What drum kit did Stevie Wonder use on Living for the City?

Stevie Wonder used a Ludwig drum kit for the recording of "Living for the City." The kit was fitted with coated drumheads and carefully tuned to achieve a tight, punchy sound with minimal unwanted resonances.

How were the drums recorded on Living for the City?

The drums were recorded using close-miking techniques with microphones like the Neumann U67 placed on individual drum components, combined with room microphones to capture spatial depth. Engineers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil used compression and EQ to shape the final drum sound.

What microphones were used on Stevie Wonder Living for the City drums?

The primary microphone mentioned for the drum recording was the Neumann U67, a vintage tube condenser microphone. Additional room microphones were also used to capture the ambient sound and add depth to the overall drum tone.

How to get that punchy 70s drum sound like Living for the City?

Focus on tight drum tuning with coated drumheads, use close-miking techniques for individual drums, and apply moderate compression to enhance attack while controlling sustain. Room microphones can add the spatial dimension that makes the drums sit well in the mix.

What studio was Living for the City recorded at?

"Living for the City" was recorded at Record Plant in Los Angeles. The studio's acoustics and monitoring, combined with the engineering expertise of Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, contributed to the song's distinctive drum sound.

What compressor was used on Living for the City drums?

Based on the era and studio practices, a Urei 1176 compressor was likely used to process the drums. This compressor was standard in professional studios of the early 1970s and provides the fast attack and smooth compression that enhances drum punch.

drums from "living for the city" by stevie wonder

living for the city

stevie wonder

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy, and funky sound with a clear attack and a controlled resonance. They sit well in the mix, driving the rhythm with precision and complementing the other instruments.

Gear

Ludwig Drum Kitinstrument: Reverb Sweetwater
Neumann U67microphone: Reverb Sweetwater
Urei 1176compressor: Reverb Sweetwater

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The Story

The drums on "Living for the City" were recorded at Record Plant in Los Angeles by engineers Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, with Stevie Wonder producing. The sound was captured using close-miking techniques on a Ludwig drum kit with a Neumann U67, combined with room microphones for spatial depth. The drums were carefully tuned for a tight, controlled sound and processed with compression and EQ to enhance the attack while controlling sustain.

Production Credits

Producer: Stevie Wonder

Engineer: Robert Margouleff, Malcolm Cecil

Recorded at: Record Plant, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ludwig Drum Kit

Microphone: Neumann U67

Recreation Tips

Use a well-tuned Ludwig drum kit with coated drumheads for a controlled sound.
Experiment with different microphone placements to capture the desired balance between attack, body, and room ambience.
Apply compression to tighten the drum sound and enhance the punch.
Use EQ to shape the drum tones, focusing on the frequencies that emphasize the attack and body of each drum.

Original Gear

Ludwig Drum Kit(drums)
Neumann U67(mic)
Urei 1176(compressor)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Shure SM57$100-$130

Alternative to: Neumann U67 tube condenser microphone

Budget-friendly dynamic mic that captures punchy drum attack with natural compression, perfect for close-miking snare and toms in this tight, controlled style

Reverb Sweetwater

Audio-Technica AT4040$300-$350

Alternative to: Neumann U67 tube condenser microphone

Large-diaphragm condenser that provides similar warmth and detail to vintage tube mics for overhead and room miking applications

Reverb Sweetwater

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter Plugin$150-$200

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Faithful emulation of the original 1176's fast attack and smooth compression that tightens drums and enhances punch

Reverb Sweetwater

Warm Audio WA76$450-$500

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Hardware recreation of the 1176 circuit providing the same aggressive compression and colorful saturation for drum processing

Reverb Sweetwater

Remo Coated Ambassador drumheads$15-$25

Alternative to: Ludwig drum kit with coated heads

Single-ply coated heads that provide the controlled resonance and punchy attack characteristic of early 70s drum sounds

TONEDB...

living for the city

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

TONEDB...

drums from “living for the city” by stevie wonder | ToneDB

living for the city

Tone Profile

Gear

The Story

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recreation Tips

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum kit did Stevie Wonder use on Living for the City?

How were the drums recorded on Living for the City?

What microphones were used on Stevie Wonder Living for the City drums?

How to get that punchy 70s drum sound like Living for the City?

What studio was Living for the City recorded at?

What compressor was used on Living for the City drums?

Community Insights