Talking Book

3.60

Classical

Dig it, but not enough to go out of way for it

I really loved Talking Book but i don't think that is a surprise seeing as this is Stevie Wonder we are talking about here. I was initially thinking that i wouldn't like this album as much as the other albums i have heard from him but this ended up being up there. Every song here was so enjoyable with each instrument being used so well by each musician on each song. The lyrics here were also fantastic with Wonder's voice really adding to them. Also this album went at the perfect length. I was initially thinking i would give this a high 4 stars but i think that Superstition is just way too good for me not to give this album a 5. Best Song: Superstition Worst Song: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Side Note: Since this will be my last Stevie Wonder album, I'll rank them all here: 1. Songs In The Key Of Life 2. Talking Book 3. Innervisions 4. Fulfillingness' First Finale

It will sound redundant for each Stevie Wonder album that is presented, but the man is a child prodigy and genius who is and always will be progressive and cutting edge. Urban, beats mixed with love songs about partners and children, everything is covered. Another artist I listen to over and over again.

Standout Songs: Maybe Your Baby Superstition Big Brother

It's Stevie Wonder...duh.

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

Some bangers, but I’m not a huge fan of this album in general it’s got some of his weaker songs as well. Superstition is obviously an all time track.

Beautiful album. Stevie was really going through it. Jeff Beck on Looking for another Pure Love. The ballads are endearing. He's the best singer ever.

Everyone needs a little cheesy in their lives! In general, it's a lovely, easy listening album. Stevie's voice is pure butter. Superstition is of course the number one banger, but I also loved Blame it on the Sun. It starts out meh, and then BAMMM a nice little beat shows up. Believe is magnificent, I automatically started doing the slow side step and pumping my arms.

I was looking forward to this one. Sunny weather coupled with a Stevie Wonder album; you can't go wrong with that. The album started off an a high (You are the sunshine of my life). Seriously, the first 10 seconds of that track told me this was a good 'un. The next few tracks after that were good. I liked Tuesday Heartbreak especially. Maybe because it's Tuesday as I write this. There's layers of funky instrumentation on this. Pure funk guitar, a mischievious bassline, organs, guitar playing out of this world...musically it is a feast. I must admit I got fatigued with the album by the second half. The songs are noticeably weaker and I did grow restless at points. The exception being the last track of the album, where it ends with a high on "I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever). Overall, this was a delight to listen to. I think I still prefer the Innvervisions album, but this one is still excellent.

Blind album, good listen honestly. Well rounded and move and catchy and soulful.

Siento que debería decir 4, pero no me está gustando tanto. Aunque tampoco me apetece mucho escuchar este tipo de música sí me gustaría escucharlo de nuevo.

2.5

jeg er ikke så pjattet med ham. 2

An enjoyable listen. Good composition overall, though not as good as one of the other albums he has on this list.

Funky times🕺🏼🕺🏼og cute, kærlighed :)))

En af verdens bedste sangskrivere, lækre instrumentaler, og en unmatched vokal, no notes ✨4,5 stjerner hvis jeg kunne, det her album er lidt mere kommercielt end hans andre

7/10

i wet my pants

"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" i "Superstition" to znane bangery z tego albumu, ale "Blame It On The Sun", "I Believe" czy parę innych kawałków to też kawał fajnej muzyki. To jest absurdalne, że to był jego piętnasty album studyjny. Chłopak miał dopiero 22 lata (sic)! Dzięki temu osiągnął fantastyczną równowagę pomiędzy młodzieńczą świeżością, a bardzo dojrzałym, rozbudowanym brzmieniem. Chciałem napisać, że miał fantastyczną ekipę muzyków za sobą przy tym albumie, ale właśnie przeczytałem, że na większości instrumentów grał sam... Szczególnie zaskoczyło mnie, że grał na bębnach, bo perkusja jest naprawdę bardzo przyjemna przez cały album. Genialny gość z fantastycznym, niemalże w pełni solowym albumem.

Solid album. Starts and ends strong

Lil too much funk for me. But, still Stevie

CLASSIC

Pretty good, but no immediate standouts for me, other than Superstition. It's one of those albums that has that one super famous song on it, but the other songs just can't hold the weight!

All songs are forgettable except for "Superstition" that is better played by Stevie Ray Vaughan's btw.

Cover 5 No bad songs but not all of them are notable. Maybe half of which I would re-listen.

I refer to my earlier reviews of funk and soul albums - I adore Stevie Wonder when he's being upbeat and funky, and don't have too much time for the slower numbers. Still, it's Stevie Wonder, so I'm not sure I can physically bring myself to rate it below four stars.

Classics.

Nice album, with a couple great cuts. You can never go wrong listening to Stevie Wonder.

This is not the best Stevie album, but his discography is so lacked with classic that it doesn't mean much. The first song is just such an amazing love song, so warm and sincere. A bit on the poppier side compared to the rest of the album but that doesn't mean it's not amazing. The 2nd song is much funkier by comparison, with a unique groove and a very animated vocal performance. You and I is very smooth but probably the least exciting song here. Tuesday Heartbreak is another lovely song, dripping with passion and emotion. The big hit Superstition is obviously amazing and absolutely impossible to dislike. Stellar chord progression, absolutely amazing instrumentation full of life and personality and such a catchy chorus. So good. Big Brother, Blame It On The Sun and Lookin For Another Pure Love are solid songs but don't bring much to the album imo. However, I do really like the strong progression and vocal performance of the closer. This is a really essential Stevie Wonder album and conttributes to his amazing early-to-mid 70s 5 album run greatly.

sick clavinet

The first half of this album is kinda uninspiring live songs with a couple nice melodies. Then you hit Superstition and it's an all time classic! Still a great tune after all this time. After that you get Big Brother which is another terrific song. Unfortunately after that the album devolves back into mediocre love songs. Still those excellent melodies persist throughout.

“Steve, you know this is an album not a talking book.” Malcom Cecil (executive producer) is rumored to have stated in reference to the numerous tracks they were trying to choose from when putting together this album. I mention the quote because it highlights Stevie Wonder’s passion for music. He communicated through songs and spent many hours in the studio creating and experimenting with new sounds. This passion really comes through in his music, especially once he was given more creative freedom as he was from this album and then moving forward. Wonder was a genius with respect to his instrumentation and production approaches, so it is always fun to read about how his albums were produced. Like many of his records, Wonder played most of the instruments, with some assistance from others, on this record. Impressive, but what is important about this is that the records had to be layered back together later, and Wonder along with his producers did this in a way that created a more richly textured sound that almost all R&B or pop at the time. In particular, listen to the layering of the three distinctly different sounding keyboards: the Hohner Clavinet, Electric Piano and Moog Synthesizer. If you are not familiar with how these instruments sound, do yourself a favor and look it up. They are featured pretty widely in songs from this time period and remember this was a period where is was all analog, so the unique sounds we can produce on computers today were only possible through the use of different instruments. Cool stuff. Anyhow, Talking Book was a joy to listen to. Personally, I prefer the funky jams over his more soulful tunes, but this is just personal taste. Wonder’s talents are evident from start to finish. Talking Book was Wonder’s first to hit Billboard Album Top 5, but then his next 7 albums would make the list too. A pretty impressive run.

"maybe your baby" was much more adjacent to Funkadelic than I ever thought Stevie could get. "You and I" has some very unconventional vocal treatment (sounds like its in a claustrophobic chamber with the right ear tracking slightly before the left, leaving behind a wavering echo). Sounds like the same Moog synthesizer that Mort Garson used for "Mother Earth's Plantasia" Crushing vocals from Stevie as he mourns some sort of lost relationship- "I only pray that I have shown you a brighter day, because that's all that I am living for, you see" Superstition is an obvious highlight, with the clavinet lead as a nice departure from the keys and moog synth of the previous songs. Lookin' For Another Pure Love is produced magnificently- you can hear every detail of the drum stick's hit of the ride cymbal, the detail of pick on string from the guitar (panned assymetrically to the left) and Stevie's silky smooth vocal delivery. The guitar run at 3:10 is otherworldly. I believe when I fall in love it will be forever is a wonderful album closer. Stevie rocks the vocal improv lines right at the end as expected.

I wasn’t that into this album when the b listened to it before. This time, on its own it’s a nice vibe. I just think that, even with “Superstition” on it, there’s not as many bangers in it as, say, Innervisions, or Songs In The Key Of Life. But I enjoyed it! 3.5 stars.

Didn't like this as much as Songs in the Key of Life, but still pretty good. Some of the songs are too long. Superstition is the best. I have a soft spot for I Believe When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever, because of its use at the end of the movie High Fidelity.

Classic! Great hits, and I found a new earworm, "I Believe."

I believe I spoiled this one for myself a bit by listening to Fulfillingness's First Finale years earlier, so I got into Stevie Wonder's sound in a different order from the way the rest of the world discovered him. Talking Book is just as good, although it seems as though he was creating templates for himself here that he'd continue to exploit for a while. Nonetheless, this one's full of warm, heartfelt funk & soul that can't help but be pleasant! My top tracks are the immortal 'Superstition' and album closer 'I Believe'.

No notes!

STEVIEEEEEEE

Was hoping for more songs like Superstition and Maybe Your Baby. That deep funk is great and I wish the whole album was like that. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life makes my ears bleed and so does a lot of the other stuff on here...it's like elevator music, easy listening/lounge music...I don't know how to describe it, but it just sounds dated and 70s. This isn't to say I'm unaware or don't appreciate Stevie Wonder's talents...he's fantastic. It's just not something I'd really want to listen to again outside of those two songs.

Of course Stevie Wonder is a national treasure, but there was always something about his voice that bothered me a little bit. Maybe I wanted it to be deeper? Did I want him to be Ray Charles? First impression- on the cover he looks like Michael B. Jordan somewhere between The Wire and his breakout success as one of our greatest young actors. The music more or less blends together for me but ¨Superstition¨ will never not be a jam. A nice listen, if a bit forgetable. Best song: ¨Superstition¨

Dobar stari Stevo! Nije mi najbolji album njegov, ali i dalje vrhunski. 3/5, 6.5/10

Some of the tracks are quite tediously repetitive... Of course, I'm very familiar with 'You are the sunshine of my life' and 'Superstition'.

Que álbum divertido! Muito Groove e Técnico. QoA Adonis New.

Stevie Wonder definitely engaged me more this time round. It wasn't just the oomph of 'Superstition'. I'm still not entirely sold on him, and I we haven't had 'Songs in the Key of Life' yet, so the jury is not out. However, there we catchy melodies, and a decent vocal performance. I listened actively. 4 Stars.

This album is like waking up on a warm Sunday morning knowing that you have nothing to do with the day ahead. You stay in bed for longer than you normally would, dozing in and out of sleep. You'll get up and have a cup of coffee soon, but there is no rush.

A classic. What a voice and what excellent song writing

I tried, but this is far from music I like.

Rating: 2.0 Just not for me.

Mmm... I prefer the more up-tempo numbers and this was going to get a '3' but then Jeff Beck appeared and he's always worth a +1 so 4/5 it is. Some of the ballads drag.

I like the last half of the album the most, from Supersitious on. It seems like a great album to put on while cuddling on the couch or in bed with your lover. Romance has not been much of a part of my life lately, and I think that’s why I wasn’t entirely feeling this album. Still I can see why it’s on this list and I will probably revisit in the future

this fucking record slaps

It’s Stevie Fuckin’ Wonder

As close to perfection as an album can get - and he did this multiple times with different albums around this period!!

was hoping for more given the amazing singles on here but alas

#154/1001. Yes, this is the album with Superstition in it. 3 albums in about a year? And most of them contain classics. No wonder his name is Wonder. And this is the one or if the classics I don't own, perhaps need to change that.

Another classic, but not my style

Smooth. Stevie Wonder defined easy listening. That synth/organy sound is awful though. Is that the clarinet? Not a fan. Total elevator music sound. Am I ever going to consciously choose this? No. Is Stevie Wonder classic? Sure. And everyone knows the hits. But it’s really not all that great.

This album was perfect for me today. Walking in to the office, bracing myself for a chaotic Monday at work, and to hear the soothing voice of Stevie bringing me back to the things in life that really matter.

Songwriting, singing and production all pretty superb. A very easy voice to listen to. A very strong 4 stars.

What a sound - arguably his second best album

Stacked full of hits from his best period.

I can understand why Stevie Wonder charms so many with his smooth, glistening performance. It transitions neatly between sweet ballads and huge party tracks, the high point being the 1-2 of Superstition into Big Brother. I’m not quite as bowled over by this as the majority, but it does have a lazy Sunday afternoon with wine kind of vibe which is very attractive.

I am calling it a 4 as a placeholder, undeniably great but not entirely in my wheelhouse which is stopping it being a 5

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.

5/5

Not my everyday jam, but this album re-shaped R&B. Superstition may be one of my favorite tracks of all time—that bassline moog is next level. Would I listen to again? Probably

Love how the "later Stevie sound" kicks in in this album. With Superstition as absolute banger. the other songs did not really grab me.

To many slow love songs 😁

I really thought this was pretty good…I was familiar with both of the hits, and have always really liked Superstition. I thought the second track rambled on a bit too long, but really liked the last song. At the end of the day, this one gets four stars from me. I will definitely want to listen to this one some more.

One of Wonders best albums with 4 top songs.

Even though the album gets overshadowed by Superstition, I think Stevie's performance and charisma on this album were quite refreshing in contrast to other things I've been listening to.

Beaucoup moins funk que ces précédents albums générés, ça reste très bon mais bibi aime son Stevie bien funky

Stevie Wonder at the top of his game. A beauty from tip to tail, and a very worthy inclusion.

Of all the jazz-funk-soul greats of the 20th century, Stevie Wonder is the only one who just never really resonated with me. I swear if you took away the singing half of these songs sound like Nintendo Wii lobby music.

C'est pas parfait, mais y'a des méchants bons moments. Juste Superstition donne une étoile de plus à l'album, une des meilleures tracks de tous les temps.

I really really liked this. He can write a love song that isn't corny. Going to have to dive more into his discography after this

There's nobody like Stevie Wonder

Third Stevie album since I started this project a few months ago. Like I get it. Stevie’s one of the best. Can we get some more jazz please?!!

Other than superstitious the album didn't have much funk to it, similar to the popular song

My only real criticism of this album is that Songs in the Key of Life is better, and that's not exactly harsh. This is classic Stevie, and a hell of an album.

great as always

good

Some catchy hooks and good vocals.. expected from a Stevie wonder album

Sitting at the foggy dock at 7 in the morning and all the hunting dogs barking in the distance seem to match the beat of You Are The Sunshine Of My Life like they heard Stevie's call

A beautiful & brilliant album that brings me back to the summer of 2009. I would listen to this often in my bedroom while going through my first major breakup, and it proved to be so incredibly therapeutic & helpful to my little aching heart. Music heals - hell yeah!

Some good and interesting songs but the slow ones are brutal.

Excellent 👌 the beginning of prime Stevie Wonder

Maybe your baby might be my least favorite song ever but superstition might bring it up to a 3.5

Excellent

Stevie Wonder is a legend. Didn’t know all the songs but loved it.

So many tunes, can't believe how much I enjoyed

Awesome

It's a good album, but I didn't really like the rhythm of the songs, despite showing the first steps of an iconic artist, as is the case with Stevie Wonder.

listened to again a perfect album

i mean sure its fine. but i just can't come around to being a stevie wonder fan. he's fine and i hope he's happy.

big ole meh

Not my favorite of the classic period or top 2 but still a fanstastic album

Stevie Wonder is one of those artists that’s undeniable. He couldn’t make a bad project, let alone bad music, even if he tried. That brother could fart into a mic melodically and it’ll sound like the best thing your ears have ever heard. So needless to say I enjoyed this project and it’s good to hear some of his biggest songs within the confines of an album to see where he was trying to take us. I’ll never be disappointed by 70s funk and soul, it was just a perfect marriage with Stevie. Again, brilliant album!

Enjoyed this more than Songs in the Key of Life.

Incredible album.

From some of the most iconic vibes of all time to some really sappy love songs. I adore Stevie Wonder, but not every song on this album.

Solid - even the deep cuts were good for a listen

Bipolar album all about extremes. The high ideal of effortless love and the reality of heartbreak. My favorite thing about Wonder is that when he sings, which is often, it sounds like he’s smiling. It’s difficult to feel any negativity when listening to him sing. “I Believe” is the kind of thing I’d play when I’m holding a boom box outside my girlfriend’s house.

“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.

Classic with plenty of good fun music to enjoy

My only complaint is that a few of the songs are a bit repetitive and could’ve had a minute shaved off. Besides that, this was a very enjoyable listen.

On my wedding anniversary. An album saturated with so much love, getting soppy listening to it. Lots of classics, lots of beautiful vocal. Slightly over sweet at times but was okay with that today.

Stevie Wonder is just a master of his craft

Part of a run of unbeatable stevie albums. You are the sunshine of my life and he's misstra know it all are the hits and are amazing. Maybe your baby is other worldly and Tuesday heartbreak is the best songs written about that day of the week! Seems unfair to single out songs when they are all top notch. Not many have a run of 5 great albums. Stevie does.

Wow what a fabulous album. I even didn't scroll down to see that Superstitious was on it so when it came on I genuinely got excited. Such an interesting sound, like a mixture of jazz and creating this new kind of funk. I've been a believer that Stevie Wonder legitimately has one of the best voices of all time. Really fun front to back

I know most people don't listen to albums like this anymore but just an all timer Side 1 track 1 and Side 2 track 2.

Probably a 7 for me as a few of the songs are a little too saccharine. I Believe has got just the right balance, I'd forgotten about the song, so was nice to hear it again and return it to my playlist.

Probably my least fav of his epic run..find it a little one-paced and not that keen on the synths on this one. Superstition still bangs tho

Not my favourite of Stevie’s early/mid 70s work as it’s a little too twee in places, but it a solid album I’ve listened to many times over the years.

This album is really good. So much fun! So funky and Stevie is obviously a great singer! Other than "Superstition" this song lacks a "top song" to push it to a 5 star album. Actual rating...4.5 Liked Songs: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" , "Maybe Your Baby" , "You And I" , "Tuesday Heartbreak" , "You've Got It Bad Girl" , "Superstition" , "Big Brother"

Good 3.25

If the rest of the album was even half as good as Superstition, this would be 5 stars.

Funky and fun!

Can’t go wrong with stevie, great listen.

Otro discazo del primo de mj. Quizá no mi favorito, pero maravilloso.

This feels harsh, but it’s a strong 3. Based on the two albums I’ve heard, he’s got a bit of the Bowies about him i.e. there are a couple of classics on each album but the rest is quite unremarkable.

Quality from start to finish.

Great stuff. Close to a 5 but not

Ending on I believe. Got to be 5 stars

Shifts between mellow and upbeat, but always feels bright, warm and funky.

Inoffensive background music but no single track stood out or was particular notable to me

Classic.

I liked it less than the other Stevie Wonder albums I’ve listened to on this list. Some bangers on there.

So, so amazing. Very beautiful songs that use such creative harmonies and melodies, yet the entire album never sounds overly complicated. You and I was a highlight on this album for me that I had never heard before.

Another great album. Not quite up to the standard of his other 70s output though!

Good album, worth the listen just for superstition

acho que dos que apareceram aqui do wonder até agr esse é o menos absurdo e ainda é excelente!!

o último do homem fortíssimo hein, não decepciona. nunca tinha escutado ele direito e agora eu gosto bastante!!

Kind of boring TBH. Solidly fine. 2/5 stars.

Love love love. Iñnervisions is still my fave. So will give this a high 4.

Favourite Track: Maybe Your Baby, Superstition, Blame it on the Sun

Interesting album with a few classics.

Starts and ends strong; contains ‘Superstition,’ arguably SW’s best-ever track. ‘Big Brother’ is breezy w a lyric that is very relevant to the current moment. Would say tends a bit too saccharine elsewhere. For me this completes the 2 album ‘warmup’ to SW’s peak period: his next 3 albums.

This was a fun listen because while I knew the two big songs on the album, I had not listened to the bulk of it before. My favorite of the other songs was You and I

Similar to many other so far, this is an album with one timeless classic that I'd never really listened to as an album. Stevie is an artist (I had this same reaction to EWF) that I prefer as "fast and funky" rather than "slow and sentimental" but there were a few surprises in here that I really liked. In particular Lookin for Another Pure Love - had a suspicion when he said "play it Jeff" but confirmed that the solo and overall cool guitar work were indeed Jeff Beck. Loved the social commentary on Big Brother and lyrically how it was a break from the mostly love-oriented lyrics on the rest of the album. I will say that even on the slow songs though - the chord voicings are often interesting and atypical and evidence of his musical genius. Overall, maybe not quite his apex yet, but very very good.

I was excited for this one (given that superstition) but was surprised to find the slower jams a bit schmaltzy and overly long. I enjoyed finding Maybe Your Baby, which was a new song for me, that I really liked. Much of the rest was sadly forgettable, given the talent he’s got.

Good

Classically the Stevie that I love. Have heard many of the tracks over timer but not necessarily from this album. Some smooth tunes and some funk gives variety to this offering. Lovely arrangements in the love songs, but they are simple and too slow at times. Too mellow overall, not enough if the good funk. Listened before? In part Saved tracks? Y Favorite tracks? Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life ⭐⭐⭐ Liked it ok, saved a few tracks.

Some bangers on here to kick off, just slows down too much for my tastes.

What can be said? The king.

Nuostabuuuu. Labai patinka jo balsas, jo tekstai, ir muzika labai užveda.

Hittet holder. Resten er mere meh.

8/10

Classics "Superstition" and "I Believe" (awesome), mixed about 50-50 with boring ballads.

For whatever reason, this album didn't really stick with me. I thought it was good, but not special. The music and words were a bit too... puffery? Cotton candy? Not sure how to describe it. That said, Superstition is an all-time great song, so I gotta give him some points for that. I also liked the closing song, I Believe. The rest were mostly fine. I think I would've liked it better if he'd gotten more of that funk/groove with some of them. Overall: 2.9/5

I've never given Stevie Wonder a fair shake other than Songs in the Key of Life (which is very, very good). This album was still quite good, but highlights both his strengths and weaknesses. Strengths being his funk and R&B grooves, and weaknesses being the schmaltzy gushy balladry. The ballads aren't inherently bad, they're just too sweet and saccharine. But the funk on this album makes up for it. I mean, look, it has Superstition on it. That's all you really need.

Great album 4/5

4.0 - Eine tolle Reise, die von Anfang bis Ende Spaß macht! Highlights: Let's Stay Together, How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

Inget snack om att han kan snickra musik, och jag uppskattar förmågan. Men soul behöver skava lite för att tilltala mig. Musiker-musik. Lite mycket Easy Listening för mig.

I have already forgotten this. Sorry, just not my thing.

Pretty nice

Day 35 Wish I enjoyed this more because how amazing Stevie is but unfortunately all the slower ballads just didn’t grab me at all. The 2 songs I really liked are proper bangers though 5/10 Highlights Maybe your baby Superstition

All timer

Stevie Wonder has a nice voice, but the album is just OK. Favorite songs: "Maybe Your Baby", "You've Got It Bad Girl", "Superstition"

Undoubtedly, my favorite Stevie Wonder album. I know many people would go with Songs in the Key of Life or Innervisions, but I think what I love about this album is that it captures the bridge between his Motown sound and him finding a more unique artistic sound of his own...which is a great bridge to be on, musically. Also, for nostalgia, I remember hearing "I Believe" for the first time as the credits rolled on the movie High Fidelity. I loved that song and it was actually the motivation for me to listen to more Stevie Wonder (because I liked all the hits but then realized maybe I liked more than just the hits). So, for the playlist from this project I went with "I Believe" and "Tuesday Heartbreak"--two really good album tracks from a really good album. "Maybe Your Baby" almost made it--also considered the hits "You're the Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition"...as well as "You've Got it Bad Girl" and "Big Brother." Lots of options on this album!

Bit of a vibe here from Mr. Wonder

Very influential. Heard lots of samples.

What a combination of voice, lyrics, and instrumentation. The sound on the album is so interesting and varied even before being paired with Wonder's vocals. He sings with such emotion and joy that it's contagious. Impossible to have this album go unnoticed in the background. Superstition absolutely struts and it's impossible not to be inspired to move.

A funky ball of tits. Superstition is one of those all time greats.

Eh

Stevie is great!

Good Songs: You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Maybe Your Baby, You and I, Tuesday Heartbreak, You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Superstition, Big Brother, Blame It On The Sun, Lookin’ For Another Pure Love, I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) Mid Songs: Bad Songs:

Didn’t like this, I don’t enjoy Stevie Wonders music. It all sounds the same to me.

Really great album Strong 8

Voice as smooth as silk. Music is funky, then jazzy, then real soft and tender. All genres equally strong. A perfect blend of love songs and funky jams. I feel like Superstition would probably be my favourite track if id not heard it 1000 times before. Still a tune of course. As it is, it would need to be You and I or I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever). What an album. Spun it twice already, quite prepared for a 3rd listen on the trot. 9/10

Just class

What an album. Def not better than songs in the key of life but still amazing work by one of the best singer songwriters of all time and the fact that he’s blind is insane to me still. His voice is nothing short of perfection and all the different uses of keyboard is insanely awesome. Fav Track: You are the sunshine of my life Least fav: blame it on the sun

Stevie Wonder is so incredibly talented. There are some good songs on here besides Superstition, which is just a great song. Overall, it is nice to listen to and I can understand why this was popular. I wish they had leaned more into the funk and less into the pop/"easy" listening though.

Very groovy and chilled. It’s got superstition on it and some sweet love songs like You and I that stuck out to me, but mainly superstition which I can see was super influential.

Some good soul jams on here.

The fact that this was Stevie's 15th album is mind-blowing to me. It's not just the listening but sitting with the thought of this album afterwards that I'm impressed with just how good it was and still is. This album is a part of a 4 year stretch of what critics labeled his "classic era" and I can see why. Obviously the go to songs we know but I've always loved "I believe when I fall in love". I confess the first time I heard it really was in the ending of the film High Fidelity and it grabbed me by the collar. The choice of Robert Margouleff as his producer is so interesting to me as he was a collaborator of Robert Moog (Moog synthesizers) and you see how influential those keyboards and synths were. They became synonymous with Stevie's sound. You & I is as perfect a love song as you can write, I'd be foolish to label the writing simple because he communicates the simple in profound ways and the arrangement only reveals musically what love can make you feel. I could hear some of his political voice in this as well. I'm a bit embarrassed I haven't sat with this record more in my life. I'll keep coming back to this one. 5 stars

6/10

Superstition is an all timer. Few can bring it quite like Stevie can.

Superstition!

Stevie Wonder will never see this review so why should I bother. 4.3/5 JF

Liked it a lot. The problem I have with most dunk albums is how similar songs sound throughout. This album feels very individual throughout every song. Each is very interesting and well thought out. Superstition is an all timer.

Really enjoyed this. Great recording, super dry which I guess was the style at the time. More "funk" than I think I expected. Put me in a good mood.

Sorry Stevie, this one just didn’t hit right for me.

I was really looking forward to a big seminal funk record, but that's not quite what this ended up being. I could argue that this is another 'tale of two albums', but it's not quite 50/50. This primarily an album of commercial soul ballads with a few fleeting excursions into funk music - including a complete shift in the final minute of the last song to end the album with one last funk break. Unfortunately that just served as one last reminder of what this album might have been. It's a lovely album if you come into this looking for an album of kinda sappy love songs, but I hoped for the album version of "Superstition" and left disappointed. Sure, it still belongs on this list but it's not exactly the visionary work I wanted it to be.

Some classics!!!

This wasn't the funky Stevie I was expecting, for the most part, but rather a lot of ballads. I don't know how I feel about those ballads. The one undeniably good thing, here, are his vocals.

A classic album with deep tracks well worth listening to. Big Brother was a favorite.

Absolute classic 🔥🔥🔥 9/10 at least 3/09/25

A pretty enjoyable selection of (mostly love) songs. You are the sunshine of my life and superstition were the obvious standouts. Great voice

Mixed bag - really thought "Superstition" was by far the standout on the album. "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" was ok but a little sappy. The rest were too sappy for me. So overall a 3 star for me.

Couldn’t be better

This is a nice album. I love the use of - at the time - innovative key instruments. The Fender Rhodes sound in opener 'You are the sunshine of my life' is truly one of the most beautiful e-piano sounds I know. The Hohner Clavinet, especially in 'Superstition' is fantastic. Most songs are strong, up to closer 'I believe (etc.)'. 'You and I' is a beautiful piano ballad that some of the famous artists of this day (ms. Adkins) should listen to. But I have to mention 'Maybe your baby'. That's horrible.

Stevie? War immer da, aber nie relevant für mich, kann ihn gar nicht fassen einordnen auch jetzt nicht beim anhören, tolles Cover. Ok "Superstition" c

Some all time classic tracks on this one. Nice soul and r&b vibes on much of the album while also retaining a bit more of a conventional pop ballad vibe throughout some tracks.

I think I know two Stevie wonder songs and haven’t heard any other, so listening to this album was really fun! He’s got some good songs that aren’t “hits” and some cool piano parts

Very solid album. Stevie Wonder is a master of providing plenty of space for all instruments to breathe, and it perfectly blends funk and soul in a harmonious way. While it is not his magnum opus [see 'Songs in the Key of Life'], 'Talking Book' is buoyed by the obvious brilliance of 'Superstition' [Stevie's signature song, depending on who you talk to], but also features 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life', 'Maybe Your Baby' and 'I Believe [When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever], three remarkable tunes that helped bring Wonder out from the Motown pigeonhole and into the realm of the bold and innovative. We got Prince and Michael Jackson in the 80s, but Stevie was the one who showed them their future in the 70s. 4/5

sexy

неплохо, приятно

I can’t imagine a better album in this genre. The instrumentation is phenomenal. Stevie’s vocals are impeccable. The whole album is even better than I remembered.

Lovely voice. Feel he’s just finding his unique sound with superstition. The rest are nice songs but don’t grab me in the same way

I didn’t fully vibe with this - a little too much weird instrumentals for my taste. But would I object to listening to this again? No

I really wanted to love this… but Superstition sounds like it’s from an entirely different album. I’d listen again, but there’s a reason Songs In The Key Of Life is the go-to Wonder album…

It was very fun

A part of one of the greatest album runs.

I really loved this one. So so so so many good songs on it. Even the ones im ehhhh about really work in favor of the album.

Not the worst thing I've heard but I wouldn't listen to it again. I don't get the hype tho.

Good.

The most 70s album I've ever listened to. Extra star for the anti establishment themes.

It may not be my favorite genre, but this is still one hell of an album. The chiller, downtempo tracks like "You and I" are killer (that theramin!!) and beautifully performed. Sunshine and Superstition are certified classics, but there's nothing here that's really bad at all. There is some more "experimental" type work like in You've Got it Bad Girl, but I'm just getting Bill Wurtz vibes from that and I love it. I don't know if I would come back to specific songs on this album, but I would absolutely spin the whole album when I was in the right mood.

This album drips with 70s Motown - it’s clear why Superstition and You Are The Sunshine of My Life are the biggest hits from the album but I also really liked Big Brother. Unfortunately the rest of the tracks were more miss than hit for me. Some good lyrics, ok Motown sound, and easy listening- but also fairly forgettable.

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!

7/10

I listened to Fulfillingness' First Finale previously through this site and while pleasant, it wasn't something I was particularly into and it made me wonder (ha) if I wasn't into Stevie's music, thankfully that's not the case cuz most of this album is like a warm blanket, such a cozy sound that feels genuinely joyful while having some fantastic grooves, but I mean that's pretty obvious knowing his music Basically: a really nice time, I'm so glad I dig it so much and perhaps will make me go back to Fulfillingness' First Finale again for a second chance.

A tour de force of creativity

I really like Maybe Your Baby, mostly the production but also the grasping at possibilities Like Tuesday Heartbreak. Obv superstition is a classic. Big brother is poignant. Album is not entirely my personal taste But is still good and I like some tracks

Very nice listen

Great stuff

This is my first Stevie Wonder album, shocker that I've never heard Songs in the Key of Life, but the sheer length of an album whose genre is relatively unknown to me always scared me. But that's why I'm doing this project and starting to dive into Stevie Wonder's discography was long overdue at this point. As per usual, I'll start with the positives: -The drumming. Drums and percussions are incredibly creative, rich and diverse throughout the whole record. -The bass is warm and groovy and his experimenting with the synths (I've read he started using synths during the recordings of Talking Book) are used very effectively to fill the empty spaces, ensuring the LP never feels devoid of sound -The arrangements and details add flavour to the (already) infectious songs (at least up to Superstition) and I appreciate that a lot. -Superstition is obviously the highlight of this release, that song is SO catchy and captivating through its funk and bombastic arrangement you feel like your ears could blow from joy. -Last but not least, Stevie has a great, "sugary" voice and the fact that he recorded everything by himself is absolutely mental. I wish I could have half of his talents. Now the negatives: -Thematically this album is very stale. Besides Superstition and the heavily political Big Brother, almost every song is about love. From an album called "Talking Book" I would've expected a wider range of the human spectrum of emotions to be analyzed. -Some songs have what I like to call the "Oasis syndrome" where they overstay their welcome because the chorus keeps getting repeated over and over for like 2 minutes, others don't really have anything cool going like Big Brother or You've got it Bad Girl Overall, this album's highs (Superstition, Maybe Your Baby, You and I and I believe) are VERY high, but its inconsistency combined with the fact that after Superstition the record's momentum seem to drop off, ruining the pace of the album. Despite its inconsistencies, the highs show why Stevie Wonder is regarded as a genius and I'll definitely dive into other albums of his in the future. Either way, this is just my opinion. So try not to pay too much attention to it.

I like it when Stevie gets funky. And Ray Parker Jr. on guitar for Maybe Your Baby? Yes, please! Unfortunately, many of the songs here are quite cheesy and forgettable. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Maybe Your Baby, Superstition My ratings are kind of based on general vibes and how many tracks I save to my Deezer profile -- ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Saved some tracks.

Soulful vibes. So much Love…. Great songs for romance and dinnertime

Nice vibe, chill album with some killer songs in it.

If you’ve ever wondered where Stevie Wonder found the idea for “Ebony and ivory, side by side on my piano keyboard,” it surely comes from his fondness for chromatic phrases. Between those runs, his harmonic extensions, the sudden backing-vocal interjections, and that woozy pitch-shifting synth, Wonder’s arrangements are often murky with sophistication. Like another, far lesser songwriter, Nick Boyle, he sometimes floods the keyboard with so many notes that the vocal melody gets subsumed. He may be writing songs simply because that’s the popular musical mode, but what he really wants, it seems, is simply to mess about. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. It can be frustrating, but there are worse sins than making dense music for your own enjoyment. Still, the album’s obvious standout – Superstition - works precisely because of its restraint. Harmonically static, yes, but built on two interlocking keyboard parts of dazzling economy. No backing vocals, no pitch-shift, just a sly chromatic horn figure in the middle. Nothing murky here: the instruments are cleanly separated, every gesture feels purposeful, and Wonder sings with real gusto. The lyric may be silly, but fair play: it’s an underexplored subject tackled with conviction. I'd never considered the peril of the 13 month-old baby. Elsewhere, though, the lyrics reveal how little Wonder seems to care about what he’s singing. When he leans into daring subject matter or phrasing, as on Big Brother - “Vote me President of your Soul” - we’re drawn back to the music. It's a lot of fun. But most of the record defaults to love songs, and these are where his limitations show. Consider the album’s opener: “You are the sunshine of my life, That’s why I’ll always be around.” The metaphor collapses immediately - what does “always being around” have to do with sunshine? It’s lazy and poorly thought through. Other expressions of devotion - “looking for a pure love,” “when I fall in love, it will be forever” - are naïve to the point of parody. Nothing in his writing suggests an understanding of the complexities of human romance. Instead, the lyrical clichés compound the musical schmaltz with sentimental schmaltz. Because Wonder is so prodigiously talented, it’s these oddities and indulgences that jar most. What’s with the stray vocalisations on You Are the Sunshine of My Life? Why does Maybe Your Baby drag on so long? What’s the enduring appeal of the pitch-shifter? These are the details that stick out when you listen critically. Would they grate in another context? Some of them. But the fascination is in the friction: Stevie Wonder can dazzle and frustrate in equal measure. Talking Book is the sound of an accomplished musician at play, and sometimes, play is exactly what it sounds like. When he talks about love, it is pure childishness. Perhaps this arrested development is the result of being a child prodigy. 3 Stevie Wonder is alright. His music is cool, if a little overwrought. The electric piano and synth sounds he picks are silly. They are hardly fit to accompany a race in Mariokart 64, nevermind a nebula of maudlin insights about Special Ladies. He writes about some other stuff here to be fair, also without poetry or wit. I am certain he hasn’t read 1984. 2.5/5

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...

Other than a couple of stand out (albeit overplayed) tracks, this album sounded kind of generic to me.

3.5

"Talking Book" is a classic album that contains what is arguably Stevie Wonder's most famous song, "Superstition". This was his second album after being given full creative liberty from Motown and, in his 15th album overall, you can sense he was really starting to hit his stride even amidst a divorce and the still raging Vietnam War. Musically genius and wonderfully experimental for 1972, I'm surprised this is the first time I've listened to the full album from beginning to end. But, it definitely will not be the last. I've always thought that you need to have a certain empathy and proclivity towards humanity's more tender emotions to relate to Wonder's catalog, but this album has something for everyone.

Purely based on my own personal preference, the album kind of bored me.

Although he’s blind as a bat he plays a mean piano. Superstition for the win

Soulful, funkiful, sometimes a little sappy but with pretty great layering of all sorts of instruments, choir, and Stevie's hypnotic voice. So good! Should have listened to him when I was into George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

Possibly my favorite Stevie Wonder album. Perfectly produced and performed mostly by Wonder himself. The additional musicians are top-caliber and include superstars Jeff Beck, David Sanborn, and Ray "Ghostbusters" Parker Jr. Only loses a half-star for a couple of weaker tunes on side two, but gets it back with one of the best album closers ever in "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever).

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.

I enjoy funky Stevie Wonder, so of course "Superstition" is a standout for this album. Otherwise, most of this is forgettable. Too heavy on the slow songs and too light on the hits.

Exactly what it says on the tin- decent ambient tracks that make good background noise. Not something I’d seek out otherwise

I just fucking love Stevie Wonder. You can feel his soul shine through his music.

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.

This is really fine soul/R&B. I dislike both.

6/10

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

Innervisions is good, this sounds like Muzak

Talking book 3

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.

There's a lot of Stevie Wonder that leans into that easy listening adult contemporary realm, and this album has a lot of that. Still, he has a very good sound and there are a couple good funkier tunes on here, so it ekes out a third star.

rednoW eivetS, always a good listen

What a treat, what a talent !

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?

Genuine work of art. Funky and amazing feel. Loved it.

Wonder on ihan tiatava kaveri

très très bien merci stevie

I’ve listened to Talking Book countless times, and I may have to accept that its brilliance lives on an ethereal plane I can’t quite reach — one where jazz nerds hang out. This album knows more about the universe than I ever will. What I do know: those funky beats move me. If I play this record any more, I might actually convince myself I need it on vinyl. “Tuesday Heartbreak,” “Superstition,” and “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love” feel like the most complete, accessible tracks — the kind of songs that would win over a Rolling Stones crowd. But I kept coming back to the political sting of “Big Brother,” the unapologetic funk of “Maybe Your Baby,” and the chorus of “Blame It on the Sun.” In the end, my favorite is I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever). When Stevie sings, come on baby, let’s fall in love, I honestly feel like I’m ready to take his hand.

I think the reason why this album exploded for the most part is because stevie broke loose of the chains his previous label put onto him. Finally he makes music that he can see himself in. But without listening to any of his previous albums this entire contrast is just simple none existent. I haven't, so Im listening to this as a standalone experience. Most of the instruments have been played by stevie and he is incredibly skillfull. The words he uses in some of his songs are brilliant. But alot of titles just fall flat. They simply dont manage to grab me and it might be because this isnt necessarily my genre. But I feel like a great album should be able to capture any outsiders heart. Superstition is without a doubt the star and none of the other songs manage to capture its energy. I love cheesy songs and I love romance, but its simple not as strong in this one.

Total classic for sure and rediscovered Tuesday Heartbreak.

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.

So smooth and sensual. I can appreciate the mass appeal, even if soul and R&B were never my go-to listening—they’ve always leaned a bit too “easy” for my taste. That said, Stevie is a phenomenon, fully deserving of his place in music history. This album also reminded me of my friend Karlene - I lived with her for a summer in Marina Del Rey. She’d blast Stevie at full volume while cooking up a big Italian feast—singing into a sauce-covered spoon as if it were a microphone. She’s a classic, with a deep love for R&B, and I probably absorbed much of this album alongside her.

There's no denying that Stevie Wonder is an important artist, and immensely, monumentally talented. I mean, he played every single instrument on some of these recordings. Believe it. Despite the rich textures, soulful songwriting, and intimidating musicianship, silky smooth 70s easy listening doesn't do it for me. At all.  "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" makes me think of wearing deck shoes at a wine mixer at the marina in the 70s. Lots of sideburns and sunsets and seagulls on the horizon while holding hands at the shoreline. Nope. I like this best when it's funky. "Maybe Your Baby" has a freaky fun groove. Old Gregg would be proud. I can really hear clear as day how hard Ween ripped this song off on several of their hits. "Superstition" probably ranks as my (and probably everyone else on Earth's) favorite. The horns really bring something extra special, and it holds up despite my obvious biases. "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)" is also not bad, but dude repeats the chorus on several of these tracks to excess. Write some other words, Stevie. Dang. The album art definitely evokes the whole vibe that is happening here: all black-Jesused out and placing his hands and his gaze on Mother Earth. I bet he's wearing leather sandals, although we can't see it. The use of Solemnis uncial typeface gives this an extra biblical vibe that really brings me back to parochial school in the 70s—and to be clear, that is not a place I wanna revisit, so these aesthetics are really working against the record here for me. Nevertheless I can't find fault with the design. It shows what is inside, so it works.  This deserves more stars than I'm giving it, for sure, but they're MY RATINGS AND THEY FREAK ME OUT.

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

I enjoyed this album very much. Loved the funky baseline in Maybe Your Baby. I just love Songs In The Key Of Life a bit better as an album

10/10 absolute unit of an album

Amazing! Honestly, I went back and forth about whether this was a five. I have a long list in both columns in my head. But it's just so good. It has to be five.

Good

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.

Aburrida

Ok Stevie 😎

Probably could cut a song or two, but overall enjoyed. I see why Superstition is the song that broke out hardest, it is clearly the best song on this album. Would be 4 stars, but last few songs dragged pretty hard.

Superstitious er klink. Resten får jeg ikke til.

Classic, some fun guitars

Classic Stevie, what is there to say?

It’s Stevie. This is part of that great run of albums he did. My own preference is innervisions. But superstition alone makes this a 600 star album. And the rest is great anyway.

He brings everything together on this one death freaks. He marries that incredible pop sensibility to the grooves that had been playing in his head since the late sixties, just needed to get the kaftan on to make it happen. That clavinet sound, there'd never been anything like it before nor since. Getting his backing singers to sing the two opening lines of You Are The Sunshine, and then doing that thing he does with his own voice and melds the two of theirs into one. How does he do that? I can never get that opening 3-4 lines out of my head, just beautiful. On that track alone he celebrates American signwriting in all its guises, a lyric that Cole Porter would have been proud of married to a latter period Motown smoove groove. Ditto I Believe, which the movie High Fidelity had the good sense to finish with. Tuesday Heartbreak, it is endless...enjoy!

This is an actual classic album. Stevie Wonder in his imperial period. It is hard to over-praise this record.

I feel like I must be missing something super obvious because everyone except for me thinks this is the bee's knees. For me, the album was simply awful.

Loved it. Very fun, soulful album. Super upbeat at times, and then relaxing and groovy at others. Highly recommend.

I think all of the Stevie Wonder songs I know are from this album. It is a good collection, I especially like I Believe - probably because of its connection to High Fidelity. While this is not really my type of music I can recognize that it's very unique and impressive.

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

I have literally nothing bad to say. Stevie kicked off a truly legendary run with this album, finding a unique sound that took synthesizers and infused them with warmth and soul far beyond their programming. Soul-restoring, life-affirming music that also makes you wanna shake your ass. Incredible stuff.

A beautiful album

loved!!!

Fantastic album. Amazing what Stevie Wonder put out in such a short amount of time.

Breathtaking!!!

Stevie sure has his sound

Stevie has an ass ton of funk in his left hand. His 70's output is unrivaled in the funk/soul/r&b genre in my opinion. This was like seeing an old friend when it popped up this morning. I feel like Stevie was hanging out with the other producers of this album saying, I like the song Maybe Your Baby, but I think it needs a groovy fuzzed out guitar solo. And they said, well Stevie, who you gonna call?

This would get a 5 for Superstition alone, but the rest of the record is great as well.

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.