Talking Book

so much talent but a little sappy and boring for my taste. superstition is soo good though.

Stevie had an amazing run in the 70s man. Every song he put out was a banger somehow. I can definitely hear the influence that this would have on artists like Tyler, the Creator.

How the fuck did Stevie Wonder write and record this when he was 22??? The synths on this go nuts. Every song is at least good. It makes total sense why multiple songs from this album are considered classics.

I cannot be objective about this album. My father would (poorly) sing You Are The Sunshine Of My Life to me as a kid. My great-grandmother would play Superstition on car trips to mandatory Sunday service. As a teen, I would replay the ending credits to High Fidelity so I could listen to the almost five minutes of I Believe (When I Fall In Love it Will Be Forever) again and again. (In retrospect, it was weird that I did this because I am pretty sure I had an iPod and was shamelessly pirating music at this time.) Luckily, I do not have to be objective about this album because, hearing it as an adult, Stevie's control of his many instruments - his voice and his synths and his keys and his drums - is so fucking masterful, that the album's brilliance shines through any hazy nostalgia. Just like there are so many fucking layers. And he is practically doing all of them. He is doing all of the layers. Like I am just sitting here, eyes closed, picking out the complexity of all of these little sounds and then I refocus on the whole and everything sounds so natural and unadorned. Wtf. Side note: I was curious as to why I have never heard people talk about how Big Brother is this like beautifully folksy acerbic take-down of white moderates and the answer seems to his critics tend to be white moderates! Like my dude is out here basically saying "the CIA killed MLK" and reviewers imagine an individualize critique of some hypothetical politician (or a literal Orwellian reference!) instead.

Me encantó

Some really solid songs on here but not my favorite stevie wonder

Fantastic album!!!

Where to begin with soul legend Stevie Wonder's album "Talking Book". The opening track "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" is so joyful and stands as one of the greatest fusions of soul and pop of the 70s. Short and sweet, the song's reserved instrumentation and subtle conga-driven percussion ease the listener into this album with one of Wonder's most approachable songs. Stevie Wonder has a very solid and unique grasp of soul music. His smooth, almost boyish, vocals and effective use of guest vocalists to form memorable choruses are just as present here as on later albums like "Innervisions" and of course "Songs in The Key of Life". When compared to those albums, the mixes, especially on the instrumental side are a bit more washed out, but still pack a colorful punch with various genre fusions laced throughout. The best example of this is the always killer and iconic "Superstition". I mean this is one of the greatest grooves ever with an explosive mesh of horns, clavinet, and that bassline. On top of all that, Wonder rides this groove effortlessly. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the somewhat abstract lyrics, which paint an eerie image of mindless belief, and the upbeat funky instrumentation. Funk aside, the balladry demonstrated on the gorgeous synth-backed "You and I" is another highlight. More than anything, it showcases Wonder's talents as a vocalist. He's able to be emotive, while not straying too far from his comfortable range, yielding a vocal performance that comes off as subtle and humble rather than overblown or bombastic. Instrumentally, there are some great moments here. I like the fuzzy bass and warm synth contrast on "You've Got It Bad Girl". It's certainly one of the smoothest songs here. I enjoy the folk twist on "Big Brother" detailing the empty promises made by politicians to try and win over African-American voters. "Blame it on the Sun", is another song that references the sun, with ethereal instrumentation feeling like a heat ray beaming through a skylight in an isolated cave. The album closes off with yet another incredible love song with one of the catchiest choruses here. This here is the blueprint. Stevie Wonder's capabilities as a musician, singer, and songwriter are all showcased in a tightly-packed experience that effectively captures the evolutions in soul fusion seen in the 70s.

This album seemed to be an experiment, a departure from the main stable of Motown. I can see why people refer to it as Stevie's Classic era: the delightful backing harmonies, his layered vocals, killer guitars, use of Moog and clavinet. These instruments are not overused and they didn't bore me. Some songs (You And I, Lookin' For Another Pure Love) were too saccharine for my liking. Maybe Your Baby didn't need a 2 minute long "repeat until fade" outro. I feel that this album needed another upbeat funk song to balance the "slow dance" tunes. Overall: 6/10

Stevie Wonder Talking Book 79.39 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life(73) Maybe Your Baby(85) You And I(65) Tuesday Heartbreak(73) You've Got It Bad Girl(60) Superstition(87) Big Brother(85) Blame It On The Sun(91) Lookin' For Another Pure Love(67) I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)(90)

Liked this more than expected. Groovy 70s vibe. Starred 3 songs and listened to album twice.

It's Stevie so of course it's good but it's probably his less impressive album of his classic run.

Superstition and other good, but forgettable songs.

A nice Stevie Wonder's collection of songs, but he was still far from his best works like Innervisions or Songs In The Key of Life. Enjoyable stuff, tho!

An album that is fun to listen to as Stevie Wonder creates a relaxed sound.

Definitely liked some songs, good chill music.

I didn't expect much from this album, but it's been an awe-inspiring experience all through the music and the lyrics.

masterpiece

Classic Stevie, excellent in every way. Superstition is top 100 all time. Great album.

Half good

the songs i'd never heard are new favorites <3

Well, Stevie Wonder does it again — and by “it” I mean pulls the wool over our eyes in a deftly played, multidecade subterfuge of pretending to be a blind person. One listen to Talking Book quickly convinces the audience that this man is an accomplished musician — not a blind person. For the uninitiated, it’s easy to dismiss this critique as being ableist, or outright mean spirited. But anyone who knows anything about music quickly realizes that music consists of musical notes printed on paper — a decidedly visual exercise, despite its similar reliance on things like tonality, rhythm, melody and harmony, and other sound-y things that make noise. I’m not saying a blind person couldn’t make an album this good — I’m just saying if they did, they’d get the Full Five Treatment. Five stars for the long con — three stars for a great offering from a sighted person that continues to delight, more than 50 years after its release. (YouTube ‘Stevie Wonder isn’t blind’ if you don’t believe this humble reviewer.)

Finished better than it starts. I mean it’s really good and it serves as more than just a delivery husk for “Superstitious” but certain tracks leave you wondering if they should have ever made it out of demo.

Big fat chunky funky grooves stitched together with chill soul songs. Made me happy !

So solid. There ain’t nothing else on Earth like Stevie Wonder.

some say it was a crime that Stevie did win a grammy for this record as well as every other record he made in the 70s. This is 100% pure gold, but maybe I'm a simp for the man. I love the funk, the organs, the backup singing. Its all so effing good.

Maybe Your Baby had it all going on, rest was a bit chill?

One of many Stevie 5s.

Lots of nice songs, especially "Superstition."

7.5/10 - 3/5 There are some absolute hits here, for sure. It's a very well constructed album, too. But besides the hits, it's a little mellow for my tastes.

This album has one song that needs to be heard and that song is Superstition. Maybe Your Baby is actually pretty funky and shows potential but then Stevie had to fuck it up with another boring love song You and I. This could be a cool funk album but there’s far too much cheese for it to be fun. 3 stars

I was already familiar with "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "Superstition," but I now think this album deserves even more recognition than it already gets. This is a truly great album. Honestly, there's not a single track that is a let down. Every track is almost a totally distinct musical journey than the one before. 5/5 and one of the best albums I've reviewed so far.

Stevie Wonder dominated the early to mid 70's with a series of hit album's, this one being the first of 4 that turned into multiple Grammy awards across that span.

juju

Funky, groovy, soulful. Superstition is definitely the best on the album but Big Brother, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, and Maybe Your Baby are big standouts. A few songs don't quite reach the same heights as most of the album so that keeps it from being a 5/5. Overall, a really great feel-good album.

a classic album

A few good songs.

Funky

Ethereal and groovy, always a joy listening to this album.

I love Stevie…….. His popular songs. I admit it. “Maybe Your Baby” was annoying. But, it was interesting to find out that Stevie wrote “You and I”. And this album has my FAVORITE Stevie Wonder Song… “Superstition “

Love Stevie

Loved the entire album. It’s Stevie!

Much of this is unsurpassable. Superstition sits next to Sweet Jane in having a riff that I can conceive continuing forever. There’s schmaltz on here, by my own measure, where the music is not great enough to sublimate lyrical sentimentality. Lookin’ For Another Pure Love is schmaltz; I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) is majestic.

When I bought this on CD it was from the "low price oldies" section - for context, that's equivalent in time to buying the first Kayne album today, christ! Lots of interesting synth sounds and squelchy Moog bass (all played by Stevie) decorate some excellent tunes; these are outrageously experimental given how poppy they sound. I love the funky numbers and the sappy ones equally. It's not quite Innervisions, but that's not really a criticism

You and I and I Believe are pleasant songs. Superstition is a song I recognized and didn't expect to pop up in this album. It's also a good song. Solid album and for the most part relaxing.

Great stuff. Especially as a Jacob Collier fan it's fun to see where his inspiration came from

Probably a 4* album, but "Superstition" bumps it up to 5

Brilliance throughout but also moments of cheesiness. Superstition is unimpeachable as a work class funk song. Great beginning and end as well. Not as consistently awesome as Innervisions

This is one of the best albums I've ever heard.

C'mon, man. You can't have that Robbie Williams garbage and this work of art on the same list. I forgot how good Maybe Your Baby is. That guitar and bassline

Super chill. You obviously know "Superstition" and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" but enjoyed the entire album, especially "Maybe Your Baby" (hot!).

Not as good as I expected and not really timeless

Peak Stevie! Beautiful album, even if cheesy at points. “Maybe Your Baby” was a surprise favorite on this album.

Stevie Wonder's songwriting prowess on full show throughout the whole project. Funky, catchy, headboppy, great vocals — you have it all. Wonderful record, full of — wait — 1972?!

Not bad! I have other Stevie favorites, but this is pretty good. Several cool tracks, some are meh.

Nice, how he do that

Ging do

Contient quelques tubes indiscutables : “You are the sunshine of my life”, “Superstition”, des titres moins connus mais charmants “I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)”, “Blame it on the sun”. Le deuxième titre “Maybe your baby” est inutilement long et casse bonbon et ça gâche un peu l’expérience, et quelques morceaux un peu moins emballants. Ça reste très funky et très au-dessus de la mêlée.

Beautiful, poetic, loving

Peak Stevie

My favorite Stevie Wonder album with my favorite Stevie Wonder song ("I Believe")

A decent album overall. It picks up quite a bit after my favorite track, "Superstition."

It was just ok. Other than superstition the rest was average

At the beginning of Wonder's "Classic Period" of albums, his use of synthesizers and the sounds would define the broader sound of R&B through the end of the decade and beyond. Some of the vocal affectations in Maybe Your Baby would follow to Michael Jackson's singing. This is a remarkable album. Setting aside the wonderful You Are the Sunshine Of My Life and Supersition (absolute banger), the standouts for me are You and I which seems to use synth sounds to sort of mimic a lap steel, and Big Brother, with it's upbeat hook and jaw-dropping lyrics.

Great, laid-back album.

Some good ones

Holy fuck the whiplash I got from track one to track two. Idk… I liked big brother for the message, but the rest of the album was alright (aside from the first song, that one was probably my favorite off of this album, but also real talk? I’ve heard better versions, but I couldn’t have heard those without him? (Thanks Stevie) The weird flip from track one to two really threw off the vibe though, and the rest of the album just kinda dug it in (Tuesday heartbreak was kinda ick for me, and then it felt like “you got it bad girl” just had unfaithful undertones with the rest of the songs? Like that’s what some orbit boi would try to pull on someone or something Idk, I don’t think I was in a good head space for this one today, I know he’s got better songs from other albums though, “I just called to say I loved you” is a childhood favorite of mine …yeah

Liked the first song but not really anything else

Sappy Stevie is not my favourite but Superstition is one of the greatest songs of all time so that alone brings it up by a star.

2.5

I'm always really expecting of Stevie Wonder and always sort of disappointed by his albums. Maybe I want too much?

This was a refreshing contrast to Innervisions. Slow and more relaxed, I appreciate that. I also really enjoy anytime he has a harmonica on his songs. I don't know if he's the one who plays it, but I really find it soothing. "Superstition" honestly could take off; it could be a hit.

The bangers are bangers (albeit there are few) and the non-bangers are....well, they're not bangers. Generally, the song writing was there. I think the production value for a lot of them, however, left something to be desired.

None of the songs were unenjoyable, but the only one that stood out is Superstition.

Great album, I love all of the songs, great music, thank you Stevie Wonder

Versatile, pointed

Buenísimo

Talking book was a pretty good album. Most songs however, were insignificant or annoying, but it had a couple bangers that made it pretty darn good. Superstition is just great. You've got it bad girl was pretty nice too.

It was okay. "Superstition" is fun and well known, some of the simpler songs like "You and I" are good, but the rest are a little too... casual and flashy to be interesting for me.

Finally! 800 albums in and I’ve finally received a Stevie Wonder album. Superstition makes me want to Spider-Man 3 my way through anything (if you know you know). I was excited with the breadth of funked-out pop-rock on this disc. Even the easy listening stuff made me peppy. I firmly believe that Superstition is the best song of the 1970s. On the back of that, I can not rate it any lower.

AMAZING ALBUM!!! Have love this and all of his 70s music since it came out.

Love the funky 70’s-ness of many of the songs on this album. Superstition alone would make it worth 5 stars, but “I Believe” might actually be my favorite Stevie song. The darkness of the verses juxtaposed with the beautiful optimism of the chorus- which ultimately wins out. Gah, I’m dead. 5.0

Super solid, but a little unfocused at times. Innervisions feels like a tighter execution of Stevie's prowess. "Maybe Your Baby" is the funkiest shit ever, but the drums never kick in. Some great clavi and rhodes on this. 4.0

As soon as this record starts, a sense of calm and serenity envelops me. Mr. Wonder is one who provides soul with its definition and has created music that is truly timeless. His sounds have resonated across generations and will only continue to do so. What a great time to be alive in part thanks to this man.

The upbeat songs are great. The rest of the mellow stuff just doesn't hit for me. Great vocalist, just not my vibe and I'm not quite sure who it's for. Overlong songs and much repetition kills a number of these even further. Maybe Your Baby is so fun, but 2+ minutes at the end on repeat is miserable. Fav tracks: Superstition, Tuesday Heartbreak, Blame It On The Sun

This isn’t my favorite of Stevie Wonder’s “Golden Era”. There are a lot of songs that I have ambivalence towards. Maybe Your Baby meanders for too long, You and I feels a little blueprint for Stevie Wonder at this point in his career, and You’ve Got it Bad Girl just leaves me bored. But when the songs are good, they’re really good. The obvious being ‘Superstition’, which is widely played for a good reason. It stands out sonically and lyrically from the rest of the album and shows the direction that Stevie Wonder will go on with his future releases. This album’s sequencing isn’t the greatest and the album is very backloaded with all my favorites being on the B-side. Lookin For Another Pure Love (which you can tell Frank Ocean stole for numerous songs on Channel Orange), does better than what the A-Side should’ve accomplished. And I Believe is masterful and an excellent closer. Big Brother and Blame it On The Sun are my favorites on the album.

come classic songs included, but not my kind of music

Great funkish album Has Superstition on it

Fantastic

How did I already get another Stevie Wonder album from such an exhaustive list? This one was too slow and cheesy for me, should've been called Blabbering Book. Superstition is good but not enough to carry the rest of the setlist. Maybe alright for chillin' in a lounge but not my cup of tea (too much honey).

Starting to see that I'm really not a Wonder fan. One song gets this on the list? Am I missing something profound about this album? Glad it was shorter than Key of life...

I'm not sure what they hype about this album is. Stevie slowed it down way too much through the vast majority of this. Superstition is miles ahead of anything else on the album. The rest of this is completely skippable. 1.10 stars

some unknown masterpieces!

Surprisingly terrible. I thought I loved Stevie Wonder. I do not. The first album I couldn’t make all the way through.

- you and i gave me chills

Superstition is a great song, but I wasn’t fussed with the rest.

Full of bangers tbf! Not quite as good as Songs in The Key of Life though, which is a stone cold 5 star when it comes up! Simpsons reference: No but he looks a lot like Bleeding Gums Murphy

This was pretty shit. Some songs are far too long - Maybe Your Baby drags on. Not even 'Superstition' or 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' can save it from 1 star. I'm not actually sure whether I even like these songs. Raquel was not happy with me playing this in the morning. She preferred the noise of the neighbours building their new bathroom. "So much peace now" - Raquel, after the album finished.

There is a couple on here that I already know and have listened to many times. Superstition is obviously a banger, it probably saved this from getting a lower score off me. A lot of the others were OK to listen to, however, did nothing for me. Was slightly disappointed by it overall Even Stevie can see this isn't his best album.  Luckily he has better to come

Really loved the 15 second intro to the first song. Perfect length. 5 star. The rest of the album was good but not great. Love Stevie Wonder and there are some bangers but it didn’t blow me away.

Beatiful, powerful, funky... and a little inharmony sometimes too

This album is flawless.

Look, it's Stevie Wonder. Superstition, Sunshine of my Life, I Believe. This album just gets it done.

An album that addresses some of the songs that belongs to the collective mind.

He's a wonder for a reason!

Great, but a little disconnected.

The best song on this album is the last song on the album. I can only imagine those who picked up this album and played it on the record player, it was probably difficult to watch that needle move to end of and then the stylus picking itself back up, and then returning to the cradle. Sometimes the experience is part of the music. Fantastic album.

Stevie Wonder writes an amazing amount of boring music. A lot of his songs are just a lilty voice and some smooth jazz/funk that just meanders. This is contrasted by the devastating funk attack of Superstition, an indeniably incredible song. Maybe Your Baby also rocks while Blame It on the Sun and I Believe have some cool hooks, but never quite become a hit.

I was hoping for something groovier but I do appreciate Wonder’s creativity and passion heard and felt throughout this album.

This is great. I love the transistions between songs on this album, they flow through to each other incredible. Not the biggest fan of some of the songs themselves, but otherwise really good.

Classic Stevie W. with a couple of megahits. Syrupy at times.

First album in this musical odyssey, very smooth and gorgeous album. Enjoyed second half more, Superstition is 🔥🔥🔥 Only 1000 albums more to go!

Album 30% Titel ++: 1 / 6 + : 9 o : 7 / 8 / 10 - : 5 -- :

Talking Book is probably my least favourite of Stevie Wonder’s classic period albums, not because I don’t love it, but because, well, something had to be. I feel as if part of it’s problem is that Superstition is so good that it eclipses everything else in terms of media exposure, whereas his other classic albums seem more balanced. I do still love it though

Very enjoyable.

Mira, me sonaba el nombre pero no hacia relacion con la voz o el estilo de musica.

I enjoyed this one more than Fulfillingness' First Finale (perhaps I need to revisit that one). All the tracks are at least good, and some are standouts like Superstition. The sound throughout the album is captivating.

Kevin, I can’t believe you brought up “Jammin on the one.” Love it. 😂 I first came to know Stevie Wonder through his later works, like “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” But really, his early stuff is where it’s at. Even though it came out well before I was born, “Sunshine of my Life” has one of the most soothing, familiar vibes. It takes me back to summer in the first house I lived in, with the windows open, breeze blowing, and the radio playing. And “Superstition” is such a jam. Classic funk.

My first introduction to Stevie Wonder was on the Cosby Show andTheo saying “Jamin’ on the one” (I think) I really loved this album and listened twice. Of course Superstition is epic also loved Maybe Your Baby & Big Brother and liked how balanced the album is. Glad I listened and looking forward to hopefully more Wonder albums.

If Superstition were the only song in it it'd still be a great album .

Favorites: You are the Sunshine of my Life, Maybe Your Baby, You and I, Superstition, Looking for Another Pure Love. Awesome classic album. A style all his own.

good

Listening to full albums from legendary artists is such a strange experience because there can be one or two amazing songs in a full album of otherwise forgettable songs and the album is still fantastic.

I used to own this album and do like it. It has You are the Sunshine of my Life and my favorite, Superstition. However, I don’t think it is his best album. That belongs to Songs in the Key of Life. Still, I give this 4 stars.

hell yeah. one of my all-time favorites. Stevie is such a brilliant artist and there is so much music today we would have never heard if he hadn't set the stage or blazed the path. i think he's definitely one of my "desert island" artists.

So many Stevie records seem like they might be greatest hits records, then you discover that all his records are just full of great songs. This is no exception!

Crap

Rather uneven. Brilliant at times -- pedestrian at others.

Classic, good music!

great album.

Good vibe. Lots of the tracks didn't quite hit

Superstition y poco más relevante

So nice to listen to Stevie Wonder for a full album. What talent, such a unique and recognizable round sound.

A funk classic

Groovy, makes me want to dance around the room. Super interesting, many unique sounds, instrumental changes, etc. Complex. You and I is sooooo goooood. God I’ve heard Superstition too much. It’s been played to death. It’s hard to listen to now. Had to skip. Blame It On the Sun is gorgeous.

Plage meg ikkje

Full of energy and good vibes

duplicate

Funky!

Not really my style. At times the lyrics seemed saccharine and the melodies seemed meandering.

I enjoyed it very much

Love Stevie Wonder...some of my favorite songs (You and I) on this album, and many I hadn't heard before since I hadn't listened to this full album.

This was overall a solid album with excellent musicianship and production value. Very clean sounds. Some groovy tunes, but I didn't really find myself getting super sucked in or immersed into the music. Perhaps its not necessarily my preferred genre. I'd say solid, but not great.

I liked a couple songs a lot and several just a bit. Feels like an album I would like more with additional listens

Great album! So soothing and groovy

Everybody loves Superstition. It’s an iconic, top 100 song of all time. I had no idea it was on an album full of songs so saccharine sweet I would need to see a dentist. I respect The hell out of Stevie Wonder but this album was headed for 2 stars even with Superstition but Big Brother and I Believe are good enough to give it one more star. That and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life takes me straight to the back seat of the station wagon headed to the grocery store. It’s sappy but it tickles my little kid nostalgia bone like few other songs do.

A classic and a brilliant artist. Superstition is a superb track so it has to be 4*

Obviously Superstition is the stand out track; the rest is not great. But Superstition though...

Very 90s male ballad vibes - great for a sleep afternoon/night at home and you want to feel slightly American? Interesting background compositions.

Love Stevie Wonder, but this isn't a patch on Songs in the Key of Life or Innervisions. Far too many songs that could be described as filler. Sure, there's some moments of genius, but out of 10 tracks, 3 are essential and the rest are largely forgettable.

He really does have a great voice.

Full of classics and many great songs!

ehhhh not my style

Soul

this is really good and underrated i like tuesday heartbreak a lot and i like maybe your baby a lot and i like all the other tracks a lot

Iconic music and performances that will live on.

Step up from the last album, the single here is obviously absurdly good, and there are still plenty of other synthy soul tracks. B

Þvílík plata hjá Little Stevie Wonder. Soundið sem maður tengir við hann byrjar í raun með Talking Book. Þetta er ósköp þægileg plata og nokkrir absolute bangers. 22 ára þegar hann gefur út þessa 15. plötuna sína 1972. Einn af þessum litlu Mozörtum.

Wonderbarnið Stevie enginn venjulegur snillingur. 22 ára og þetta er 15. platan hans! Frábær plata og góður upptaktur að snilldarverkinu Innervisions. Superstition er ótrúlega gott lag og I believe fallegt. Lögin grúva öll og bassi og synthi sýna samleik á við Xavi og Iniesta.

l was able to listen to one song.....enjoyed; thank you.

Good easy listening soul. Not enough synthesizer.

Still a fantastic showcase of his undeniably great talent

I remember playing Superstition during my brief time as a top-40 disk jockey. Back then I thought it had a wicked groove. What I hear now is a lot of subtlety that I missed before. A very fine album. It doesn't draw me in these days through no fault of it's own.

Definitely ahead of its time. Good easy listening.

"Superstition" is an all-time great track, but it feels only tangentially related to the rest of the album, which has way too many slow moments.

funky grooves and fun piano sounds/synths make this an easy listen. The songs tend to drag a bit, but i still like it.

I really thought I would enjoy this one more... maybe my head is not in the right place to enjoy love songs right now, sorry Stevie. Musicality on point, just not my vibe

I enjoyed it, a little overly romantic for my taste.

Not my thing really

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Pero es un rollo el disco.

Those sweet, sweet, squelchy synths are just pure bliss to my virgin ears! 9/10

Had never heard I Beleive…really liked it! Was familiar with a few on this album, but I Believe was a nice find.

What a great listen. Some unexpected low points on this album, but nothing terrible by any means. The beginning, middle and end of the record are all great, there's some filler in between though.

Beginning of his classic period, when the record company finally "turned Stevie loose" (in Smokey Robinson's words). A little uneven and sappy in places but Stevie's funk and creativity are on full display. Superstition and Sunshine of My Life are the big hits but Maybe Your Baby, Big Brother (first real social commentary foray) and I Believe are great songs as well. Imo, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs In the Key of Life are superior albums but anyone who enjoys the unmistakable Wonder groove will appreciate this one.

Great music from great artist

Stevie Wonder simply doesn’t miss.

And 'Original Musiquarium I and II' is one you also should have.

Some bangers on here! Love the funky guitar.

This one surprised me a bit - I kinda associate Stevie Wonder with cheesy but I liked Maybe Your Baby and obviously Superstition is a bop.

Another good album for working and relaxing. However, didn’t like this one as much as the first.

It’s the one with superstition on it

4.2

3.5/5

Another gorgeous album by Stevie Wonder. Incredibly creative, catchy and expressive music. Stevie sparkles when he brings the funk, while the more pop-focused songs tend to be more hit or miss. 2 or 3 weaker songs keep this from being a 5, but this is still one of the great albums of the 70s, a real joy to listen to. Fave Songs: Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever), Maybe Your Baby, Blame It on the Sun, You and I (We Can Conquer the World)

Fuck man, Stevie Wonder was such a visionary. He had the ability to write songs that were simple and beautiful, but he was also innovative in a million different ways. This album has incredible range, beginning and ending with love songs, but running through a bunch of other styles in between. Superstition is just one of the greatest pop songs of all time 5/5

Solid R&B album. I’ve always enjoyed Stevie Wonder.

This is a solid Stevie wonder album. It’s not as funky and exciting as inner visions and it’s nots as melodic and beautiful as songs in the key of life. It’s right in the middle of them as there are a couple songs that are just okay. Wonder has a great songwriting style to make songs feel very personal. This album is very good and better than most of this list. 8.0/10

Stevie!! Always a joy.

Iconic! Also heard 1 or 2 more that have been added to playlists.

The hits make this a 4.5 but my love for Stevie makes it a 5

So good.

Never not in the mood for Stevie. Also…velvet kaftan, braids, the beach, my dream aesthetic.

Stevie’s music never gets old. I always forget to revisit his catalogue.

Pretty solid sounds. Superstitious was the best song!

Incredible

This album is brought you by Audible, with over a million titles of every talking book imaginable, you don't need to be able to see to enjoy all of the world's finest literature. 🎧🎧🎧🎧

Pop mit Soul und etwas Schnulze, abwechslungsreich aber nicht so meins

4.5/5

You Are The Sunshine of my Life Maybe Your Baby (great clarinet & Moog bass combo) Tuesday Heartbreak has sax by David Sanborn (very similar to the sax sound in David Bowie's Young Americans) Superstition Big Brother Blame it on the Sun I Believe (when I fall in love)

Started a change in direction for Stevie Wonder, highlighted by the superb "Superstition"; also contains the hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life".

Cool. Positiv.

Seichter Soul

1. 4/5 2. 3/5 3. 3/5 4. 3/5 5. 2.5/5 6. 5/5 7. 3.5/5 8. 3/5 9. 2.5/5 10. 3.5/5 = 3.3/5

Enjoyed where this started, enjoyed where it ended, didn’t love it overall as an album.

a funky lil' album; some good moments, like You and I, Big Brother and Superstition. maybe it takes a couple listens to really appreciate, because it's got the potential!

I really don't like Stevie Wonder :)

ample amounts of funk. introspective lyrics about interpersonal relationships and social inequity. this album will make you want to move. highlights: “tuesday heartbreak”, “superstition”, “big brother”, “i believe (when i fall in love it will be forever)”.

Yeah, man, I just don't like SW.

Another Stevie Wonder album that is filled with a few known songs I like and the rest is just boring. Meh.

It rules. The synth is so badass, it’s all so catchy that you start singing along halfway through each track. It’s so pleasant to listen to. Superstition is an incredible peak for the album.

Ik zeg je alvast twee dingen: Je moet en zal alle albums van Stevie geluisterd hebben voor je doodgaat en de beste man leeft nog. Misschien poept 'ie er in de hem nog resterende jaren wel een honderdtal extra albums uit bovenop de kleine 300 die hij al heeft uitgebracht (en dan gaan we er nog vanuit dat Stevie gewoon sterfelijk is). Het is dus zaak tijdig te beginnen met het innemen van Stevie Wonder. In de nabije toekomst zal deze lijst voor minimaal 50% bestaan uit Stevie Wonder en is het eindelijk afgelopen met flutbands als Rage Against the Machine en Pink Floyd. Ik kreeg Stevie voor het eerst toegediend op 3 juli 2023. Ik kreeg toen zijn 18e studioalbum. Daarna kreeg ik gelukkig al snel zijn 17e. Ik had onlangs nog zijn 16e en toen sprak ik 's avonds hier in huis eigenlijk al hardop de hoop uit dat ik heel gauw ook het 15e studioalbum zou mogen luisteren. Gelukkig is het vandaag zo ver. Mik er een kwartje in (of zo'n winkelwagenmuntje, Stevie ziet het verschil toch niet) en de beste man blijft leeglopen. Laat de bandrecorder maar draaien en kijk maar of je er 2, 6 of 14 albums uit haalt. Alles is goud. Stevie is muziek en muziek is Stevie. Stevie is de Alfa en de Omega. Moet je nagaan dat we voor Stevie Wonder niet verder kwamen dan met stokken op holle boomstammen slaan. Stevie maakte ooit van wat restjes van de ark van Noach en een kruiwagen vol schapendarmen de allereerste piano en heeft daarmee muziek voorgoed veranderd. Van Beethoven tot en met de Beatles, van Saint-Saëns tot en met Skrillex: Dankzij Stevie bestaan ze of hebben ze bestaan. Stevie is de grondlegger van soul, de grondlegger van R&B, de grondlegger van hiphop, de grondlegger van post-punk, de grondlegger van jazz, de grondlegger van eurodance tot en met grindcore. De ster van Bethlehem hing boven die stal omdat Stevie Wonder hem hoogstpersoonlijk uit de hemel zong. Dankzij Stevie wisten de wijzen uit het Oosten waar ze moesten zijn met hun goud, wierrook en mirre. Alvast een zalig kerstfeest allemaal. Flikker op met deze debiele monarchie. Ik wil leven in een dictatuur waar Stevie het voor het zeggen heeft. Stevie deed ooit een niet-knipperen wedstrijd met de zon en Stevie won. Hij betaalde daarvoor wel een prijs inderdaad, maar Stevie hoeft niet te kunnen zien, want het enige wat het aanzien echt waard is, is Stevie zelf. Stevie kan sneeuwpoppen bouwen van regen. Stevie kan met één hand klappen. Stevie kan een draaideur dichtsmijten. Global warming bestaat enkel en alleen omdat Stevie heeft besloten dat het niet graag koud heeft. Dat gezegd hebbende: 3 sterren voor de hitjes.

Probably better than the other Stevie Wonder album but still not really my thing

Happy music , lots of funk 3/4****

Fun easy listening!

za sada mi je on okej, kvalitetan, al nije mi nešta toliko dobro još uvijek

I was scared of blind people when I was a kid. There was this old dude I don’t know if he lived on our street or was just in the community and like around, but he was totally blind, used the cane, wore those super oversized even by 1980s standards sunglasses that blind people wore for whatever reason, and when he took them off, he had like completely clouded eyes that looked up sideways to the left. He was always looking at a plane flying over your shoulder. I’m sure he was nice enough because my mom stopped and talked to him all the time, and my mom didn’t talk to anyone she didn’t like, she barely even looked at people that didn’t meet her expectations. But to me, he was terrifying. I always thought of blindness as being something wrong, it scared me and honestly I was revolted by physical disability. Not proud of this, kids are assholes, what are you gonna do. What Stevie did was sing his fucking heart out. And I swear Stevie Wonder is the reason I’m no longer scared of blind people. For one thing he wore Wayfarers instead of those ridiculous oversize sunglasses. but obviously he also had an angelic voice. He would sit at the piano and hug himself after getting through a song. Just pure joy coming off of that man, and it did what pure joy does, and entered my cold little heart, and made it just a tiny bit bigger.

Good vibes, but never really grabbed me.

no mitä tässä nyt sanoisi kuumepäisenä hörhöäisenä, kidutuskuuntelua. mahdotonta nauttia, ja tähän mennessä kuulemistani wonder albumeista selvästi huonoin ei biiseissä paitsi poppi hiteissä ä huoh hurjaaa ainesta, jatkuvaa toistoa paijataan jollekkin epäkiinnostavalle melodialle . olen kylmä. superstition

13.12.24

Stevie Wonder is a treasure, but he has better albums.

A fine album with some well-known songs and some pretty mediocre ones.

Good but not great.Superstition is an absolute banger along with you are the sunshine of my life,but the rest of the album is just ok.

Of course he's an icon, but very few songs I'd consider putting back on. Nothing to fault here, though, just not for me.

Optimistic!

All the songs are great it’s a perfect record from start to finish. It’s so good.

Really great all the way through. Such good songwriting

Not a 5 in my life but definitely a 5 for this project

Not bad just not great. A few really good songs but mostly kind of boring melodies with generic lyrics.

Excellent, a couple hits and the rest are typically solid Stevie. As good as Songs in the Key of Life.

meh, helt greit album med to bangers

I can't believe I never listened to this before. I also cannot believe that the sunshine of my life has more streams than superstition. you've got it bad girl - kind of interesting mixing choices. also i kind of don't like this song. it's annoying. maybe your baby - sounds a little rockish big brother - I gotta say the political lyrics don't really match the jam band feeling of the song. good to see superstition is still a banger The deep cuts aren't that great. it sounds like stevie wonder which sounds like everything.

A couple of great hits, but a lot of tracks are disappointments. A couple of favourites (besides the eternal hit superstition) are Tuesday Heartbreak and I believe.

Svårt att gå fel med Stevies 70-tal.

sehr aagnehm, eher ruhigs album, für mich aber eher en hintergrund vibe

really enjoyed listening to that one, 4.5/5

Love it. So much tasty, groovy keyboard. Besides the two huge hits, I loved Big Brother and Maybe Your Baby.

absolute classic one of Stevie Wonder's best albums good for active or background listening, at least until Superstition kicks in. That is active listening 100%

Hard to go wrong with a bit of Stevie Wonder, but not his best work

Душевно, конечно не как Миша Круг, но все равно душевно 8/10

this is one of my favourite albums of all time! a smile came to my face when i saw this was our next album to listen to ! every song unfolds so well together one after another! literally every single song is perfect !!! 5/5

This album fucks

Unfortunately I found a good bit of this to be filler. No doubting the man's supreme talent and a couple of bangers. Impossible to give any album with Superstition on less than a 3.

A lot of this is carried by Superstition. Feels wrong to give a three but if it wasn't for that I reckon it'd be a two.

Wasn’t sure at first, but it really starts hitting as you go. Very jazzy

This album is unexpectedly same-y and repetitive. Along with cliche lyrics. Stevie’s vocals, and Superstiton are great, but even Superstition gets a bit repetitive by the end. Most of the songs are meh. Some are just good. It’s ok, at least it isn’t terrible and boring.

S - Superstition A - Maybe your Baby, Blame it on the Sun, Lookin for Another Love B - You are the Sunshine of my life, Tuesday Heartbreak, You've Got it Bad Girl, Big Brother, I Believe C - You and I D F

Not sure what I can say other than parrot the buzzwords that flock around this album like persistent birds: genius, smooth, exquisite. That's enough. Every track is brilliant, of course, but my favorites are "Blame It on the Sun" and "I Believe". With this album, I finally got my friends to stop sleeping on Stevie and, at least in part, appreciate his groove, funk, and genius.

Some of the songs I really vibed with, but most of Stevie Wonder's output remains horrendously boring fodder.

no my vibe to much pop vocals for me

A great album by Stevie. A fantastic blend of funky and laid back cozyness

Some classic songs on here. Some good B sides. Not my kind of music though, but I can understand why some like it.

Two bangers

I went in with high hopes knowing how much I love the track superstition, but I was slightly disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, Wonder is a tremendous song writer, but I think this album just wasn’t quite for me, although it was good.

A lot of great very funky and fun tracks on here. A couple did feel like filler though, keeping this one from a perfect rating.

10/10

Maybe your baby has a real great bass line but this is not my type of music. You and I really is great. The theremin in the background is my favorite, this song takes this album to three stars. I know he can make fantastic music but I usually don't like the style. Superstition is another song that just slaps, it's a real marker of an era for me. Shag green carpets, those dangling door beads and Blame it on the sun also has some pretty solid parts. The last song, I believe, really wrapped it all up well. I came out enjoying this album a lot more than I expected to. I wouldn't mind listening to this again! Honestly some solid bangers on this album, I would just skip the first few songs. Everything after that is very enjoyable.

I listened to this once and that was kinda enough. I know some of these songs and I liked the album fine but I'm not really into soul music. Best I can do is $3.

The first in a string of critically acclaimed albums, Talking Book is a nearly perfect album to me. His next three records won best album at the Grammys in 1974, 1975 and 1977. (At the 1976 awards, Paul Simon took home the prize and famously said "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year") What a legend! 5/5

Full of classics

While it’s not my favourite from his “classic period”. I still love it and understand this album’s legendary status in music Favourite tracks: You Are the Sunshine…, Maybe Your Baby, You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Superstition, I Believe

Lots of fluffy candy pop but Superstition makes up for a lot.

2/5 Eh

Stevie wonder can sing, this feels way before it's time and is a soothing sounding album. I'm a big fan of his voice and the way it sounds. This album is good

Almost every song is one idea repeated ad nauseum. Sure, that’s a fine thing in jazz when variations are layered through the performance but here it’s simple repetition with vocal gymnastics as the center of attention. It’s tiresome. Lyrically it’s moribund. “Superstition” is of course a hoot, and other tracks occasionally pop with funk, but nonsense like “You’ve Got It Bad Girl” and “Maybe Your Baby” are juvenile.

Classic

Hit or miss. 3

Dette var et herlig album!!

Well, this is awkward. I mean, Stevie Wonder! Superstition! This is gonna be great, right? No, it was not great. In fact, besides for Superstition, it was not very good. It was clunky, disjointed, and very overproduced with 70s technology. There was so much background noise in the first track that it was actually distracting. It gives me no pleasure to give this a poor score, and Superstition is an all-time great song, but as an album? This ain't it.

Really funky, love it. Finally heard the album where Superstition came from. + You Are The Sunshine Of My Life + Tuesday Heartbreak + Superstition + Big Brother + Blame It On The Sun + Lookin' For Another Pure Love

Incredible voice

If this wasn't a Stevie Wonder album, it would be pretty sub-par, but he brings a quality that can't be denied, so it gains an additional star.

"Superstition" earns this a few more stars, but this was saccharine laden pop otherwise. Not my cup of tea. Big fan of his other work, but this was too syrupy and poppy.

Pretty wonderful (no pun intended) this might be my favorite of the 3 Wonder albums that I've had so far. It's not a 5 for me, but I really enjoyed it.

So many of these are so famous it's almost weird to rate it. Superstition is incredible. His voice and all of the playing is so tight and weaves together so well. I Believe is a great example of passion in a song. Never listened to this album before but will revisit. It's an album that feels like a bunch of pros just working it together at such a high level.

I can say I don't care for all of the songs on this album but it's undeniable. The man's voice alone is undeniable. There is face melting music on this one. Such masters of their craft playing on here.

It’s an easy listen but I really wish there was more Superstition-like tracks instead of the love songs.

I didn't really like most of the songs on this album but Superstition is an absolute jam.

Awesome album, and awesome music! Not quite as good as Songs in the Key of Life, but still very good.

Fantastic for Superstition alone. Liked it even better on second listen. Nearly gave it 4 stars but then I Believe (When I Fall In It Will Be Forever) came on and I was blown away

Pretty good.

Most songs are chill, some are funky. Pretty nice!

Superstition is a banger, but the rest can be skipped.

Not for me

Superstition, alone, makes the album 3 stars. The rest of the album is good, not great.

Chill but diverse album. Very nice to enjoy when relaxing after work.

Decent album. Definitely what I would describe as progressive soul. This is my first introduction to Stevie Wonder. I'm not much of a funk/soul guy but I can definitely appreciate the talent. My favorite song was Superstition. There were some killer bass lines in this record.

Perfectly fine, couple of the tracks were quite powerful and moving but others were just filler in between them

Honestly, this all just blended together, with the only song standing out being Superstition. If the whole album had songs as dynamic, intricate, creative, and funky as Superstition, I’d be apt to re-listen. As it stands, it’s a pass. Marks for quality production and musicianship.

The best

Really enjoyed this album. Such great sounding music.

Near peak Stevie Wonder, which make it near-peak music in general. Great album. Superstition is too played out to really hit properly anymore, but other than that it’s close to perfection from start to finish.

The starts of Stevie's classics, clearly on the way to Songs in the Key of Life. Happy to hear the increased keyboards and synths as he grew into the 70's. A bit more downtempo than I expected, but a great listen.

Smooth transition from Superstition to Big Brother. Good album but not as good as Innervisions. The hits were definitely the best songs

Funky dude

Ooh great album. I believe this right when Stevie grew out of the straightforward soul and Motown hits and went into his stride as a definitive artists. Superstition makes this a great album alone. You are the sunshine of my life is a mellow, vitamin d giving love song. Big Brother is a funky but more political jam. Maybe your baby brings a signature style electronic keyboard and tremolo'd/wah wah'd bass line. At times it feels like this album could've helped start the new age music movement without being as cheesy. That may be due to Stevie's voice/charisma.

Great album, definitely would listen many more times. With 1-2 skips top, this is a 5.

I love this album and it has always been my favorite from Stevie Wonder. I don't necessarily think it's his best, but it's my favorite of his. It's hard for me to think about it objectively without taking in to account everything I associate with it, but that's the beauty of music.

Banger, great vibes

Interesting album. Contains two of his most popular hits; 'Superstition' and 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' which are undeniable bangers. The rest of the album doesn't reach those highs, and as I mentioned before I have a bit of a hard time relating to the religious theme of his songs. On the flip-side, the Clavinet and electric keyboard, which are some of my favourite sounds, are on almost every song and gives it a nice funky feeling. Still, going to have to settle with a strong 3.

I feel like Stevie Wonder is always teetering on the edge of being too cheesy (looking at you "Isn't she lovely") and this album is no different. "You are the sunshine of my life" among a few others take it too far i feel. However, some other tracks are so good that my face looked like I just ate a lemon. This happened during "Superstition" with its excellent hook and also during the latter parts of "Maybe Your Baby" during the guitar hooks. An honorable mention also goes out to "Big Brother" which while not quite as good was still groovy. This would regularly be a strong 3 but the inclusion of the two "lemon-tracks" pushes it in to a weak 4.