Reviews (page 12 of 13)
Can he see? The world may never know. But I know one thing for certain: the ladies in the jazz lounges absolutely loved this album. It’s the type of beats that are similar but different enough to keep your head subconsciously bobbing the whole time. Add the occasional nasty keyboard riff in there and it’s a great funky vibe. Disclaimer: I didn’t pay too close attention to the lyrics but it seemed like the whole album was a sort of “3 act play” and I liked that vibe too. Not my favorite genre by any means but you gotta respect it. I’d say 3.5/5 if I could
Stevie tentera tout le long de l'album d'imiter les reprises d'Eddie Mitchell, malheureusement sans succès.
The third Stevie Wonder album that's been generated so far. This one got songs that are funky and some that are more towards soul. Superstitious is on the album and it's a great song. After three Stevie Wonder albums I came to realize his music is not really for me. I don't mind it but I rather listen to something else. I do like it when he's more on the funky side as that's more my jam.
Didn't hit like Songs In The Key Of Life. It felt a lot slower than I was used to for Stevie Superstition is an incredible track 3/5
If you like Stevie wonder this is fine
I really dragged my feet listening to this one after the last stevie album which I did not vibe with much at all, but warmed up to this one more. Some songs made me realize how much boy bands of the 90s/2000s borrowed from him I feel like maybe?? Anyway this one was both warm (the funk) and cold (the ballads) for me
Superstition aside, I was a little underwhelmed. Prefer Wonder’s funky soulful stuff to his ballads.
I want to love Stevie Wonder, and I sometimes do, but then I get to tracks like “You and I” and I get bored to tears. That said, “Superstition” is one of the greatest songs ever, and there’s other moments on the album that come close to those highs, but something about him is still not clicking with me. I acknowledge this is a me problem, and hopefully one day I’ll learn to properly appreciate his talents. Until then, “Superstition” is likely the only song I’ll keep returning to off this one.
It was good. Recognized a good chunk of the album. Ultimately Stevie Wonder isn’t for me though. I recognize that it’s a good album, it’s just not my thing.
I was expecting to like this a lot more just based on other Stevie Wonder songs I know. The longer songs were unfortunately way too drawn out though and they all lost me halfway through. Maybe shorter tracks would have been more enjoyable. Still, there are several good songs. Not bad overall. Favorite Songs: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition, Blame It On The Sun
Some good songs but a little too jazzy in some places.
Not my favorite Stevie album. Too many slow love songs and ballads
This is the first Stevie Wonder album I’ve listened to. The great tracks were really great (Superstition is the most famous track of his for a reason), the bad ones were really bad (Big Brother was notably dreadful). The rest were mostly average, nothing special. Fav tracks: You and I, Superstitious Least fav: You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Big Brother
I got a vinyl player for my 18th bday from my parents with this record. Stars for nostalgia. Other than Superstition this album doesn't do heaps for me
Did you ever have that debate with your friends about whether it’s better to be deaf or blind? Some of these songs make me think it’s better to be deaf, others make me want to be blind. Yes I had to do a blind joke, it’s Stevie Wonder.
Had a couple of good songs, but overall nah...
Gillar nog andra album bättre; låtarna faller mig inte riktigt på läppen. Lite som Povel har Stevie väldigt mycket musik i sig och behöver fler begränsningar.
3.5/5
Good but not his best
Love Stevie Wonder and this has some awesome tracks but it's not a great album, sorry to say.
There are some classic tracks on here, but somehow it's never really worked as an album for me. I want to like it more.
I liked the upbeat tracks, the ballad tracks dragged, and Superstition is on a different level.
On first listen I would give this album a 2.5 or 3 out of 5. I am not sure if repeat listens would improve this score. Overall the album is alright. The second half of the album is better than the first half, but even then nothing really stuck out to me. I don't think there are any songs where I will go "Oh i want to listen to blank" and some songs just drag on. It does sound nice though. Doesn't sound like something that came out in the early 70s. Stevie does have a very pleasant voice and the album did have a decent variety of styles. Blame it on the Sun is probably my favorite track. You are the sunshine of my life, lookin for another pure love, and of course superstition are other standout tracks
I always wanted to like him but he was a bit too soft.
Should have had more songs like "Superstition."
Good album, a few stellar tracks, overall kinda meh.
Solid album, could have used one or two more bangers but overall enjoyable listen
Stevie Wonder is a great singer and piano player. That being said, I really wish there was more funky stuff on this album. I really liked Superstition, and the rest is ok, but overall kind of bland. I'd like it better if there were more funky jazzy stuff. Favorite Tracks: Superstition, Maybe Your Baby, if I had to pick a third then Tuesday Heartbreak
I really wish I could sit with these for more than a day (I know I can if I want to, but I want to stay with an album / day). I still regret not pausing this whole thing to better absorb Songs In The Key Of Life. Back to Talking Book...Superstition and I Believe are standout tracks for me. The rest does not seem overly special, and that seems sacrilegious to say about SW. I won't turn off his music when I hear it, but Talking Book isn't on the level of his best to me. 1 = bad 2 = average 3 = good 4 = great 5 = outstanding
Stevie always meta
Mainly not so original and yet quite pleasant
Solid
Talking Book is the 15th album by American singer-songwriter and musician Stevie Wonder. Two singles - "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" & "Superstition" - won Grammy's for Best Male Pop Vocal (former) and Best Male R&B Song & Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (latter). This funky & soulful album and his previous one are considered the start of Stevie Wonder's classic period. Talking Book was an exceptional album and perhaps one of the first I have listened to all the way through from Stevie Wonder. He did a great job of creating an R&B-like album that could appeal to mainstream music listeners and especially rock fans. As a result, the album reached number 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart and the top of the Top R&B Albums chart. Give this album a try and you won't be disappointed.
Too many ballads
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Pero es un rollo el disco.
Funky Superstition Should listen again
Again, not totally my jam but there are at least a couple of classics on here.
I agree with the top review. Stevie Wonder's real name truly is Stevland Morris.
none of the other songs quite meet the same level as superstition. not to say there arent some good songs in here though Big Brother, I believe, Blame it on the sun
"Here is my music. It is all I have to tell you how I feel. Know that your love keeps my love strong." I find it hard to believe that it took 15 studio albums for Motown Records to start giving Stevie leeway enough to make an album like this. Granted I know nothing of what that process was like, but I get the impression that these songs were just dying to come out. Fortunately for all of us Stevie Wonder was patient enough, and still full of love enough, to create this and so much more to come. 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' is a beautiful track and 'Superstition' (and most of it's subsequent covers) is one of the greatest tracks of all time, but the real highlight for me is 'I Believe'!
slayed
think Innervisions has more unique feel to it (and funkier)
Entretenido y con joyas como "You are the sunshine of my life" y "Superstition".
Lindo ambiente, mucho piano rhodes. Algunos temas divagan mucho, sin una idea clara. No mucho más que eso. Me parece que le faltó un golpe de horno.
Superstition is a banger, big brother is very mid, I dislike when I believe’s intro
This is my first time listening You are the Sunshine of my life is a nice song Maybe your baby is funky You and I is a heartfelt ballad Tuesday Heartbreak makes me dance You've got it bad Girl is ok Superstition is a classic Big Brother is not my style Blame it on the Sun is good Looking for Another Love feels kinda slow for me I Believe is a good closer
Good for its time, but nothing special today.
They say it’s a classic but I don’t see it. Two songs I really liked but even that is a stretch … feel like I was expecting more passion in the music.
Superstition was dope, the rest ok 3
I love Stevie Wonder but didn't enjoy this album.
This was an ok listen. Superstition is, of course, incredible, and there were a couple more that I liked even though they were pretty cheesy. Probably won't listen again but I'm glad I listened to it once.
A funky classic. The hooks are repetitive but Superstition is a hit
Couple of top bangers but not enough to pull the rest up. 3.5/5
I was hoping for a bit more, pretty meh other than Superstition.
Some good stuff on here, but a little meh for Stevie. Feel like this is a 3.5, but I think I'll round down compared to my expectations.
Begon lekker, viel daarna wat stil vond ik
Lekker hor die Stevie!
2 good songs otherwise was too vanilla for me.
Пиздец уныние.
Probably the best Stevie Wonder album I’ve heard
Great album.
I'm a bit disappointed to have not enjoyed this as much as I expected I would. I do enjoy Stevie Wonder, his voice is among the best and he sings so effortlessly and so perfectly. Superstition is a banger, and I really liked Big Brother off of this album as well. Aside from that though, I started to feel early on that the tone of the synth sounded like a Sega Genesis game soundtrack, and once I heard it I couldn't unhear it. Stevie is an excellent artist, absolutely deserves the success he saw and I wish I enjoyed this more than I did.
Love superstition, but the rest of the album was unremarkable.
Quite good.
Really loved the vocals. Stevie's voice sounds great in every track. He sounds smooth in his ballads, but can turn the grit up in the funky tracks with ease too. Unfortunately the songs themselves left me wanting more. More experimentation, interesting chord progressions and more funk. Anyway, some songs are worth coming back to.
It is hard to believe that this album was recorded in the early 70s. Guitar sound is original and typical of Wander's trajectory. I do not like much the more melodical songs
Solid without being spectacular. Innervisions is a better Stevie album.
Stevie is amazing in so many ways, and there are some great tracks -- iconic classics -- on this album. Much as I recognize his ridiculous musical talents, overall his music never quite clicked with me. I don't mind when it's on, but I've never sought it out. Just a matter of personal taste, nothing more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0_vTUnokNU
Superstition is such a great song. Much of the album is saccharin sweet or bland though.
About 9 years ago I was performing at Glastonbury’s cabaret tent and a strange bloke jumped on stage in a pair of green Speedos, waving a stick and an orange, shouting: “When the sun shines upon the earth, it is Planet Sex.” Everyone in the audience suddenly goes full Glastonbury, shouting: “Let him be! Let him express himself!” Then he dropped the orange and the stick and pulled out a knife. I asked him: “What are you going to do, butter me to death?” Then he skipped off stage and into the fields. He killed 4 people.
Well blind this lad. Doesn't stop him though does it? Maybe he's faking it and he can actually see.
Superstition is an absolute powerhouse of a track, and its squelchier, weirder cousin Maybe Your Baby is pretty great too (are they pitch-shifted vocals I can hear, before they were cool...?!) There are a few other neat bits and pieces but a lot of it is too saccharine for my tastes.
I found it a bit boring, which I'm a bit embarrassed about ☹️
Hyvät oli hyviä ja huonot aika huonoja.
Some great songs here. Some less exciting songs as well. Stevie can really craft an album though. The flow is slippery smooth.
Loved Blame It On the Sun!
Liked superstition, didn’t really like the rest. Would consider it a 2.5.
Good fun, faded out after superstition though imo
Cool funk album.
So what I learned from this is that while Stevie is an unquestionably good composer, not every piece he writes is good. "Maybe Your Baby" was both horrendous & endless. Already own, but questioning that decision.
p268. 1972. 3.5 stars He knows how to write a tune for sure - there are absolute classics here (You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Superstition, I Believe). Having said that, points deducted for some songs outstaying their welcome (Maybe Your Baby) and it does drift to "easy listening" mode far too easily. Probably on the list for historical reasons as it's generally recognised as the first of his "classic" albums. It's OK, with some real highlights, but there are better Stevie Wonder albums.
This was fine. Another one that isn’t really my jam
Stevie Wonder is a referent. Here I think the best song is "Superstition".
Talk pretty someday
More smooth and soft than key of life, nice album iverall
Held together by its absolute classic of a single in the middle half of the record it’s a great record over a decade into his career. Good stuff!
Wonder's vox come through much more powerfully here than on 'Key of Life,' a marked improvement given how talented he is as a singer. Though the LP feels more like a grab bag of songs rather than a cohesive album (too much tempo/styling variation), there are enough highs here to keep things enjoyable throughout the 45-minute runtime.
Only a few songs that I'd listen to again.
Pop/Soul, der anscheinend viel geprägt hat, was danach kam. Nicht schlecht, aber nichts was ich mir andauernd anhören will. Geschmacksache halt. Irgendwas zwischen 3-4.
Really beautiful, but not one I would check back on specifically.
Je m'attendais à plus, l'album était plus monotone que j'aurais imaginé
Not my type of genre but there were some solid bops in there. Not a boring or offensive listen. I could fairly happily play it again if nothing else came to mind.
Eh
Superstition is the best song on this album and it is not even close. The remaining songs were alright but there is a drop off.
Bylo fajne calkiem, superstition to wiadomo, hit. Ale jakoś nie porwało mnie, może za mało wondera sluchalem.
Love Stevie Wonder
Hummar jag glatt med: japp Passar musiken i en hiss: absolut Berör det mig: inte det minsta
Skönt gung men annars inget som kommer kommas ihåg
Great start to this listening project. Both enjoyable to listen to with some touches of experimentation throughout. 3/5 Stars
Hard to listen to for some reason
wouldn't search it out, wouldn't change the channel
It was finnnneeee
pfff, its soooo slowwww the first part, does nothing to me, from superstition onwards some songs with schwunggg and helps one more *
3.5
Stevieeeee! Liked this but as much as Songs in the Key of Life
Pretty good! Classic songs here.
Superstition is a fantastic song, but the rest of the album is pretty meh. This only gets 3 stars because Superstition is a 5 star song.
Essential…not particularly a fan…
I like 3 songs on this LP: “Superstition” (of course); “Maybe your Baby” for its super fat funky keyboards and background vocals (all Stevie); Big Brother with it's almost bluegrass feel and protest lyrics. The ballads, on the other hand, are hard to stomach, but since it is Stevie (and he plays drums to boot), I’ll give it a passing grade.
groovy
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a Stevie Wonder album before, despite obviously being familiar with the hits. This kicks off with that dreadful Casio keyboard backing track sound he is so fond of, with the intro to You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. I hate it so much. But the rest of the record is varied and overall I am pleasantly surprised. His voice is much better than has ever really occurred to me before (he’s very much “great songwriter” rather than “great singer” in my head). Superstition is obviously phenomenal. You And I is beautiful, and new to me. And I Believe finishes the album on a really lovely uplifting note that had me immediately pressing play to listen to the whole thing again - including the cheesy Casio bit.
regular. bem tocado e produzido, mas no final das contas não me prendeu.
Big classic is one, others are ok
3.75
Top 3 1. (3) You And I 2. (6) Superstition 3. (10) I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Talking Book is ambiguous. It is another Wonder's funk masterpiece, with heavy bass lines, grooving sounds, dancing melodies and enchanting love lyrics. On the other hand, it is another Wonder's album with heavy bass lines, grooving sounds, dancing melodies and enchanting love lyrics. Talking Book is good but not surprisingly good. The most famous songs are probably the best of the albums and the few others only feel like transitions as they won't be remembered. Talking Book stays as a good album but not Stevie's best.
Superstitious is superduperfuckingfantasticalicious!!! It’s one of my favorite songs of all time…yes it’s solidly on my top 20 list. That reminds me that I need to update that list. The clavichord riff is other worldly funk royalty. I had to do some research to figure out it’s a clavichord, and I also found out that Jeff Beck came up with the opening drum part when messing around while Stevie was out of the studio. Stevie came back in and improvised the famous riff and the rest is history. It’s amazing that a seemingly meaningless jaunt by a guitarist on the drums turned into a song adored by so many. Life is funny that way. Big Brother is a solid song. It’s a pointed swipe at disingenuous politicians making empty promises. There some unique sounding instruments that I couldn’t figure out what they are, but I really like them. I also love You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Stevie’s voice shines through especially well. Maybe Your Baby rambles and rambles and rambles at the end. It’s evidence that modern pop music isn’t the only genre to endlessly repeat the same line over and over. The unfortunate thing is I quite enjoy the first 3 1/2 minutes of the song, especially the instruments, while the last 3 1/2 minutes tear down some of that good will. There are too many misses on this album; like Blame It On The Sun, Lookin’ For Another Pure Love, and the aforementioned Maybe Your Baby; for it to be in my regular rotation. In the end, this album is like a very talented procrastinator…very capable of high end results, but you just can’t seem to get those results consistently.
I’m told that Stevie Wonder is amazing to listen to if you’re the kind of person who likes analyzing chord progressions in every bit of music you listen to. As it is, I’ve always been a “three chords and the truth” kind of girl, so this just sounds actually kind of bland. Not for me, except for . . . favourite track: “Superstition” (which is a banger)
it was honestly average at best
Pretty solid album, I liked all of the songs, but only the well known songs stood out for me. 3/5 stars.
I will listen to "Superstion" every time it comes on. The rest of the album... I guess it's okay. I don't think I have heard any of the other songs before. With only a first listen, there might be stuff I'm missing. 3 stars
I mean, you gotta love a bit of stevie wonder! Some classics on there like 'superstition' and some I'd never heard before but enjoyed like 'big brother' -wasnt so into the slow ones but altogether a good album
Take out superstition and couple of other good tracks and you have a perfectly pleasant album - not sure I ever got the fuss
Some nice Stevie. A little cheesy in places but some great tracks, not my favourite album of his but some others are bound to be on this list
Saved Prior: Superstition Off Rip: Maybe Your Baby Cutting Edge: Big Brother Overall Notes: A little too mellow for my taste, much preferred the more varied Songs in the Key of Life. If someone told me they adored this album I wouldn't think they were crazy, it's just not my thing.
I didn't listen. im sure it's great.
I don't know about this. Stevie is a legend, but I just don't really like this style of music. The hits are fun, but the rest just isn't for me.
I think I'm not cool enough to like Stevie Wonder.
Stevie Wonderille 5. Levyn kappaleille yleisesti 2 poislukien Superstition, mikä on ainakin 4,5. Tästä täysin epäpainotettu keskiarvo 3.
Stevie is a smooth operator and a super talent. A good solid album but only a few great songs for me. 3*
Good singles, fairly bland rest.
Singles are good, rest was okay. More listens needed.
Classic Stevie Wonder. Funky, but mellow.
Miellyttävää musaa, mutta vähän turhan imelää. Hittibiisi suoerstition on hitti. Yllärinä oli kantaaottava Big Brother!
Without the historical context, when listening to this in isolation.....it's difficult not to just form the simple conclusion that it sounds nice. sort of 3* levels of inoffensiveness
Buena voz de uno de los precursores de la música soul. Canciones tranquilas y que han envejecido bien. No suenan a muy antiguas. Se destila igualmente cierto optimismo.
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. Pero es un rollo el disco.
Retro
Good one. the first ever full album by Stevie I've ever heard, hope there are others on the list
Es todo un master de la guitarra y tiene un estilo único, pero me pareció plano e interminable. 3.5
I know he’s a genius but I wasn’t in a Stevie wonder kinda mood
Funky. Liked the 2nd track a lot.
Stevie Wonder two days in a row, weird. I don't like this album as much as Songs in the Key of Life, but Superstition is one of my favorite songs of his.
Ya intenté salir y volver a entrar al grupo y nada. Sigo siendo 1001must y deberán vivir con ello. El disco está chido y ya. No venimos aquí a ser tapadera de nadie. No es cierto, sí me gusta, es un walking book.
This was incredible. Seems like the album Stevie always wanted to make. Last track is amazing.
Lovely, relaxing and thoughtful Vibes. 3/4 of the album are quite average by today's standards though and not quite the level of epic I'd expect.
Classic Stevie Wonder!
Ei ihan minun genreni, mutta kyllähän Stevien ääni toimii. Varsinkin hitaammat biisit oli erittäin tunnelmallisia. Revittelybiisejä ei ihan samalla tavalla jaksanut.
This was good but not great. Superstition is obviously a banger but there was nothing else amazing.
Recognize Superstition. First half of the album was doo-doo, the later half is better. But will never listen to this again, probably.
Nice record. I don't vibe that hard with it, but you can't deny it has some awesome songs
Great album by stevie and fitting title.
So much of this album sounds like a Casio keyboard demo that it's hard to give it any stars. The only thing saving this from a one-star review is "Superstition" which is good enough to garner almost two stars on its own. It's truly a standout track. Literally. It stands out because it doesn't match the rest of the album at all. There are a few other tracks that aren't too bad but nothing approaches the mountain of a track that is "Superstition".
Fun listen
"You are the sunshine of my life"
Heard Superstition before obviously, massive banger. It seems Stevie's albums are a hit or miss for me. Innervisions and Songs In The Key Of Life blew my socks off. On the other hand Fulfillingness' First Finale and Talking Book didn't make me go crazy. Had a good time listening to Talking Book but it was missing something more funky for me. Still, can't be mad at Stevie. None of his albums are bad really 2/5
debole, non prende
Superstition is good...
favs: maybe your baby superstition lookin’ for another pure love i believe (when i fall in love it will be forever) rating 2/5
Obviously talented to the max but the style just isn't mine. Most of the tracks lack energy that I need to replay them ever again. Favourite tracks: Maybe Your Baby, Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition 2.5/5
holy long
Cancion 1: Suave , hermosos sonidos de tambores . Cancion 2: Eleva la energia de forma increíble. Las voces femeninas tienen mas potencia que en la anterior. Un cambio o deformación del género anterior muy buena. Riff glorioso. Cancion 3: Lento y triste, no me gusta. Cancion 4: Bailable, parece musica disco. Disfrutable . Cancion 5: Hiper romantico , ni fu ni fa. Canción 6: Inicio sublime, pegadiza, es como que esta a punto de llegar a algo todo el tiempo. La guitarra es una gloria. Canción 7: Sigue la vibra de la cancion anterior muy bien . Canción 8: No me gustó el principio, muy balada todo. O un gospel muy lento. Cancion 9: Interesante sonido. Buen estribillo. Canción 10: Buen inicio. Melodias interesantes. Linda pero no mucho. Muy buenas voces y armonicos.
Another good Stevie album.
For me, this isn't a great album - it has a load of really dull, dreary or maudlin songs, buoyed up by a couple of great singles. Superstition really stands out here.
fun
1. Titel ist Weltklasse, Rest Durchschnitt und nicht meins
honestly, i didnt love it. some classic songs but didnt move me
#134/1001 🇺🇸 Another album that i can't find the love for. Bar the outstanding Superstition, I find this pretty dull. Musically it's slick but on the whole not that exciting. Innervisions - Stevie's next album is far more enjoyable. Best Track: Superstition.
It's good, just not for me.
I really enjoyed the other Stevie Wonder album I've had so far in Innervisions, but for whatever reason I found this one much harder to stomach. Whether that's because I'm just not in the right mood for it at the moment, or whether the songs are just drawling and overdramatic in comparison, I'm not really in any rush to decipher where the truth lies.
I should probably like this more than I do
Not too bad
Did not like.
was surprised how unbearably syrupy sweet this album was with Superstition being the odd one out there. don't get me wrong, the songs are great, stevie wonder is talented and his vocals are smooth and always pleasant to hear.. but after i got to experience Innervisions and SITKOL beforehand, listening to this was quite underwhelming and even a bit boring
The singles are worth listening to but the rest was just vanilla .
I like superstition by bloody hell the rest of it is boring.
2/5
besides that elusive banger, superstition, this feels like (admittedly, good) elevator music
Maybe most disappointing part of this thing is learning that I just don’t like Stevie Wonder
177/1001 First listen. No thanks. Superstition was cool though. 4/10
2 bangers and a bunch of fillers
lowk did not have high hopes but quite enjoyed this maybe like 5/10 27/3/26
For such a well regarded album, I was expecting more.
This is a tough one, it felt like this 43 minutes lasted a lifetime. Not bad at all but just kept going and going.
couple of really good songs on there.
I guess I'm just not a Stevie Wonder fan. He's very talented and I like some of his hits, but overall it's just not for me.
Not the worst but not for me. 2*
Not my favourite, a bit overstimulating on the ear but some good sections of funk
Slightly underwhelming for me. Too repetitive, some of the tracks just don't connect at all.
Love Stevie. This album was boring though.
Overall, very groovy and makes you want to jive shuffle around, but pretty repetitive lyrics as a theme throughout the album. 2.5/5 Noteworthy songs: "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" - reminds me of motherhood and falling in love "You And I"- slow jam with a powerful emotional build-up at the end. Vibe is heartbreaking "Superstition"- a classic "Big Brother"- very different vibe but love it
Didn't really stick out to me. 2/5
- I don't feel like this aged well... I really don't like the tone of the synths - pinched, wet, honky or reedy. Like they're filtered to an inch of their lives. - I don't think the melodies are memorable (other than the two hits) - it's very adult contemporary... most of the songs were slow and one-note. - Also not into the lyrics/subject matter - pretty unremarkable love songs from a guy who has 9 kids with 5 women - may that kind of love never find me. Makes the lyrics of I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) kind of hard to take seriously (lol) - it has a nice enough melody, though. - His voice is mostly smooth, but also sometimes thin and strained, and he definitely can't hit those low notes in Sunshine Of Your Life. - Special mention to Maybe Your Baby for being annoying af - it was the same line over and over with almost no variation for minutes at a time. Other honourable mentions for songs I disliked: Lookin' For Another Pure Love song, Tuesday Heartbreak, and You've Got It Bad Girl.
Like I’ve said before when getting a SW album i cannot deny he’s one of the best in this genre and this album like others on the list is a classic. But I’ve never liked Soul, R&B, Tamla or whatever it’s classed as. Excellent for some but not for me. 2/5 8/2/26
Not really my cup of tea. Was okay.
So I’ve never really payed much attention to Stevie Wonder, but this album was dull, and fell flat. It got zero emotion out of me. It was basically music what was just playing in the background with no true meaning or purpose.
Not a cohesive album. A collection of singles. I liked some but loathed others
"Superstition" is great, but the rest of this is either sappy easy listening or meandering, forgettable funk/soul. Blasphemy, I know, but for me there was a vast difference in quality between Stevie's best tracks and the rest of his work.
I normally love some Stevie but this was too "soft" for me. They all pretty much sounded alike. Not for me.
Remember back in the 80’s you would hear a couple of songs by an artist on the radio that you really liked so you went out and bought the record or cassette? But then you listened to it and you were really disappointed with the rest of the album? Yeah, that’s exactly how I felt with this album. The two well known hits are great, but yeeesh, the rest was not for me. It hurts my heart to give Stevie Wonder a 2, but I have to. As good as it is, Superstition just couldn’t save it.
I like the guy's voice, and the musical accompaniments are really great, but I don't connect with any song, it doesn't make me feel anything
Superstition is absolutely class obvs but the rest feels a bit padded in places
Groovy but not really for me.
Superstition is a banger but the rest was a bit meh
I stand by this…a couple of good songs but the album as a whole was meh
boring
I just couldn't enjoy this. I'm sure it was very ground-breaking and influential at the time, but it's not my thing. Superstition is an amazing song but most of the others are too cloyingly sentimental. Musically, there are lots of weird modulations that feel disjointed to me.
Not for me. Felt repetitive and like I had listened to the whole album within the first 2-3 songs.
Not my vibe. Didn’t tell me anything.
I recognize that he's very talented but I am very bored and don't like most of his artistic choices. Superstition is cool.
saved 2/10
..
i imagine the songs felt a lot like the fabric stevie wore in the album cover art. velvety, soft, but rich in color and patterns.
I don't hear any "timelessness" in this album. Everything sounds of its time for its time: Replaceable songs and melodies that are fresh when they're new, and stale when the next album of the style comes along. The mixing sounds outdated: inelegant reverbs, harsh frequencies, and uncohesive sound palette. Even if the intention is to mix a "raw" album, there are many loose ends in the mix that could've been fixed without losing the raw edge. Overall, Wonder's musical touch can be found here and there, but with the bad mix (on headphones) and replaceable songs it's tough to enjoy the few moments that are actually interesting. Superstition is the outlier. It sounds different in every way: composed different, performed different, mixed different. It's clearly attached to the album rather than conceived with it. If the album came from the musical lineage of Superstition, this album could've been a classic. As it stands, Superstition only stands to highlight what this album isn't.
Try again next time😭
Not really my thing as of now. Probably wouldn’t listen again. This comment might humiliate me later.
Not particularly my cup of tea, but you can't hate this kind of upbeat music from the blindest motherfucking music genius
It was fine. Just not my cup of tea
Superstition was good.
Not my thing
Not my favourite not a big funk man
Superstition is a great song, but the rest of the album does not do it for me
Superstition is great. The rest is a little repetitive and just ok.
Есть известные песни, но в переработках других исполнителей они интереснее.
Man, when I saw Superstition on this album I had high hopes the rest of it would be as funky. What a disappointment. Between the dry mix and cumbersome arrangements this album hits like a sack of wet mud. Rough.
3/10 songs are great, but the rest really drag down the album. I'd rate 1.5 stars if I could. Most of this album is just so dull.
Stevie has a few bangers (Superstitious, I Believe, Higher Ground), but so much of his output, and this album, is R&B. And given the choice between listening to 43:27 of R&B intermixed with some rare bangers or the melodious sounds of a Pinto full of Proud Boys being run through an industrial metal shredder, I would choose the shredder every single time. So...yeah...this album was groundbreaking and a best seller, and I nonetheless will never listen to it again.
Funk just ain’t my thing man
Two great soul numbers but the rest is easy listening crap.
Not great
çok ortalama geldi ya
Man, I really expected better of this. It doesn't stand comparison to modern equivalents at all. It's overly sentimental trash.
Another OK album, I couldn’t really get into it properly and found myself a bit bored at times. Superstition alone pulls it into 3. 3.0/5.0 Best Song: Superstition
jeg er ikke så pjattet med ham. 2
Lil too much funk for me. But, still Stevie
Rating: 2.0 Just not for me.
was hoping for more given the amazing singles on here but alas
Another classic, but not my style
Aujourd'hui, on coche une case monumentale du projet "1001 Albums" : "Talking Book" de Stevie Wonder, sorti en 1972. Le genre de disque intouchable, le classique des classiques, l'album que tout le monde est censé vénérer. Eh bien, "tout le monde" sauf moi, visiblement. Je vais être direct : j'ai jamais accroché à Stevie Wonder. C'est peut-être à cause de cette vibe perpétuellement positive, ce côté "tout va bien, la vie est belle", je sais pas, ça m'angoisse. Et "Talking Book", que je viens de m'infliger, ne fait que confirmer cette allergie profonde. Le verdict tombe, sec : 2 sur 5 Pourquoi deux points, me direz-vous, si je déteste tant ? Parce que je ne suis pas non plus un connard fini (enfin, pas totalement) et qu'il faut rendre à César ce qui lui appartient. Point 1 : "Superstition". OK, là, on ne déconne plus. C'est un putain de chef-d'œuvre. Ce riff de clavinet Hohner, c'est de la magie noire. C'est l'essence même du funk, un truc tellement physique, tellement imparable, que même moi, avec mon amour pour les drones de Sunn O))), je me surprends à hocher la tête. C'est une chanson parfaite, point barre. Elle a sa place au Panthéon, et elle justifie à elle seule l'écoute. Point 2 : "You Are the Sunshine of My Life". Bon... C'est l'exact opposé. C'est la mélasse, la guimauve, le diabète auditif de niveau 5. C'est sirupeux au possible, MAIS c'est d'une efficacité redoutable. C'est la chanson d'amour ultime tellement bien foutue dans sa niaiserie qu'elle en devient presque admirable. C'est le genre de truc qui passe à tous les mariages, et bizarrement, ça marche à chaque fois. C'est un tube planétaire, et ce n'est pas pour rien. Voilà. Mes deux points sont distribués. Parce que le reste... Le reste de l'album, mon Dieu, mais qu'est-ce que c'est chiant. Je suis désolé, je sais que je marche sur une mine, mais je me suis emmerdé comme rarement. C'est le problème quand on enlève les deux singles monstrueux : il reste quoi ? Il reste une collection de ballades soul-pop ultra-léchées, de mid-tempos confortables et de productions tellement propres que ça en devient stérile. On me parle de l'innovation, des synthétiseurs ARP et Moog que Stevie commençait à maîtriser. Super, mais il en fait quoi ? Des nappes doucereuses, des petits sons de flûte électronique gentils. On est à des années-lumière de la froideur d'un Kraftwerk ou de la folie d'un Sun Ra. Ici, le synthé sert à faire... joli. Où est le nerf ? Où est la tension ? "Maybe Your Baby", "Tuesday Heartbreak", "You and I"... J'ai écouté, j'ai attendu, j'ai attendu une fêlure, un dérapage, un moment de folie, un truc qui grince. Rien, absolument rien, c'est de la musique en pantoufles, c'est du velours côtelé auditif. Tout est impeccable, la voix est magnifique (personne ne le nie), les arrangements sont sophistiqués, les musiciens sont au top. Mais c'est mortellement poli, c'est de la soul de salon, parfaitement exécutée, mais totalement dépourvue de cette urgence viscérale qui fait pour moi les grands disques. C'est un album qui parle (Talking Book, haha), mais il ne crie jamais. Il ne pleure jamais vraiment (même dans les ballades, ça reste pudique). Bref, "Talking Book", c'est deux monuments de la pop/soul posés sur un tapis persan très cher, très bien tissé, mais incroyablement ennuyeux. J'ai payé mon dû en écoutant les deux tubes, le reste repartira prendre la poussière. Case cochée, mais sans plaisir.
To many slow love songs 😁
Some good and interesting songs but the slow ones are brutal.
Maybe your baby might be my least favorite song ever but superstition might bring it up to a 3.5
“Superstitious” is outstanding, but other than that, there just isn’t much here for me to engage with. I know Stevie is exceptionally talented and important, but this just didn’t connect with me. No relisten.
Inoffensive background music but no single track stood out or was particular notable to me
Kind of boring TBH. Solidly fine. 2/5 stars.
Hittet holder. Resten er mere meh.
I have already forgotten this. Sorry, just not my thing.
Eh
Didn’t like this, I don’t enjoy Stevie Wonders music. It all sounds the same to me.
Not the worst thing I've heard but I wouldn't listen to it again. I don't get the hype tho.
Favorite tracks: Superstition, Big Brother Most of this album felt like it was moving through molasses (why was Maybe Your Baby SO LONG). Lots of electric piano and soft vocals which really just served to remind me that 70's R&B isn't for me. However, I would be remiss to not mention that the few funk songs are absolute bops!
Other than a couple of stand out (albeit overplayed) tracks, this album sounded kind of generic to me.
Aburrida
Superstitious er klink. Resten får jeg ikke til.
appreciate the music but it's just so slow, the 2 most famous songs are better IMO but it's just not for me at all.
With superstition on the track listing I was hoping this would be a cool funk led album, but no, the rest was dull schmaltzy filler. He's clearly a good songwriter and good singer but is let down by poor decision making, needs to improve that side of his game. A Stevie Wonder greatest hits is probably decent but the albums aren't worth it.
Generally far too soppy for me.... Come on Stevie lad. I do like the more funky ones though. Superstitious is an absolute banger 2.5 but mainly for superstitious.
I feel like I already wrote about feeling bad for not liking Stevie Wonder’s music. I’m sorry!!! I did like the last song on here, mostly.
Superstition is natuurlijk een lekker nummer, de andere nummers van het album vond ik te langzaam en niet echt mijn ding. You are the sunshine of my life vond ik ook nog wel aardig
Ok a little controversial but I find this album a little flat, I know everyone raves about it and I do like stevie but apart from the first two tracks and superstition it's just all a bit uninspiring.
meh, hard listen because of the jesus tones
I don't really like this genre
I don't like R&B. The album is great, but I'm giving a rating on personal enjoyment, so regretably, this gets a 2.
Not really a big fan of anything aside from Superstition.
Superstition and I Believe are great songs but they just can't save this album. There rest of the tracks are just so boring.
Typ allt bara flöt förbi utan att jag märkte det, den enda riktigt bra var Superstition
Solid, but didn't massively move me.
Superstition and You are the sunshine of my life are classics. The rest is trash.
Meh? There’s nothing inherently wrong with this, but it just feels indulgent and overlong. Superstition is a classic yes, but to me Stevie Wonder is a “greatest hits” kind of guy.
Besides the 2 most popular song on the album, I didn't really love it. Felt like a lot sorta sounded the same-ish, nothing else really stood out. But I do love You Are The Sunshine of my Life and of course, Superstition
Fairly pleasant, with a couple of stans out tracks. But I do feel that stevie wonder is very overrated.
For my taste, there wasn't enough funny with this album. Higher Ground saves it some, but overall this album left me wanting.
Didn't like it as much as the other two albums I've had of his. Actually started with a nice one, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life was nice and chill. Then the rest of the album was just kinda ok. A lot of repetition and songs that outlived their welcome. Superstition and Big Brother were also fairly nice, but the rest of the songs were mediocre. Best song: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
I mean, it's fine and obviously good music. I just think he's boring outside of performances. I loved seeing him live last year but not someone I'd listen to studio recordings of honestly.
Niin sanotusti "mixed bag". Osa kappaleista jopa sietämättömiä. Silti myös hyviä hetkiä, sellainen 2.5/5
Clearly a great album, just not my favourite genre
There is one really big hit, and other than that, not much else on this disappointing album. Favorite Track: "Superstition".
not for me tbh
I grew with a dislike of Stevie in elementary school because of songs like You Are the Sunshine of my Loathing and My Cherie Amor. As I got older, I found my love for Stevie, and realized I just didn’t like this album of Stevie’s. Decades later: no change. Superstition is a stellar classic and drives this entire album. Maybe You Baby is an interesting song that builds but never quite finds completion, like a freshman year make out session. Big Brother is a tolerable listen though you can move the cursor anywhere in the song and it doesn’t change the sound. I Believe, for me, is the only slow song that resonates, I think partially because it pulls in some gospel roots and Stevie takes us to his Love Church. For me, this album comes down to one great song and a stack full of either background or passable tracks. Sorry Stevie. I still love you. 😘
Pretty forgettable. I could see this being good if you are in the mood, but if the mood mismatches it is kind of blah. Superstition is and forever will be a classic.
That was a really great song to start with "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" was awesome and catchy but the rest of the album was a bit boring like it was pretty good but I found it a bit repetitive on some songs like "You've Got It Bad Girl" so kinda disappointed not my favorite album from him.
Not really into it... Wait, Superstition is on this! Big Brother is alright... & now back to not caring about this. Although it has a slow start, I Believe does end things with a solid jam at least.
good stuff, but no perse my taste
Didn't love this as much as I hoped it would. Grooved much more to the upbeat songs than the ballads
This starts off bad for me, there's an overdose of funk for the first few songs. But then it flips into kinda naff lounge music? 'Superstition' is obviously a classic, although again, too funky? There's only so much funk I can take. Overall not one I'll listen to again.
I'm sure this album deserves better than a 2 objectively speaking, but this just didn't do much for me personally. I respect the vocal talent here, but this is not my jam. 2.3
Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 🌍🏜️🪴 Production (Reissue): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎼👌🎤😎📝🙄 Rating: 😬😬(😬)/5
A pleasant set of tunes. 'Superstition' a classic (which I tire of). 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' another classic (though ruined by 'Rhodes abuse'). 'Maybe Your Baby' drags on 3 minutes too long, 'You and I' is sweet and 'Blame It On The Sun' is a gem. The production is horrible. Has the boy Wonder just discovered stereo? He keeps oscilating the Rhodes piano between left and right channels like a kid. It's the equivalent of a strobe on the ear'oles and is unlistenable on headphones. 'You Got It Bad Girl', 'Lookin For A Pure Love' and unfortunately 'You Are The Sunshine' are all ruined by this fiddling. And then he goes and plays the mouth organ on Big Brother. An affront. I used to quite like Stevie Worder. Until he wrote two of the worst songs in the history of popular music, 'Happy Birthday' and 'I Just Called To Say I Love You', banal dross, the latter which could have been written by a 2 year old, and the only song that actually makes me angry when it comes on the radio. Did he suddenly lose his talent in 1980 or did he just become lazy ? But I'm reviewing this album. 4 stars for the toons. But loses a star for pissing around with the channels and use of the mouth organ. And another because I can never forgive him for IJCTSILY.
Really slow and repetitive
Not for me. Superstition however is one of the best songs of all time.
Too weak, although with a couple of great songs.
Opening to closing these songs are delightful but I don’t find the album particularly invigorating.
A one track album in that you should listen to superstition and then skip the rest. Repetitive lyrics, slow pace and scatting. Pass
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and Superstition slaps as always. I feel like I've got to listen again to really fall in love with the rest of the album though.
Vocally impressive, album was boring af tho. Dropped it on the 3rd to last song. Not really a fan of souls music, was hoping for something that packs a little more of a punch instrumentally, given how much of a talented musician Stevie Wonder is. But this is one of his earlier albums so I can’t say that with too much chest right now. Overall ts was a solid 4/10. If I was a dark chocolate gilf in the 70s then I probably would’ve rated this higher.
Take away superstition and this is a one star. Very disappointing album, whole thing sounds very flat.
Too many slow, wet songs. Not enough of the funkier, faster paced songs.
I had this album on vinyl in college and remember listening to it inconsistently; I remember wanting to like it more than I did, since it's a classic. I'm excited to revisit it. "You are the Sunshine of My Life" - I want to like this song, but I find it hard to listen to ("easy listening" is not for me). I know it's a classic, but man...it feels pretty cheesy. The second song redeems it ("Maybe Your Baby")--a good slow funky groove that I can sink my teeth into. "You And I" is--to me--cheesier than the first track. I appreciate the change in dynamics and tempos between the three tracks, but I can't really deal with the slow/easy listening vibe of this song. "Tuesday Heartbreak" also feels cheesy to me--the horns are very easy-listening that distracts me (like some late-night TV talk show; not into this horn sound.) "You've Got it Bad Girl" also feels cheesy and slow; the higher-pitched synth lines (flute-adjacent?) are also distracting to me. "Superstition" is what we're all waiting for, right? The funky bass line, the horns that aren't weirdly cheesy... "Big Brother" I suppose is a protest song? It feels a bit milquetoast and cheesy. I am divided on the harmonica use. "Blame it on the Sun" is also painfully cheesy, like a torchlight (I think that's the phrase) song? It feels like something a middle aged man would sing self-indulgently at karaoke (I'd kind of like to see that). The ending with the woman singing "your heart blames it on you this time" is especially cheesy. "Looking for Another Pure Love" is another slow/easy listening jam. It makes me feel like I'm in a dental waiting room in the 1970s. "I Believe (When I fall in Love it will be forever)" opens like a song I'd expect to hear in a musical (and I don't really like musicals); also cheesy--and then moves into gospel and funk (so I kind of like the end). This album has two songs I really like, and the rest feels like cheesy filler. "You are the Sunshine of My Life" - I want to like this song, but I find it hard to listen to ("easy listening" is not for me). I know it's a classic, but man...it feels pretty cheesy. The second song redeems it ("Maybe Your Baby")--a good slow funky groove that I can sink my teeth into. "You And I" is--to me--cheesier than the first track. I appreciate the change in dynamics and tempos between the three tracks, but I can't really deal with the slow/easy listening vibe of this song. "Tuesday Heartbreak" also feels cheesy to me--the horns are very easy-listening that distracts me (like some late-night TV talk show; not into this horn sound.) "You've Got it Bad Girl" also feels cheesy and slow; the higher-pitched synth lines (flute-adjacent?) are also distracting to me. "Superstition" is what we're all waiting for, right? The funky bass line, the horns that aren't weirdly cheesy... "Big Brother" I suppose is a protest song? It feels a bit milquetoast and cheesy. I am divided on the harmonica use. "Blame it on the Sun" is also painfully cheesy, like a torchlight (I think that's the phrase) song? It feels like something a middle aged man would sing self-indulgently at karaoke (I'd kind of like to see that). The ending with the woman singing "your heart blames it on you this time" is especially cheesy. "Looking for Another Pure Love" is another slow/easy listening jam. It makes me feel like I'm in a dental waiting room in the 1970s. "I Believe (When I fall in Love it will be forever)" opens like a song I'd expect to hear in a musical (and I don't really like musicals); also cheesy--and then moves into gospel and funk (so I kind of like the end). This album has two songs I really like, and the rest feels like cheesy filler.
Stevie is clearly a legend but I did not enjoy this album on the whole.