Reviews (page 6 of 13)
A tour de force of creativity
Very nice listen
Great stuff
Nice vibe, chill album with some killer songs in it.
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Nobody’s got anything bad to say about Stevie. He’s a genius.
Really enjoyed this, I like you stevie...
3.5
What an incredible album.
Not my favorite Stevie Wonder album, but almost anything he puts out is going to clear most artists' entire discographies, hah. You can definitely hear him develop his artistry on this album, through songs like Superstition, You and I, You've Got it, etc. 4 stars easy
A classic.
Excellent.
Exactly what it says on the tin- decent ambient tracks that make good background noise. Not something I’d seek out otherwise
Great album, but not as great as Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life. I didn't really care for You and I or Tuesday Heartbreak, but the rest is very solid.
Solid album with some really melodic sounds. I enjoyed his voice and there are some really good and recognizable tracks. Haven’t really listened to Stevie before but this is a solid one.
Very good album. They don't make Funk./Soul albums like this anymore. Superstition ain't the way, yeah
I like a lot of Stevie Wonder songs (how can you not?) but often find the albums as a whole are not as captivating. This one has a lot of highs if not a lot of real earworms, but if only for "Superstition" I feel I have to give it a 4.
I’m a late comer to Stevie, but I appreciate how his albums are so rich, thoughtful and profoundly spiritual while also offering social and political commentary. I love that he uses two lead male vocals in “You are the Sunshine of my Life.” I really wonder why but it totally works. With the exception of Big Brother, I found this album to be more personal and tender in ways I can’t explain. I feel like I’m settling down with a book near a window on a sunny afternoon. It is warm. Honest. True.
Remember when I wrote that Stevie made five masterpieces in five years? Masterpiece #2. (Also, not for nothing, but this came out just *seven months* after "Music of My Mind.")
pleasantly surprised, love the piano and was a lot funkier than expected! fav songs - superstition, maybe your baby, tuesday heartbreak
I love a good Stevie Wonder album, and this one was pretty good. There were obvious bright points like Superstition and You Are the Sunshine of My Life", but the rest of the album seemed to kind of pale in comparison. The songs were all good, and on any other album by any _regular_ artist, they would have been great. But this was a shortish album and I thought it was just kinda okay for Stevie. I still listened to it twice all the way through and was happy to do so, so it gets four stars.
God damn was this groovy
Upbeat songs wonderful otherwise probably of its time
3 for 3 from the Stevie in his classic period. Superstition alone is enough to put this album on the list. I think songs in the key is maybe better?
très très bien merci stevie
Not my style, but I still enjoyed it.
This album was such a vibe! I believe this was my first time listening to a Stevie Wonder album in full and it did not disappoint. I would definitely jam to this album again in the future! Obviously I love ‘Superstition’ but there were so many great songs on this album that as a collective it just made it a great album to listen to all around.
I got back to back Stevie Wondier albums (Songs in the Key of Life, and Talking Book). Compared to the latter, Talking Book feels a little more stripped back and relaxed. Less isn’t always more, both albums are equally impressive in their own unique ways. Top Tracks: Superstition, Blame it On The Sun
Not my favourite of his legacy
It's prime era Stevie Wonder so of course it's great essential stuff. Why? Go listen to it- I can't compete with that. Music > Words
A great record, it's actually interesting to listen through the album and not just listen to Stevie's singles. You get a feeling of how funky and appreciable he is on tracks that aren't just hits.
Ok Stevie 😎
Classic Stevie, what is there to say?
Loved it. Very fun, soulful album. Super upbeat at times, and then relaxing and groovy at others. Highly recommend.
EIN-DE-LIJK! Ik ben mn streak van matige albums doorgekomen! Talking Book voelt voor mij als een meer gefocust project dan Songs in the key of life. Prachtig album, allebei, maar Songs is gewoon te lang om in een keer voor te gaan zitten. Dit is een heerlijk soulvol album, met echt fantastische gekke dingen. Heel veel synths, heel veel gekke effecten, maar dat gebeurt op de achtergrond, want de focus is Stevie zn fantastische vocals. Tuurlijk, ook hier; niet alles is even goed, maar ook de mindere nummers zijn niet vervelend en luisteren gewoon prima weg. Dit is geen perfect album, zeker niet, maar dit is wel een ijzersterk album en ik ben heel blij om weer eens hoger dan een 3 uit te delen! FAVO: You are the sunshine of my life, Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition, blame it on the sun, looking for another pure love
You Are The Sunshine of My Life is a great song. Maybe Your Baby is a really funky song. It's about as far from You Are the Sunshine of My Life as possible while still being by the same artist. You And I reminds me of another Stevie Wonder song I can't place, vaguely Lately but not. Maybe I'm imagining things. Superstition is the other hit, good stuff. Big Brother is the worst song so far. The longer the album goes, the worse it gets.
Funky beat. Great synth. Normally don’t like it. He has a great soulful voice. It’s a little too poppy. Love to hear him do more bluesy stuff. Superstitious is a classic. Nice beat, grove, sax and synth. Big Brother is kinda cool. Great acoustic guitar. Jeff Beck plays on a track near the end
Научих се да харесвам Стиви Уондър покрай тази класация
Stevie wonder!
Solid album. "Maybe Your Baby" went on too long, but other than that, no complaints.
Pretty great!
classic stevie <3
This is what I’m talking about! This Stevie Wonder is incredible with smooth vocals, funky riffs, and catchy melodies.
I think this is half a 3 star album, and half a 5 star album, with songs like Superstition and Blame it on the Sun that are very strong. I may have to come back to this later but for now it's 4 stars.
Waffling between a 3 and a 4 on this one. After “you are the sunshine of my life” it remains kinda slow and overly sappy, but of course kicks into high gear with the funky, stellar “superstition”. I also dig the closer “I believe…”. I’m feeling generous so we’re rounding up!
Snelle inhaal review #6: Ik had eigenlijk alleen naar Songs In the Key of Life geluisterd voor dit album, een album zo goed dat je vergeet dat ie nog meer platen heeft. En dit is gewoon heel erg goed ook, tijd om meer van deze man te luisteren.
Previously rated: Innervisions (4/5) Songs in the Key of Life (4/5) Fulfillingness' First Finale (3/5) ************************************ You Are The Sunshine of My Life and Superstition are enough to recommend this album, but there is some other good stuff here. Did Michael Jackson steal the "Hee-hee" stuff from Maybe Your Baby?
Good album. Little experimental but overall solid
A decade into his career, Stevie Wonder realised het could do whatever he liked and Berry Gordy wasn't going to stop him. The result is an album morphs from a maximalist Side A full of overexetended outros and oversung vocal lines, into a much more relaxed and self-assured Side B that set up his stall for the rest of the decade.
Superstition is an exceptional song. I also like I Believe… and some others. Strong entry for the list
Very good Album
Classic Stevie
Another name that I’ve always known but never explored.
Very enjoyable listen.
3.5
Superstitional
75/100
So many certified bangers.
Some great tracks on here its hard to believe it was 1972.
Stevie just cranked out good album after good album in this era. Sure, it's no Songs in the Key of Life, but it's still solid, front to back.
Je connaissais Stevie Wonder, mais pas cet album (sauf pour Superstition). Il est très bon, mais je le trouve moins abouti que le dernier de ses albums classiques (Songs In the Key of Life). Quand même très bon !
Stevie is always delightful and this album. Is no exception. Lighter and maybe a little dreamy for what I look for in his catalogue but great to clean the house to on a Sunday which is what I was about.
найс, парочку песен сохранил.
Very good overall. Lots of great tracks, a few that are, I wouldn’t call them misses, but just ok. A slightly mixed bag, but the great tracks are great enough to make up for the ones that are average.
Great!
really can’t go wrong with this one
Fantastic record
Favorites: You and I, Superstition, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) Stevie was on the cusp of making his magnum opus, and there's definitely hints of what he would do on his next record and even Songs in the Key of Life on this one. All in all, I didn't think it was as good as either of those records, but it's certainly worthwhile as well.
Superstitious, Sunshine of my life, funky, some derivative songs
Quick album to listen to Some greats hits and easy listening
I’m three months into a one year snooze of this record because I wore it out in my ears. Maybe Your Baby though… may break it early
Крутой альбом, соул нравится
Nice to listen to this again, I think it stands up really well, given its age. Obviously some bangers on there, but some of the less well played tracks are quite interesting, I've always liked the chord structures he uses.
Stevie Wonder isn't always my favorite thing to listen to but gotta give this props for a few songs and of course, Superstition.
Incredible stuff man… cmon…. So many influential sounds and vocals!!!!
I feel like stevie is the true underrated GOAT... idk if im right but from the discourse I observe he often isn't considered one of the great musicians as far as the critical reception of his albums (no one is denying his talent of course) but he has incredible albums and this is one of them!! If I had to rank them I feel like Talking Book is his 4th best album but the 4th best stevie album is like still one of the 200 best albums ever made haha (or 1001 i suppose...)
7/10
Two great, iconic songs give this album an automatic 4 stars. I thought this would be a 5-star album, but the rest of the tracks were ho-hum.
The darker tones here are more my vibe than the more saccharine vocals of some of his other material. It's still very funky, but a lot more introspective.
A couple of my favorite Stevie Wonder songs here make this a part of his phenomenal run of albums he put out from 72 - 76. I usually listen to the next couple if I put on one of his albums so I am not as familiar with this one though. I like it and it sets the stage for what is to follow, not only by him but you can hear the influence of this all over artists who drew inspiration from him. There are a couple of things that drag a bit and sometimes it gets a bit repetitive but those are minor quibbles. A great talent is on the verge of creating perfection here, it's just not quite there yet.
Lovely songs!
I loved how it is possible to tell the album was recorded analog, pans and separation of instruments is amazing. I'm glad I knew a song, not by Stevie but from Michael Bublé, so really enjoy new and known music with this album.
It's probably a good thing I was turning four in 1972, rather than, say, 14, because I don't think I'd have done ANY schoolwork. What a year - amazing albums coming through in, and, indeed shaping, every genre from there onwards. I can only imagine how eagerly my friends and I would have pored over all the wondrous offerings. This is up there. Some of the ballads aren't quite my cup of tea, but the funky pop songs, which absolutely slap, by the way, certainly are. Terrific.
Fantastic album. Not as good as Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life. And as like for every artist who appears on this list more than once, I'll say "You Better Damn Well Deserve It". At least for Stevie Wonder I can say he deserves multiple entries far more than Radiohead. That said, I'm giving this album only 4 stars because No Artist Deserves Three Albums On A List Of Only 1001 Albums. Period.
Pure gold...warm...positive
stevie sure is a wonder... 9/10
Stevie Wonder’s voice is phenomenal - whether the sweet smooth ballad, or the growling funk - and this album showcases his range and creativity throughout. Songs in the Key of Life is still my favorite by him, but this album still stands proud next to it.
First time listening to this all the way through and it's like a primer of funk pop goodness. He may have hit even higher later with "Innervisions" and "Songs in the Key of Life," but this is a fantastic album.
classic
I learned via Wikipedia that this was the first album purchased by Barack Obama. I love that fact. Man, Talking Book is just a winner, through and through. Stevie was 22 years old, releasing his 15th album! You have the two big well-known hits (You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Superstition), but I think I most enjoyed my introduction to the other tracks: Tuesday Heartbreak, Big Brother, Blame It On the Sun, and I Believe – especially I Believe – are really lovely. Stevie is giving us love songs, move-on-after-love songs, protest songs... breaking archetypes and stretching his wings all at once.
Loved it! Can’t believe how young he was, his sound was definitely beyond his years
Superstition alone is amazing. Stevie’s for sure a genius, though I prefer his funkier stuff.
I guess it's alright. 8/10
Det er jo noen skikkelige bangers her, men jevnt over trekker resten litt ned.
Done
This album sounds amazing. Funky, smooth, composition of everything sounds so fluid. Some emotional songs, some political, some upbeat, some easy listening.
I've not listened to many Stevie Wonder albums straight through, so this was a great pick for today. Really solid and funky, just a few slow moments and weird stereo panning I didn't click with that kept it from five stars. Maybe your baby was the standout track, with I Believe second (not counting Superstition)
Not his best album, and that says more about his best albums than it does this album.
Stevie Wonder and Daredevil are the coolest blind guys Superstition is on this one so it already gets a 4. Lot of the songs he’s jsut ripping the Clav and I was grooving with it
this album was front to back smooth groovy Stevie to full effect. I enjoyed it all the way through. You've got it bad girl Superstition Big Brother
Looking For Another Pure Love hits the spot, especially the Jeff Beck solo when Stevie adds "do it, Jeff." I Believe is one of the great album closers. VERY classy.
Wonder-ful
Pretty good.
Is this Stevie Wonder's best album? Maybe. I mean Superstition is one of the best songs ever so it already has that going for it. But really there's a lot to love on this album. Maybe Your Baby is such a strong song I don't know why it's not more well known. Tuesday Heartbreak is great as well. A lot of good funk and grooves on this record. Guitars (when there are guitars) and bass in particular are really strong on this album. And of course the vocals are great as always. But after Superstition it falls off just a bit for me, it's still a fantastic album but just slows down a little too much towards the end. 4/5
amazing album, 4.5
v good
83% Best: Maybe Your Baby; Tuesday Heartbreak; Superstition; Blame It On The Sun; I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) Must-Hear? Sure
The funky clavinet in "Superstition" is god tier, the whole song is god tier... A song so good he performed it on god damn Sesame Street (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE) and went tour with the Rolling Stones. But, most importantly, he finally shed the "Little Stevie Wonder" era off and became a serious artist, and was launching into a whole new atmosphere.
Overall, funky everywhere. It has a good amount of down-to-earth emotionality. I knew a lot of the songs of here already, my favorite being "Blame It On The Sun." Shout out to Stevie Wonder being good at singing.
We are on a run! Not his best but very good. Your mileage may vary depending on how much you like sunshine of my life.
Better than Key of Life is my naughty opinion.
An album full of solid enjoyable songs that is elevated by the the inclusion of an ATG in superstition
4/5
I thought it was good, it had a lot of songs I grew up listening to. I miss when music had personality.
Lempparit: You Are The Sunshine Of My life, Blame It On The Sun Vähiten lemppari: Big Brother
Si grooovy Certains morceaux sont intrinsèquement géniaux. D'autres pourraient sortir demain. En vrai c'est 3.5, c'est globalement pas mon style mais Maybe your baby
Superstition>>>
L'album est BANGER j'en ai enregistré quatre chansons dans ma playlist. C'est pas le style vers lequel j'irai naturellement mais je ne peux que reconnaître sa grande qualité. Je comprends pourquoi Romain aime ça.
maybe your baby has got to be my favorite, but i dont fuck with most of the album, cool listen though
Stevie Wonder is just an absolute treasure isn't he. Enjoyed the whole album, though perhaps its the cynic in me, at a certain point the album did seem a bit sickly sweet to me. Best song of the album is Superstition by far, a classic with an insanely funky beat. 4/5
Mi piace un botto la sua voce Alcune melodie spaccano I ritmi ci strastanno
Tr1: Overrated Un po mi da fastidio(sopratutto melodia) Cori goats Carina modulazioncina Carini i fraseggi che fa ogni tanto Parte migliore : fine Lunghezza giusta Carino il testo 8 Tr2: Riff clavinet Goated “più stevie “ - Goated anche quello Super funky anche quasi senza batteria Vocals impeccabili Forse un po’ troppo lunghetta? Classica outro allungata di stevie Meh.. 8+ Tr3: Goat. Bella melodia. Bello il pianoforte. Lui goat . Bel testo. 9- Tr4: Funkettona Divertente Clavinet e sottofondo (cornet? Coro) belli Melodia non particolarmente bella però Overall: 8,5 Tr5: Melodia bella Super chill Batteria e piano bellinis,serving a purpose Vocals belli 9- Tr6: Hit classics 9 Tr7: Esotica ,non me la ricordavo Carina 8+ Tr8: Parte di Piano interessante Cori e batteria aggiungono profondità Vocals as usual impeccabili 9+ Tr9: Melodia vocale carina,seguita dagli strumenti. Bell’arrangiamento e uso delle dinamiche ,sopratutto nella voce. Chorus bello,sfrutta bene la dissonanza,abbastanza inaspettata. Solo niente di che però nel mood generale può starci. 9 Tr10: Mix di Tastiere figo Vocals e melodia belli come sempre. Mood ambiguo dell’intro,figo Poi assume un carattere,carino Batteria la Carria un pochino in certi punti. 8+ Voto finale 8,5/9-
Great album.
Really good album with a couple of incredible, next-level songs: You Are the Sunshine of My Life Superstition It's unbelievable that he was only 22 when he released this album. It wasn't his first album but it was probably the first one that really put him on the map.
Really enjoyed the album, even if no one track stood out as a favorite. I don't really know what to say other than I like the mix of instruments, and he did a great job of keeping each song interesting in a way that I can't really put to words
Such a fine listen all the way through. Both sides start off ridiculously strong and the following songs let you groove.
Stevie Wonder spent a lot of time reinventing his sound and his move to the electric piano and Clavinet on this album stand out. Mix in a smoothness for love songs and political messaging that only Stevie Wonder can master, this album is a must listen. 4.5/5
Every time I hear You are the Sunshine of My Life, I can't help but singing the stupid Minute Maid jingle. (You are the sunshine of my life, Minute Maid!) That commercial is from 1987 and yet it has stayed with me all these years. It ruins what is otherwise a sweet song for me. Stupid Minute Maid! Setting that aside, this is the first time I listened to a Stevie Wonder album. I thought Maybe Your Baby was never going to end, but I was enjoying it until I had my fill. You and I felt kinda cheesy. The songs are interesting--there is a lot going on musically. Nice dose of politics in Big Brother. Blame it on the sun was pretty. Some good songs on here!
Yes - lovely stuff. Beautiful love songs.
Tykkäsin tästä! Oli mukavasti rytmiä, vaihtelua ja hienoja kitarapätkiä.
Ei niin kova albumina ku edellinen Wonder. Liikaa lässyjä slovareita Toisaalta pelkkä Superstition niin tykki styge et vie jalat alta ja muutama muu ok veto
On se seppä
Hieno albuni taas Wonderilta! Tällä kertaa ehkä vähän pehmeämpi kuin edellinen, mutta silti hyvää tavaraa!
Fuck it, it’s Stevie Wonder the guys a genius
Classy
Another pretty solid outing from Stevie with the absolute classic that is Superstition. What can you say he was bang on for at least 3 albums, this being one of them!
Not quite my thing but will probably grow on me. It did by the end
Superstition alone makes me want to give this a 4*, but I will say the other songs (while also good) aren't really anything amazing in comparison. Production is top tier though regardless.
Superstition is great
Musically very intricate and amazing. Not his best but still amazing
Man I love Stevie Wonder. Most of the songs are instantly catchy and so funky. However, I just wish some songs would be a bit faster: I'm a bigger fan of uptempo Stevie than ballad Stevie. Favourite tracks: Maybe Your Baby, Superstition, I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
3.8 - Expected more to be honest. I think superstitious is just such a heavy hitter that I forgot about the rest of the album
Talvez o mais fraco dos meus discos prediletos dele, talvez pq o disco foi muito feito pra ter hits de radio. De qualquer forma, Stevie Wonder do sintetizador é o melhor Stevie Wonder
Can never go wrong with a little Stevie in your life.
Superstition is fantastic. The rest was decent.
Released in 1972, Talking Book marked a pivotal moment in Stevie Wonder's career and in the broader landscape of American music and culture. As one of the first albums where Wonder gained full artistic control, it showcased his innovative fusion of soul, funk, and electronic sounds—particularly through his use of the synthesizer—which helped reshape the sound of R&B and laid groundwork for future genres. Socially and historically, the album reflected a new era of Black artistic autonomy and expression during a post-Civil Rights America, highlighting themes of love, self-reflection, and resilience. Hits like “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” not only topped charts but also crossed racial boundaries, uniting diverse audiences and solidifying Wonder's influence as both a musical and cultural icon. (Source: ChatGPT)
Tsilli klassikko
ok i fw this. i like "maybe your baby" a lot it sounds so devious and funky in the best way. i also really like "tuesday heartbreak." I love the way each song sounds different and the music he uses is very unique. his voice is also soooooo nice. "looking for another pure love" stuck out to me its honestly just beautiful. I'm looking for another pure love too stevie. i keep coming back after most songs to document how they stood out to me. I wasn't expecting to appreciate this album as much as I do but its quite nice with a great variety of different sounding songs that cohesivley go together to show stevies true talent. Beautiful.
Talking Book! Favorite tracks: Maybe Your Baby, Tuesday Heartbreak, Superstition, Big Brother. The rest are okay, some are skips for me, but really the album has a great energy about it and it's hard to deny its rightful spot on the list. Very strong album.
First 20 seconds were different, but when the lyrics began I automatically dug the song - added to my liked songs!
Amazing voice Vibes - relaxing, contemplating Fav song - You've Got It Bad Girl 4/5
Random thoughts: * I do not like Stevie Wonder ballads. "You and I" was a drag after both "Sunshine" and "Maybe Your Baby". * I'm down with anything that has even the slightest funk or bit of uptempo. "I Believe" starts off and feels like it might be complete sap but that outro is great and has an uplifting and upbeat section to end the song. * I really got lost in the best way on "Maybe Your Baby". Just a groove that kind of enveloped me. * "Superstition" might be one of the funkiest songs of all time. So good on so many levels. * Stevie is a musical and vocal genius. Just drop the sappy ballads.
Just 22 years old, and already releasing his 15th studio album. What a dang legend. Most critics and listeners peg this record as the start of Stevie Wonder's peak songwriting period, and I can't really argue. The music is warm, well-arranged, catchy, and soulful. There are some points where the music seems to lose its way compositionally, leading to lengthy outros that decay slightly in quality the longer they go on. Maybe Your Baby and You've Got It Bad Girl are the two suspect tracks on this record, and others appear on Wonder's later records – even his magnum opuses, Innervisions and Songs In The Key Of Life. But in these cases, the lead and backing vocals are strong enough that you can almost ignore the track runtime. (Almost.) I never knew Superstition transitioned into another track! And I kind of like it better this way. The foreboding, snaking, playful trumpet lines just beg for you to stay tuned for the next track (which, unfortunately, is the much less engaging Big Brother – but my point still stands). Superstition is such a fantastic song that it's made its way into several of my "top-tier track" playlists. It's very nearly a perfect Wonder song, I think, along with Sir Duke and I Wish from the aforementioned SITKOL album. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life is another highlight. It's the perfect kind of mellow opener that intrigues rather than excites, but it has an equally strong effect as starting with a bang. The keyboards are just lovely in this song. Same goes for the funky guitar-like keys in Maybe Your Baby and the emotional acoustic piano in I Believe. 4/5 Key tracks: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Superstition, I Believe
Wonderful- Stevie Wonder at his very best.
Big fan of Stevie, the run of Superstition into the next two ballads was incredible. Sometimes I wish he’d just let the band ride out the groove a little more, though.
Very much enjoyed this album. Not feeling a strong variety but excellent execution on a few concepts. I particulary liked Maybe Your Baby, since I hadn't heard it before, it was like hearing Superstition again for the first time.
4.25/5 liked the funky vibes of this album.
I thoroughly enjoyed my listen. It was perfectly chill and exciting, I loved how full of love this album felt. I really liked getting to hear his little deep vocal/raspy thing he did on some songs -- I am not super familiar with Stevie and I'm wondering if this was a staple of his! I would listen again, no doubt.
When The Truths Of Love Are Planted Firm, They Won't Be Hard To Find 1001 Albums Generator 5 (04/09/2025) Talking Book is the fifteenth (!) album by world renowned singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder, and the second of his five consecutive "classic" albums. You don't need me to introduce Stevie Wonder. If you know only one thing about him, it's his smash hit Superstition, the first song on side B of this LP, with its quick tempo, catchy-as-hell chorus, and ferociously funky horn stabs. If you know two things about him, it's that he has been blind from a very young age (even the title of this album is another term for an audiobook, a method by which the blind could read), If you are lucky enough to know a third thing about him, it is the fact that this blindness is a condition that does not prohibit Wonder's ability to beautifully describe things that we see and experience every day. Talking Book is an album that I had heard once before, but didn't remember much about. I have always been more of a Songs In The Key Of Life guy. While my favorites on that album are more soul than funk, my favorites here are largely the funkier tunes. Songs like Maybe Your Baby, Tuesday Heartbreak, and smash hit Superstition represent three distinct flavors of funk, but all of them will get you moving in different ways. Maybe Your Baby is like a sleeper agent activation if the agent being activated was the transfiguration of my face into a stank face. I'm sitting at my cubicle stankin' it up right now, looking absolutely insane if anyone walks in, but I don't care. Meanwhile, Superstition is quick and energetic, with some really interesting syncopated rhythms, especially in the interplay between the multiple synths and the horns, that will get you dancing in no time. Don't get me wrong, there is some fantastic soul music here too. Opener You Are The Sunshine Of My Life features sweet lyrics and a fascinating chord progression in the verse. I love the way he modulates halfway through from Cmaj to Amaj before smoothly transitioning back to C for the chorus. Masterfully written. The Moog-led You've Got It Bad Girl is the closest this album gets to the jazz fusion sounds that Stevie would play with in later albums. The way the lyrics switch from "You've got it bad, girl" to "You'll have it good, girl" in the outro is so simple, but so clever. The closing I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) - great title by the way - builds up at just the right speed, starting very chill with just Stevie's voice and his synth before building into the gospel-inspired repeated chorus and finally ending on some funky shit. The only songs that I don't love are the slow, plodding You And I and the overly smooth Lookin' For Another Pure Love. The former is a boring ballad that excels at going nowhere slowly, and the latter, while featuring interesting guitar work from the late, great Jeff Beck, contains the least memorable Stevie Wonder chorus I've ever heard (side note: "Do it, Jeff" is the original "21, can you do something for me" and I will not accept any disagreement on this point). It's not Wonder's best work, but it's a damn fine album. Nearly every song has something that will catch your ears and move your body. Fantastic 4.5/5, which I want to give a 5 so badly, but I happen to know that another Stevie Wonder album will capture that title later :) Favs: Maybe Your Baby Superstition I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) Least Fav: You And I
This is an actual classic album. Stevie Wonder in his imperial period. It is hard to over-praise this record.
This is really good. I love a lot of the songs, but some are annoying (looking at you Maybe Your Baby). Not quite good enough for the 5-star, but great nonetheless.
And Stevie knows that nobody's gonna bring me down 'Cause me and Stevie, see, we're gonna be sailing on the funky funky sound 4/5
Yeah I mean what is there to say about fucking talking book. Feel like Songs in the Key of Life is his real masterpiece, at times the pacing on this thing ia admittedly a bit clunky to me. But idk Im just not really the biggest "Stevie Wonder ballads" person lol so bias...
I love stevie this may not be his best album but it has some fantastic hits
This will be my third Stevie Wonder album to review, after Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. I was a bit underwhelmed by both of those albums, and gave each of them three stars. I can name a lot of Stevie Wonder songs that I really like, but so far, none of his albums have really landed with me. I'm hoping Talking Book will be the one that finally breaks through to me! This is easily the best Stevie Wonder album I’ve encountered so far. Let’s start with the good. “Superstition” should be in running for best song of the seventies. Everything about “Superstition” is perfection. Stevie’s vocals perfectly match the tone of the lyrics, the drums in the introduction are iconic, the main guitar riff oozes the funkiest beat I’ve ever heard in my life, and the horns add a perfect level of extra funkiness. I love the way the song just gets better and better as it goes along. “Superstition” segues perfectly into “Big Brother,” one of the best pieces of social and political commentary that I’ve heard from Stevie Wonder. On the heels of a second Donald Trump term, this song feels even more relevant, especially as a criticism of the Democratic Party. The rest of the second side of the album is great, as each song beautifully connects into the next. As much as I loved the second side of the album, I wasn’t a big fan of the first side. Musically, the first side is great, with plenty of funk-inspired synthesizers and great vocals from Stevie Wonder. But the songwriting on the love songs feels overly saccharine and cheesy to me. Even though the second side of the album has some love songs, I felt like the songwriting on something like “Blame It on the Sun” was much stronger. Still, this is a really good album, and it makes me excited for when I’ll finally get to review Songs in the Key of Life.
Nice album, nice music, but did not get hooked on it
Damn, the voice on Stevie. Smooth, heavy; like pouring syrup on soul. There’s a lot of space on this record - nothing’s rushed. It’s not wall-to-wall gold, but when it hits, it hits. A few songs grab you fast, but some kind of sneak past if you're not tuned in. Still, it's got that warm ‘70s production that makes it all feel intentional. Not the most consistent ride, but when it lands, it’s soulful as hell. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Superstition - I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Seems to always be good. Will I listen to again: 70%
Oh, the Stevie goodness. Forgot how much I like this one.
It was very superstitious...kidding! Great album you could hear a young and lovestruck Stevie pretty well on there.
STEPHANE MERVEILLE oh fonky chonky Superstition all time banger 4, sick album
Despite some songs having very cheesy lyrics, the music would still be interesting (4)
Good infusion of different genres while integrating a story throughout each song to create the "Talking Book". I would lean more towards a 3.75 overall.
Some great songs on this album
Can’t go wrong with some Stevie
This was really great. Glad I listened to it. A couple songs I'll defintely be playing again. Not sure if I'd do the whole things from start to finish to often however.
Stevie and I have had a bit of a complicated relationship over the years. Whenever I listen to his stuff I'm absolutely blown away by the musicianship and the level of craft on display. The compositions, the arrangements, the playing, the singing, the chops of everyone involved are obviously 10/10 all around. And yet, I always find that, even on his peak-era albums, there are always at least a couple of songs that just don't really grab me. But the highlights here (most obviously Superstition, I Believe, and Sunshine, but to a slightly lesser degree also Maybe Your Baby) are so beyond reproach that I cannot possibly rate this any lower than a very strong 3.5
Listening to Songs in the Key of Life before this album was both a blessing and a curse, because while it meant I understood his style before listening and had a decent idea of what to expect. On the other hand, I was pretty sure my expectations would be disappointed. However, this is not what happened. While these songs are certainly not in the key of life, this was a fantastic album that would be the highlight of any other artist’s career. Favorite Track: Superstition
Seen as the start of Stevie's artistic renaissance.
Superstition has to be one of the greatest songs ever.
Great funky album. The melodies and chord progressions here are wild, they just go places. Not much else to say other than it's awesome. Key tracks: You Are the Sunshine of My Life Superstition Blame It on the Sun I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
A very very high 4. Stevie Wonder probably has the smoothest sounding voice I’ve ever heard
Very nice album, I’ve never really cared much for these sorts of genres but this has helped shift my perception of this style
Very solid, very soothing.
It was going to be a 4.5 out of 5 but Frank Sinatra just had to make his own rendition of the very first track. 4/5
Stevie knows how to play the harmonica, and in a tastefull way. Superstition, Maybe Your Baby(at least the first half, the second drags a bit), You are the Sunshine of My Life and I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) are my highlights. Stevie had a great emancipation album, but its not a perfect one
Talking Book by Stevie Wonder. while it’s undeniably a brilliant record, I’ve got to say it’s hard not to compare it to the sheer genius of Songs in the Key of Life. In my perspective, Talking Book stands tall on its own with plenty of highs, but when you put it alongside its successor, it feels like Stevie Wonder just got even better, almost overshadowing this earlier work. There’s a real magic to Talking Book that shows off Stevie’s incredible talent. The production is slick, with a warmth that wraps around each track. Songs like “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” still hold their own, boasting infectious grooves, tight rhythms, and a blend of funk and soul that feels timeless. The instrumental work is superb. those clavinet riffs, crisp drum beats, and vibrant horns all come together to create an irresistibly funky, yet soulful soundscape. Stevie’s vocals are top notch, full of passion and nuance that instantly draw you in. His delivery is smooth yet powerful, with a playful touch that adds personality to every line. There’s a youthful exuberance to his performance that really shines through, making you appreciate the raw energy and talent that were evident even in this earlier stage of his career. That said, while Talking Book is fantastic, it doesn’t quite reach the near-mythical status of Songs in the Key of Life. As much as I love the album, some of the tracks can feel a bit repetitive or safe compared to the bold, expansive statements made on Songs in the Key of Life. It’s like Stevie was still finding his feet in some areas, and though the record is brilliant, it lacks the adventurous, genre-spanning quality that would later define his work. Another minor gripe is that the cohesion isn’t as tight as it could be. There are moments where the vibe shifts a little too abruptly, which can take you out of the groove. It’s a solid album, no doubt, but when you listen to it back-to-back with Songs in the Key of Life, you can’t help but think that the latter just takes everything to a whole new level of brilliance. Talking Book is a cracking record filled with infectious energy, superb musicianship, and Stevie Wonder’s unmistakable charm. It’s an album that still makes you move and groove, with enough timeless hits to keep it in the pantheon of great soul and funk records. However, its legacy is a bit complicated by the fact that Songs in the Key of Life is so unbelievably good that it tends to overshadow much of Stevie’s earlier work. For me, while Talking Book certainly deserves respect and love for its innovation and quality, it feels like a stepping stone that paved the way for the colossal achievements of his later career. All things considered, it earns a solid 4.1/5 stars. a brilliant record in its own right, even if it can’t quite hold a candle to the sheer genius of what came after.
VERY GOOD I ENJOY!!!
8/10 Hard to beat Songs in the Key of Life and Innervisions but this album alone is pretty fucking good. Do you guys think he’s blind or nah
4* 87%
Stevie is always a good listen
Good shit, very chill
Personal Thoughts Right now I think it's time England split from America, and rejoined the EU. Why would we be allies to a country who is friends with dictator Putin, has thrown the Ukraine under the bus, has taken away their own people's rights. Trump is a bully, a greedy rich white man who cares nothing for his people or any one else's. America you have made a grave mistake and unfortunately everyone has to pay for it. The album, I have never been a Stevie wonder fan and this has not changed. I get why people are but it just doesn't float my boat
Bang
7/10 - Stevie Wonder does not disappoint. Superstition is obviously a great song but I also really liked I believe. Overall great music.
Few really great songs, good amount of filler. Seems like that’s kinda how most Stevie albums are - really good, not quite great
Really enjoyed this.
Really good with a few classic songs.
ik denk dat je de hemel in mag het moment dat je superstition op een album zet
Stevie😍
Super funky. Superstition alone is worth 4 stars, makes you want to start strutting around. Love it.
Wonderful
Amazing album! Stevie wonder is that guy
Fun and jazzy
Not my normal music taste, but absolutely an amazing album.
pretty good
A heap of brilliant stuff here, bogged slightly down overall by just a few more forgettable tracks. Even then, just a sunny, very enjoyable, and often poignant experience. Favorite tracks: You Are The Sunshine of My Life, You've Got It Bad Girl, Superstition, Blame It On The Sun, I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
Love this album.
The great Stevie Wonder with TWO major hits on this album. I enjoyed rocking out to "Superstition", but the other tracks were not nearly up to par with it and "You are the Sunshine.". Still solid album, fun songs, great memories - just get rid of those super repetitive tracks where the girls just repeat what you say over and over.
Love that bass sound
Niceeee. I love the synth and grooviness. Stevie never misses.
Mixed bag - some great, some a bit schmaltzy. 3.8 ☆
Another good Stevie Wonder album. Don’t remember much, but the vibe was good.
Not my style of music, can still appreciate the musical talent though
This is the first album to give me what I wanted to get out of this experience: I knew the big hitters off this album, but had never listened to a Stevie Wonder album. Listening to this record was a real treat; a real mix of soulful ballads and the sort of funky upbeat numbers I know him for. The bass lines on this album in particular were outstanding, and made me want to sit down and learn to play them all. It did sag slightly in the middle with the two songs that bookended the incredible Superstition, but otherwise this was a great listen and one I’ll likely return to.
I had no idea Stewie Wonder sounded like this. pretty smooth
You can hear so many modern day musical influences in his impeccable music.
Ahhhh this is such a breath of fresh air. I think that can be said for all the Stevie wonder classics during this time period. Even the downtrodden songs on here are still somehow so joyous. Everything is sung with a pure heart. I do think Songs In The Key Of Life kinda sets the bar even impossibly higher and somehow this album doesn’t quite live up to that same bar. But this is still such a pleasant, refreshing, affirming listen. My highlights are the obvious ones, “Superstition” reminds me of watching I-Robot as a kid. And the opener “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” is an elite-tier love song. Soft 4/5 stars
The banger to ballad ratio is maybe better on a couple of his other 70s albums, but still a classic.
One of the benefits of this exercise is that I’m reminded of great artists like Wonder. And this is a very good album by a legend. The 2 hits alone make this a good album. And what was going to come after was a Wonder.
好纯的funk
Soul is not necessarily my thing but Stevie Wonder is a good artist for those who want to give it a try
Great album
LOVED Maybe Your Baby
A good combination of familiar singles and deep cuts.
This is the kind of album you put on in the late afternoon in the Springtime, when it's still bright out, everyone is outside, but before you have to start making dinner. Funky, groovy, easy listening. Not a song on here will bring down the vibes. Low key stand out "I Believe."
Soulful soul music by soulful man with alot of soul.
Can’t go wrong with a bit of Stevie. Not as consistently good as the other album I know by him (Innervisions) but the funkier songs (maybe your baby, superstition) are insanely good.
First stevie wonder album. I liked it a lot. Favs: Superstition, I believe, maybe your baby
REALLY FIRE!!!! I listened to it twice. I loved looking for another pure love. It was great dane music with a nice flare of jazz and soul.
4+
Enjoyed it
Beautiful
3.5
The strength of this album truly lies if four absolutely phenomenal songs "You Are Sunshine of My Life", "Maybe Your Baby", "Superstition", and "I Believe". Those three keep this in the 4½ star realm. The rest for the most part are great tracks, but don't really jump off the turntable like the four I mentioned. (9.1)
My least favourite of his "classic run". Low 4 stars
4.5
Good bunch of classic-era Stevie. Some gold standard gems like Superstition and Sunshine Of My Life, other smooth gems like You Got It Bad Girl and You & I and gunky funk gems like the proto Prince Maybe Your Baby. Not wall to wall greatness because of a couple of snoozier lightweight cuts towards the end and the gunky funk of Maybe Your Baby is a bit too gunky and gaping but overall pretty nice and mellow.
i really do wish i could love Stevie Wonder -- i really do like a lot of the songs he makes, but for some reason the songs that aren't huge hits that i grew up with just don't have the same hold on me as much as they do everyone else on Earth. i don't think this is through any fault of Stevie, this is a me problem. other people hear his music and hear some of the best stuff ever put to tape. i hear stuff like "You and I" and "Blame It on the Sun", and i think "wow that's a very nice sounding song" and just can't get any more from it. i had this same problem with Songs in the Key of Life too, but this album is at least a little shorter and as such it wears me down much less. it's good, but it's just good to me, not an inch above that waterline. i feel... a bit more enthusiastic about "Superstition" and "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", but that just means to your average human being, listening to these songs is like entering some sort of nirvana-like state during their runtime. genuinely, who do i convene with in order to fix myself? God? the Devil? Stevie himself?
Solid album. Not as stunning as Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life but definitely up there. Superstition is one of his best of course and the rest are all great.
Not his best but his weakest is still superlative
Eargasm to the max!
Superstition is one of the best songs of all time, I enjoy the faster paced songs more on this album. Outside of my normal wheelhouse, but an enjoyable listen.
Good album (read that like Adam driver saying good soup)
Not my favorite of the Stevie Wonder albums we’ve had, but still really great
Didn’t realize that Superstition was on this album going into it! Thought that all of the bangers were on Songs in the Key of Life. This album was really good though, great cheerful songs
FINALLY. I have waited for 452 days to get a Stevie Wonder album. I've had to listen to some hot garbage to get here. But now, I can finally say that I've listened to a Stevie Wonder album. How do I feel about his 15th studio album Talking Book? It's pretty good! Stevie Wonder is a man with some insane musical talent. The sheer fact that he's playing most of the instruments on this album despite literally being unable to see anything is just immensely respectable. He's a damn good singer-songwriter too. These are some pretty good songs right here. There's a decent balance between slower, more ballad-like songs and the funkier songs. Although, I do kind of wish we got more of the funky stuff as those were probably my favorite songs on the album. That's not to say that songs like the opener "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" are bad. They're pretty good too. But when you also have a song like "Superstition," you kind of want more of that. I've always loved "Superstition." It's easily the best song on this album. Overall, Talking Book is a strong showing for Mr. Wonder, and was a sign of good things to come, as other classic albums like Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life would follow in the years after Talking Book's release. Those albums could get 5s, but I think Talking Book lands at a solid 4/5.
Stevie Wonder (Motown) ne m'est pas très familier, mais je me réjouis de découvrir son univers. On est clairement sur de la soul avec souvent de choeurs ou des voix féminines qui accompagnent Stevie Wonder. Il y a également une multitude d'effets et "d'expérimentations" sonores qui enrichissent les morceaux (Maybe your baby, ou le synthé sur la ballade You and I). Je trouve vraiment le nombre d'effets électroniques désarçonnant. J'attendais quelque chose de plus classique et épuré, mais cela a le mérite d'être original, même si une impression d'improvisation ou de freestyle est parfois renvoyée (ce qui n'est pas négatif). Certaines chansons sont très (trop?) riches par leurs arrangements, alors que d'autres bénéficient de cette opulence comme Superstition et ses cuivres. Je préfère la seconde partie de l'album, plus équilibrée, avec l'excellente ballade Blame it on the sun. Le dernier titre I Believe est également très réussi avec son refrain entêtant et son outro interminable. Je n'ai pas de valeur de comparaison, étant peu familier de ce style, mais on ressent toute la créativité de Stevie Wonder, très à l'aise, dans ses ballades ou dans ses morceaux plus joyeux.
Gets a minimum of a 4 just for being the album that gave us Superstition. What a banger. 4/5 Highlights: Superstition
Few great tunes but was expecting a bit more oomph and it didn't arrive, still excellent at times and it's stevie wonder so stretched to 4/5 when probably 3/5
I'm now over 900 albums deep into this process and the large majority of the albums are ok at best. It's not until you get to guys like Stevie that you realize there are levels to this music making business and in their own tier. Incredible vocals, funky, groovy, and contains some of his biggest hits in "Sunshine" and "Superstition". 8/10.
aaah reden buch. you are the sunshine of my life isch son ewige son aha jo norml gits de song aber wemmer sich vor auge führt dass de stevie de afoch gecookt het isch sch craaazy. jo aber echt maybe your baby done made some other plans. rieeese song de moog bass isch sooo geil. aber er spielt so koomisch schlagzüg? ich bin bi vieeelne stevie songs überzügt dases chönted besser töne. you and i isch sooo schöön. stevie mengmol fast besser wenner afoch öangsam, akkörd, singe. tuesday heartbreak isch seeehr geil. groovt uhuuere. you've got it bad girl findi nöd sooo hammer, scho en meega ohrewurm aber au nöd ein vo sine beste songs. superstition isch halt legendär und hani scho vieel z viel ghört. a big brother magi mi afoch mol nöd erinnere aber isch seeehr geil, ha ger wenn de steveland nöd schlagzüg spielt unds trotzdem groovt. seeehr geil. blame it on the sun cuute. bgvs suuuuper. lookin for another love isch afoch de jeff beck. insane. uuultra geils solo. song au seeehr schön. i believe isch au meega schöönn. ich ha so chli e hassliebi mit stevie wonder albe well er amel nöd weiss wenn en song ufhöre unds mengmol afoch nöd so guet töned wie de song isch. aber d songs sind insaaaane guet und uf talking book au meistens seeehr guet gspielt.
STEVLAND HARDAWAY sunshine of my life megaa cute mega maybe your day richtig geile ahfang, nachane verlürts sich chli für mich ja schluss chli nervig wnl you've got it bad girl wieder sehr cool, au wenn die hüfig GUUURLLL chli ahstrengend sind hans gfühl kenn einiges passiv? superstition isch fuckin superstition big brother au chli nervig leider blame it on the sun RIESE song DO IT GEOFF I believe when I fall in love...isch relativ simpel aber iwie mega impactful. uhuereschön jo ganz klar es 4i es paar lieder hets gha woni so naja gfunde han aber suscht würkli seehr guet
what a smooth little record. perfect for a monday morning shift, as comforting & warm as cupping a freshly brewed cup of matcha tea. p sweet!
Great album, with some quality bangers.
Classically good album. He lives up to his last name.
So good. Might be a 5...
You are the sunshine & Superstition - 2 Absolute heavy hitters 3.5/5
his name is stevland? what kinda name is stevland. this stevland wonder album is good, just as i expected it to be
This is a great album. The only reason this isn't a 5 is he forgets about his funky side, and gets lost then a more generic sound that all blends together.
More peak Stevie. B+
You Are The Sunshine, 5/5, brought a smile right away. He has a lovely voice. Talented musician. Superstition, wonderful guitar work. I Believe, nicely isolated voice. Overall 4/5
"Superstition" is the greatest wedding band jam of all time.
Superstition and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life get a 4 star alone. Such perfect songs. Some of the other songs did not hit as well, for me.
Nice sound, classic Stevie with some nice synth vocals in some songs. Absolute banger with Superstition
Great album good production a very chill album
Never heard the album before. Good album, with a few great songs.
Ну Чудо и правда. Лучшая песня - Superstition.
What a great album. I love the two popular tracks (You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and Superstition) and a couple of others: You And I, Blame It On The Sun.
The singles do a lot of the heavy lifting here, but the rest of the tracks are still solid.
Outside of this exercise, I don't think there's a world where I would have listened to 4 Stevie Wonder albums back to back. Given the oddity of this album-centric approach in a world of streaming precisely what you want to hear when you want to hear it, I think there's a parallel universe where maybe I heard Talking Book *before* Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life, and Fulfillingness - and think of it as a 5 star album. Acknowledging this was the first of Stevie's 'classic period,' it makes sense it's not as strong in relation to those other works. But it's kind of like ranking Simone Biles on a bad day - there's still a lot of genius here. The deep cut 'Maybe Baby' should seriously be in as regular rotation as his other hits, Tuesday Heartbreak is great, 'Big Brother' feels super relevant in this day & age, and there are of course the familiar hits. The schmaltzy ballads are almost never as appealing as the funkier grooves, but still a seriously solid listen (even if it pales in comparison to those other works.)
It’s very good, but Superstition far outpaces the rest of the pack.
This had that dreamy 80’s ballad sound. Multiple known bangers on this one and definitely a strong performance throughout. Perhaps my favorite from him so far!
Colorful instrumental flourishes hardly detract from the accessible, catchy song structures that serve to frame Stevie's expressive vocals. Overall, a very catchy, engaging album that is perfect for Sunday morning brunch. 8.8/10
Smooth, enjoyable, classic. Proper application of the new toolset of instruments coming available.
Stevie Wonder's hits overshadow the deep cuts SO MUCH that people like me, unfamiliar with the albums themselves, never got to enjoy the more subtle lesser known stuff. What an amazing songwriter Stevie Wonder is. Every cut on Talking Book is excellent. I don't have the good taste to embrace his soulful ballad side, but the quality is there. "Big Brother" is an AMAZING song, all of the funk stuff on here is awesome. There's even a little "country" (?) tunewhich was great! More guitar than I remember... a really satisfying listen with lots of variety, and of course, Superstition is on here. You can't go wrong!
How can EVERY song be so catchy I don't understand. Idk I'm really rocking with this one. A couple songs are a little bit annoying, but damn is this good. Fav Songs: You Are the Sunshine of My Life, You and I, Superstition, Big Brother, I Believe
Thoughts before listening: Another of Stevie's classic albums. Songs In the Key of Life of one of my favorite discoveries since starting this, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this as well. Its hard to hate on Stevie Wonder, especially with his 70s albums where he was at the peak of his powers. Review: "Superstition" is an all time great song which is the highlight of this album. The rest of the album is good, but it does not rise to the heights of Innvervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. "Maybe Your Baby" is probably my favorite of the rest of the album with a cool funk groove and some killer guitar work. This is a 4-star album.
Bought this record last year in London with Tim. Really great album. Did get a bit of the same towards the end so 4 stars.
A little too schmaltzy at times, but then there's Superstition.
Yeah very enjoyable. That signature sound of Stevie Wonder is very infectious.
Not my favourite SW album but still proving that he was such a genius in the musical world inspiring many artists for years to come. Sunshine of my life despite after all these years and all the airplays has never taking the edge off a beautiful song. Superstition always a dance floor filler.
Incredible album of the great Stevie Wonder. There are a few cheesy songs on there, that prevent this from going to a full 5*, but his album Innervisions in my opinion is perfection. What an amazing artist.
The upbeat songs are good and Superstition is amazing, but the rest of the album doesn't really do it for me. A 4 because Superstition is just that good.
Superstition, and then a bunch of other songs
4.25
What a weird guy but damn can he write a good song.
Some really great funky songs, really liked his singing voice, however most of the instrumentals sounded very similar and the lyrics were also similar. Overall around 7/10
7/10
No Stevie Wonder at all for 313 albums, and now there's two of his in the last 8. I'll be a bit more brief this time, I wrote a lot about Songs In The Key Of Life recently. I feel like I keep getting an artists "best" album right before their other stuff, which can make the other stuff feel a hair disappointing. Talking Book is really strong overall, but doesn't quite live up to Songs In The Key Of Life. I think about half of this album is really good, and about half feels average filler-type songs. Even though this one is much shorter, a couple times I felt my interest drifting on songs there were a bit slow and repetitive. The good thing is when it's good it's really good, so my attention was always pulled back quickly. It starts really strong with the first three songs all being great, then there's a bit of a lull, then he gets you with "Superstition" to open the back side of the album. It's one of those songs that's so wildly famous, but it deserves all the hype. The rest of the album is a bit of a mixed bag, a few solid songs and a few that didn't do as much for me. I think Talking Book is really strong on the whole, and it definitely showcases Wonder's songwriting ability (particularly in the sappy love song world) and voice. The arrangements are funky and generally interesting too. The misses on this album are generally slower songs, and they do give me a bit of a meh vibe, but there's definitely plenty of good on here. I'm only two Stevie Wonder albums in, and he had a weird career since it starting so young, but this feels like around the time where he was starting to hit his stride a bit, with to absolute best on the horizon. Favorite song: Superstition Other: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Maybe Your Baby, You And I, Blame It On The Sun, I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) 11/13/24
Love it！Prefect in the evening
Funky fun vibes.
Superstition is a 6⭐️ song. It, along with a couple others, almost carries the album to a 5. I’m rounding down though, because there’s a couple that are a bit too adult-contemporary for me.
Soulful production with tranquil vocals from Stevie layered on top. A lot to like here.
Refreshing, love Stevie's voice and the funky instrumentals. Wish more of it was like superstition. 4* Highlights: superstition (that bass line!!), i believe
Pretty much the apex predator of 70s singer-songwriter funk-tinted soul. Rooted in its time and also somehow completely transcendent.
First things first - Superstition is an amazing song, and it might be top 3 songs in a vast repertoire of Stevie. The rest of the album is slightly on the weaker side, the atmosphere is toned down, it lacks that wow factor from Innervisions. It's still a very solid record and I can't really believe I was ignoring Stevie's music for so long.
Day296 - the story of superstition being written for jeff beck and taken back by stevie’s management because they knew it would be a hit is crazy and they were right without superstition on this album it wouldn’t be as well viewed
Like many others, I give this a 4 due to Superstition.
i mean it's literally stevie wonder, he is delightful, knew a handful of tracks from this already and found a couple new ones i love! (bumped off a star just based on pure instincts on first listen through, there were a few songs that didn't hook me in as much in comparison to others)
I liked it!! Some big songs on here