was a result of two separate song ideas that Steve suggested combining into one piece and Steve probably helped to "patch" the transitions and such together and his style and bass arrangement is, obviously, essential to the beautiful rhythmic section of the song. The guitarists probably had a big say in the solos too, but other than that, I think most of the elements can very well be from Bruce's pen, it's not like he's totally incapable with the musical theory, although lyrics and working with a virtuose guitarrist(s) are probably his strongest suit in general.

Disclaimer: I'm not on board with the Bruce is so good at everything - a renaissance man par excellence! worship. I just think that while his certain capabilities & qualities get a fair share of overhype and whatever, people also tend to underestimate his songwriting/musical skills. He's not a virtuose player, that is for certain, but given how many great songs he has more or less contributed in, I don't think it's that surprising that he's essentially an alright songwriter too and sometimes hits a jackpot, with or without someone helping.

 

[Edington]

I don't think so. If I remember correctly, both parties (Bruce & Steve) have cited the story that Powerslave was a result of two separate song ideas that Steve suggested combining into one piece and Steve probably helped to "patch" the transitions and such together and his style and bass arrangement is, obviously, essential to the beautiful rhythmic section of the song.

I had it in my head it was three sections, but you're right, Steve was the one who suggested patching Bruce's individual pieces of music together.

Also, remember Bruce can play the guitar. Apparently not very well, by his own admittance, but he had single-handedly penned Revelations on the previous album, which I wouldn't say is any more complicated than Powerslave. Powerslave has a few fairly basic chord progressions: Em - C - D - Em in the chorus, Bm - A - G - A under the solos that could easily have been penned by Bruce, and the main riff and harmony sections could have been Bruce simply humming/singing a melody which the other guitarists then translated to guitar, as they do with Steve whistling vocal/guitar melodies when he's writing his own songs.

 

[Prowler]

I had it in my head it was three sections, but you're right, Steve was the one who suggested patching Bruce's individual pieces of music together.

Also, remember Bruce can play the guitar. Apparently not very well, by his own admittance, but he had single-handedly penned Revelations on the previous album, which I wouldn't say is any more complicated than Powerslave. Powerslave has a few fairly basic chord progressions: Em - C - D - Em in the chorus, Bm - A - G - A under the solos that could easily have been penned by Bruce, and the main riff and harmony sections could have been Bruce simply humming/singing a melody which the other guitarists then translated to guitar, as they do with Steve whistling vocal/guitar melodies when he's writing his own songs.

Most singers write songs that way. They sing the melody and then a guitarist plays it. So, I suppose Powerslave and Revelations are written this way and they're both magnificent songs, my favs off their respective albums

 

[Edington]

Most singers write songs that way. They sing the melody and then a guitarist plays it.

Indeed so, I also just remembered Michael Jackson wrote Beat It's riff the same way.

 

[jeanpoleon]

I think it means he came up with the fundamentals, so the chord progression, melodies, song structure, lyrics. There are many instances like this. Nobody is ever credited for their guitar solos yet they are written by the guy who plays it.

Indeed so, I also just remembered Michael Jackson wrote Beat It's riff the same way.

The riff is from Steve Lukather.

MJ came up with the vocal melodies, here's the demo

 

[Edington]

The riff is from Steve Lukather.

MJ came up with the vocal melodies, here's the demo

The Beato clip's taken a little out of context, Lukather says that he initially played the riff with a louder and heavier guitar tone because Eddie Van Halen was on the recording, but was asked to play it softer. The funky chords between the main riff and the verse were written before Lukather became involved, though he did change those slightly. MJ's also the only credited songwriter, I know writing credits can be a little tricky but I expect Steve would've been given the full credit if it were his.

I've seen him talk about the riff before, saying something like (totally paraphrasing) "it's not a typical riff a guitarist would write, that's MJ singing the riff". I can't find the full quote*, but he also says here: "Beat It was Michael’s riff, and when I changed it a little he started dancing, doing the Michael Jackson thing two feet away from me"

*While I was looking for the source, I watched the full Beato video. Lukather says at about 9:20 that Michael wrote it.

 

[jeanpoleon]

The Beato clip's taken a little out of context, Lukather says that he initially played the riff with a louder and heavier guitar tone because Eddie Van Halen was on the recording, but was asked to play it softer. The funky chords between the main riff and the verse were written before Lukather became involved, though he did change those slightly. MJ's also the only credited songwriter, I know writing credits can be a little tricky but I expect Steve would've been given the full credit if it were his.

I've seen him talk about the riff before, saying something like (totally paraphrasing) "it's not a typical riff a guitarist would write, that's MJ singing the riff". I can't find the full quote*, but he also says here: "Beat It was Michael’s riff, and when I changed it a little he started dancing, doing the Michael Jackson thing two feet away from me"

*While I was looking for the source, I watched the full Beato video. Lukather says at about 9:20 that Michael wrote it.

Oh okay, thanks for correcting

 

[Edington]

Oh okay, thanks for correcting

Just sharing the little knowledge I have

 

[dickinson1978]

I

I don't think so. If I remember correctly, both parties (Bruce & Steve) have cited the story that Powerslave was a result of two separate song ideas that Steve suggested combining into one piece and Steve probably helped to "patch" the transitions and such together and his style and bass arrangement is, obviously, essential to the beautiful rhythmic section of the song. The guitarists probably had a big say in the solos too, but other than that, I think most of the elements can very well be from Bruce's pen, it's not like he's totally incapable with the musical theory, although lyrics and working with a virtuose guitarrist(s) are probably his strongest suit in general.

Disclaimer: I'm not on board with the Bruce is so good at everything - a renaissance man par excellence! worship. I just think that while his certain capabilities & qualities get a fair share of overhype and whatever, people also tend to underestimate his songwriting/musical skills. He's not a virtuose player, that is for certain, but given how many great songs he has more or less contributed in, I don't think it's that surprising that he's essentially an alright songwriter too and sometimes hits a jackpot, with or without someone helping.

I Think he wrote the main riff and then the others fill the song. I dont see him writing if eternity should fail especially the middle part

 

[UpTheIrons]

I

I Think he wrote the main riff and then the others fill the song. I dont see him writing if eternity should fail especially the middle part

To be fair, the middle section of If Eternity Should Fail (all of the song actually) is pretty simple to play on guitar, in fact it was the first Iron Maiden song I learned to play in full when I had not been playing for very long at all.

 

[Randalf]

I Think he wrote the main riff and then the others fill the song. I dont see him writing if eternity should fail especially the middle part

If Eternity Should Fail might have some input from Roy Z as well, although it's not very complicated and can very well be based on Bruce's very own demo thoroughly, but I mean... why not? Again, I'm not saying that Bruce is a virtuose when it comes to playing (and he's admitted that himself) or composing, but it's not like he's incapable either.