Reviews (page 9 of 13)
1972, Progressive soul, Funk, Soul, Rock, Jazz, übel nice, stabile 4
Amazing production.
This album is liquid sexuality. Every other song a hit, and the ones that aren't hits should have been. Big Brother is a standout favorite.
I’m not going to be able to compete with Alex’s review here and his stellar use of “hogshead”, so I’ll just add that I really like how there’s more than one song where they just lock into the chorus and repeat it over and over and over and it never gets old. But yeah, bit of a mixed bag where the good is so good it makes you forget the forgettable.
First of all very cool stereo effects on the opening track. And a duet! Very psychedelic vibes on this track and the next. The last few minutes of Maybe Your Baby, with the guitar and bass combo, and the repetition of maybe your baby gonna make some other plans” is mesmerizing. On You and I, it’s so plain to see how amazing and insanely powerful Stevie Wonder’s voice is. Big Brother dresses a powerful indictment of the US government’s relationship to black people in bright-sounding melody and light, upbeat drums and... melodica? harmonica? Superstition is of course the famous one from this album, but Sir Duke is a mf BOP in equal, if not greater measure
Richly textured songs. Performed perfectly
Was surprised that I knew a few songs. Some songs didn't like the songs but liked the lyrics.
Great listen, relaxing and funky
stevayyyyy
very pretty
Like I said oreviously it's hard to dislike Stevie Wonder. This album was better than the previous one. More concise and had a better structure. I liked it.
Very pleasant in the background. Stevie never disappoints.
Stevie Wonder’s music can’t help but put a smile on my face. My favourites of his tracks aren’t on this album - but still a banger
Solid album great tunes
His voice is great and so is the music, but I just don't love this album.
Good tunes
Decent album, great production and instruments
Released on 10/28/1972 Rating: 4.5
Good vibes.
Automatic 4 because of Superstition. The rest is hit or miss. Best track: Superstition
Super good. The songs put me in a good mood and I really like the instruments.
I enjoyed listening to this album because Stevie Wonder is one of the musical greats. Superstition is a classic and I liked the jazzy tone of the rest of the album. Overall a well written and performed album.
I wish i could give 3.5. it’s not a 3 or a 4. Superstitions a classic but the rest wasn’t doing it for me
Some fantastic songs on this album but also some I didn't love. 3.5/5 but I guess I'll give it a 3.
It was cool
This is something I’d listen to on a sunny weekend while lazing about outside. It has a combination of songs that I knew; songs that I didn’t know, but would not mind finding out more about the lyrics; and songs I don’t really ever need to hear again. It’s a good album, I didn’t hate it and the songs don’t all sound the same, just some of them do. 3/5
Stone cold funky genius
The album was super mixed. Interesting songs, classic songs, and then some weirdness all mixed in together.
nicht schlecht, aber fand das andere (songs in the key of life) besser. Superstition ein Banger.
Obviously superstitious was the best song, not a big fan of classic soul musics, so I have no rights to judge it. Generally not my type, but started vibing to it after few listens.
Like both of the other Stevie Wonder albums I've listened to there were bits I really liked (the funkier stuff) and bits I quite disliked (the ballads). So, once again, it's a mix and it's a 3.
What genre is this? not what I was expecting, very wholesome, just great.
intressante Musik, der Name war mir bekannbt
not a fan of stevie wonder but this still really good
It's smooth riding. Somthing is missing I enjoy in other later albums. Real easy listening though.
It’s fine. I enjoyed it enough but definitely wanted it over by the time I was halfway though the album.
You and I, Tuesday Heartbreak, Blame it on the sun check more Big Brother 1984 jorjor wel
Big Brother
I felt like I needed my lady sitting next to me for most of this album. I could have got some brownie points if I sang her the songs
I liked four songs from the album but overall, I think it’s just not my type of genre.
i liked it. it's not as good as "Key" but it's up there.
This was a little disappointing compared to other stuff I have listened to by him. This felt like a one track album with Superstition. The rest felt mediocre. One of the most talented musicians in the history of music, but this didn't feel like his best stuff.
Liked. Not as good as the Keys of Life but good
Excellent instrumentals and vocals, and certainly reminiscent of other music of the decade. A pleasant listen, although the lyrics left me wanting for more; the themes of the songs were very simple. While well-executed overall, the songwriting isn't to my tastes. TLDR: very good music! I just wish it had more thematic depth :(
Some all out funky classics and a BUNCH of sappy first wedding dances. But the ending and the hits are so good. This is a 3.5 at the end of the day.
relax
This was good, mellow and funky. Definitely worth another listen. 3.8
Yeah I mean, it’s fun, he’s got a great voice, it’s easy listening. I’m sure it was impactful at the time and superstition is a banger, but other parts of it felt a bit like sophisticated lift music.
Not my normal stuff but still some good songs on here
Second song ran about 2-3 minutes too long. A couple snoozers included. But Superstition and a couple others give this value. An ok album.
Nice.
3.5/5. Not really my style of music but after the first couple songs it really started to click for me and I was able to start vibing with the album. Sorry if this is too low but I’m lowkey music illiterate so hopefully this will get better as I keep listening to more albums
6/10
This was a nice listen. Not totally my cup of tea but definitely enjoyable.
Stevie Wonder has two stand out songs with You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Superstition. Michael Jackson got ehee from the funky Maybe Your Baby which is repetitive and too long. The remaining funky/jazzy songs are better than his sappy pop ballads which I don't really like.
A little bit too much of the slow, melodic yearning songs. Superstition is a banger because it isn't this.
Stevie Wonder will always be a joy to listen to. I don't think this album is quite on the same level as Innervisions, though; compositions just weren't as memorable. On the other hand, I found myself impressed with the sound design in some ways more than Innervisions. The types of sound he uses are very satisfying. He makes electronic sounds sound like live instruments, and there were several moments where those melodies scratched an itch, like on the song "brother," where I can't tell if it's a synth-like harmonica or harmonica-like synth that's tickling my ear. I'm again tempted to say that superstition is both the most famous and most memorable from this album. Strong 3 to a light 4.
It just kind of passed me by and I didn't focus on it enough? Sadly not memorable for me.
Really nice Stevie album. SITKOL never really hit with we but like this one
3, aunque trae algunas joyas que bien valen un 4
Ive often heard of stevie wonder but never listened to his music it was good but honestly not very memorable. I can't remember much about it
Happy Beautiful voice It was a solid album
Some amazing tracks with some mushy filler. Some tracks are timeless and some are definitely out of date. A mixed bag but mostly good:)
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life and Superstitious are so so good. The rest of the album is good. But just based on those songs I’m giving this a 4-star.
better than the other one
I love the funkier songs but the soul tracks mostly don't click with me. I can see why this gets so much love because it sounds so unique and the track list is so varied, even if I wasn't a fan of most of them. Still, Superstition is a phenomenal song, I Believe is fantastic and Maybe Your Baby is great.
Ihan jees. 3/5.
Buen album, medio jazzero . Me di cuenta que me sabia una de las canciones ya que es muy conocida.
peakk
I can respect the talent, the production is fantastic and when they are getting funky it is killer. Overall though this album has too many gospel type soul songs for my liking. I do like when Stevie experiments and fuses jazz and psych with his soul style, sounds great.
i’ve never heard a stevie wonder song that i didn’t mistake for a christmas song im sorry i just don’t get the hype
The album is smooth, polished, and Stevie's voice is a pleasure to listen to. The production on this record is very impressive for the 70s - clear and rich. However, I am simply not the target audience. I tent to not appreciate albums that are on one hand well-crafted, flow nicely and show impressive musicianship but on the other are simply just that, without any 'friction', something intriguing to dig deeper for. There are sweet songs about love, 'Maybe Your Baby' about potential cheating (that I must admit is surprisingly annoying and drags on amongst otherwise smooth tracklist), groovy 'Superstitious', and 'Big Brother' that is a very straightforward political song referencing Orwell's '1984' novel. Songs on this record go into one ear and out the other, even after many re-listens I did today. Everything kind of blends into one in my mind and I have trouble picking any highlight or melodies that would stick with me (and I usually don't have this issue and I am quick to hum a new melody). Besides, of course, the hit single 'Superstitious'. I also really liked and may be revisiting 'You've Got It Bad Girl'. I listened to only a small portion of Stevie's impressive discography but I notice I tend to like his later works. This album is a (good) background music for me.
beetje Michael Jackson achtig. prima
- Love that wonky sounding keyboard from Maybe Your Baby. - Superstition the iconic song I recognize from this album
A lot of slow, low energy songs on this album. Superstition is a great song, I just wish there were more up tempo numbers to match it.
Me gustó como para escuchar un rato, la musica esta buena, es bastante tranquila pero se me hicieron bastante repetitivas las canciones, no tanto entre ellas sino dentro de la canción, como que repetía mucho las misma palabras.
Superstition is a 5. Everything else...
This was fine? Not really my thing. "Superstition" is great obviously, and also enjoyed "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and "Big Brother" but the rest didn't grab me much.
My sense as a songwriter - not one on his level, of course, but still someone familiar with how this can work - is Stevie really excels at melody but then has to fit words to his hooks and that doesn’t always yield the best results. At times this can feel pretty shoehorned in and the Wrights aren’t always there with an assist. But, the message here is about as close to a concept album as he gets - sad, even bitter Stevie dealing with heartbreak and then moving on...maybe. 3-4 of my favourite Wonder songs and then also some other material.
Not enough jams for me
The hits are impeccable, but the songs sandwiched around them are pretty well crafted as well, with some like Big Brother being particularly thought provoking.
Соул, фолк и много чего чего ещё.
Weird mix of grocery store slow jams, and legitimate bops
It's not a bad album at all, but not better than Innervisions or Key of Life. It's more lovey/"easy listening" than the others, and I prefer something a little more funky.
buen album tenía muchas ganas de escuchar a Stevie Wonder así que
This album is something id play on the background. No particular songs caught my attention. Probably it too menlancholic
Only managed one play. Sounded pretty good, I'll have to revisit
I'm not as familiar with most of the tracks on this album as some of his other classic LPs, other than "Superstition" and "Sunshine of my Life." The latter isn't my favourite, too sappy. "Maybe Your Baby" is a sweet hard funk cut though. Like with most of Stevie's albums, there are a fair amount of wrist-slitter crying piano songs here. "You and I" is hard to get through. Tracks like this are why I personally don't rate any Stevie Wonder album among the greatest funk/soul albums around. They just don't match up to masterpieces like the Superfly soundtrack, Cold Sweat or What's Going On for me, at least as complete albums that I would ever listen to. Some of his singles are among the best of the genre, but ya, I don't appreciate the whiny songs. Anyway, I digress. "Tuesday Heartbreak" has a groove--cool track. "You've Got it Bad, Girl" ditto. "Superstition" is a timeless classic. "Big Brother" is a rare moment of Stevie getting political, and has a cool sound to it. The last three songs on the album are just whiny sap. 3/5
7/10 - Not quite my cup of tea but very pleasant. Enjoyed it more on a second listen than the first Fav Tracks: Blame It On The Sun, Superstition Heard before? ---–- ✅ Saved a Song? ----- ✅ Saved Album? --–-- ❌ Will Listen Again? -- ❌
Muito provavelmente é meu 1° contato com Stevie Wonder, sempre ouvi menções de seus talentos mas nunca parei para conhecer suas obras, mas não caiu nas minhas graças mas é inegável a qualidade das musicas
RATING: 7.5/10 HIGHLIGHT: Superstition LOWLIGHT: You’ve Got It Bad Girl
A good album, but probably also one that represents what I’m less keen on in Wonder’s work (Songs in the Key of Life aside). Superstition is of course a catchy classic, but nothing else on the album quite hits those heights. Although the rest couldn’t be described as bad, it basically consists of saccharine ballads. They’re nice enough songs, but probably better in doses smaller than this album provides.
Some good songs. Not my favorite.
love that theramin
me gusto pero no estoy en esa onda
Talking Book es uno de esos discos que entendés por qué es importante… pero no necesariamente lo sentí. Tiene momentos muy buenos, sobre todo cuando entra ese groove más funk (Superstition es imposible de ignorar), y se nota que hay una búsqueda sonora distinta, más experimental para la época. Los sintetizadores, los arreglos, la producción… todo está muy bien pensado. Pero en lo personal, no me terminó de atravesar. Lo escuché y lo valoré más desde lo técnico que desde lo emocional. No conecté del todo, no fue un disco al que volvería por cómo me hace sentir, sino más por lo que representa. Y está bien también eso: hay discos que te cambian la cabeza, y otros que entendés por qué cambiaron la historia, aunque a mi me cambien tanto.
5/10
Honestly, all the songs were fine. The biggest hits for me were the first song and Superstition.
Stevie's 15th album. I challenge you to name 15 of his songs. For every fantastic masterpiece of a song, there's another 38.5 minutes of forgettable generic background lounge.
As much as I wanted it to, this didn't really do much for me. A lot of songs that ranked on a lot. Many well posted their welcome. Maybe your baby being the worst offender full of adlibs and a really lame sounding guitar solo. It made hay Jude sounds like a 2 minute pop song. The greatness of superstition is amplified by the other tracks not ageing to it's precision... And that groove man, every second is beautiful. Sadly beyond that there are a couple of social commentaries that are alright but nothing of in the city level and a couple of saccharine ballads that are catchy and just on the ok side of cheesy... But without superstition this album would do very little for me.
Even though I'm not into soul music at all, there's plenty of good stuff in the more upbeat funk numbers. Not on the level of Innervisions or Songs In The Key but when it's good, it's great.
2 or 3 songs that I’ll listen to in the future. Overall pretty good and funky, LOTS of repetition in some songs that are too long for my taste
I don’t think it’s for me but I can still appreciate it! I like the funky sound and warm atmosphere this album brings
I’m not a fan of Stevie Wonder. I mean, he’s objectively talented but maybe there’s something about his voice? I don’t know, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it ain’t this album that’s changing my mind
This is a lovely record, that I haven't heard probably in decades. Stevie Wonder of course has a great voice, and these songs were already playing in my head before I even put the record on. A nice antidote to the noisy stuff I usually like to listen to.
2.5 stars I thought I liked this album more, but on this listen I realized I mistook enjoying the singles that open each side as representing the quality of the entire album. While not bad, most of the songs are pretty mid and forgettable, or go on a little too long and repetitive. Production and instrumentation is great just like his better albums, but not really as worthy of repeated listens as others.
I enjoyed it more than I would have guessed before I listened. 70’s through and through.
Gostei, porém algumas achei meio genérico
meh
Refined, polished Stevie slinging some love songs. I'm more familiar and a bigger fan of some of his other work, but there's nothing to dislike here.
Maybe Your Baby is an instant fave. I only knew Superstition going in. Wow, I get it. If only the whole album was that funky. The saccharine slow love songs didn’t do it for me at all. Saying that, Stevie has more musical talent in his pinkie finger than I will ever possess.
For an album that has "Superstition" on it, it surprisingly pretty forgettable electronic keyboard and sleepy soul.
6/10 So you got Superstition, one of the greatest ever songs committed to recorded media. A funk deep in it's soul that excites the toes. Then there is the rest of this album which is the Stevie Wonder I don't like - lame, jazzy, insipid
Enjoyed this one, very different vibe from yesterdays and I'm not mad about it.
Mmm, está bien. Medio genérico. Lo groovy sigue ahí pero le falta fuerza
6/10
Decent but kinda meh.
If it would not be for Superstition, this would be much worse. Elevatormusic...
havnt heard much stevie wonder before so i went into this with no real expectations and ended up liking it a lot. It was great music for my mood yesterday and ended being a good album to have on while I was reading.
Pretty songs but don’t love it
Superstition! Does that alone warrant a 4 minimum? Yes but also the rest I think. Ultimately went with a 3 because I don’t think I’ll necessarily re-listen anytime soon
Album #120 Stevie Wonder: Talking Book Stevie Wonder is an incredibly consistent artist; every project that I have heard from him has been around the same level of quality. It seems hard for me to imagine that he would ever produce an album that I would rate below a seven, yet at the same time, I don’t think I’ll ever hear an album from him that I would give above a 9. Songs In The Key Of Life is wonderful and an incredibly impressive album. I can enjoy it all the way through, and pretty much every song is good, yet nothing about it resonates enough with me to consider it an all-time favourite. Talking Book is similar; there is maybe one song that I don’t enjoy, and the rest are quite pleasant, but for whatever reason, nothing about this album demands my praise. I think that is the nature of the music, it is incredibly agreeable and universally enjoyable, so naturally it is quite favoured, but I feel like it lacks the wow-factor that I feel when listening to other albums. I’m sure I am the problem, and this album is still really good, but for now, I am still searching for my Stevie Wonder masterpiece. Best Songs: Superstition, I Believe, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Worst Song: Maybe Your Baby Score out of 10: 7
This album's saving grace is that it has Superstition on it, a timeless classic. But don't be fooled, that level of inspiration and performance is nowhere to be found on this album outside of the first track. Stevie Wonder was clearly going for more soul on the rest of the tracks, but I found them to be seriously boring. This gets a 3 onyl by virtue of having Superstition, otherwise it'd be a 2; disappointing to say the least.
Not bad album!
Good lyrics from other era !!! 2 very good songs the rest seems to be part of the context of the time
Can appreciate Stevie’s talent but not really for me. Too sugary beige and even the monster tune Superstition which is a banger couldn’t save it for me. 2.5/5.
me gusto, un poco lento btw, nose en q momento se escucha
I think this the first Stevie Wonder album. How fun. Pretty good and chill.
Not his best. There are two distinct styles on here: great funk and groove, a la Maybe Your Baby or the sadly overplayed Superstitious; and absolute mush like Sunshine of My Life. Sadly it probably leans more towards the latter, and the good songs don't quite rescue it. It's not bad, of course, because he's a supreme songwriter and a good singer, but it definitely isn't of the quality of Innervisions or Songs In The Key Of Life.
Ain't no superstition
enjoyable
Favorite songs: You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Maybe Your Baby, Superstition, Blame It on the Sun, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) 3.5
Amo a Stevie. Me gustó el album. Me econtré con canciones muy lindas que desconocía, como You and I. Tiene himnos como Superstition y You are the sunshine of my life. Lindo disco, muy tranqui el resto de los temas
mid
not gen z enough for my taste. Superstition pretty good
love the keyboard in you are the sunshine of my life, lots of stuff i love, the iconic superstision, but it doesnt flow hugely well and i think its (nice and enjoyable) background ish music
Meh reconozco a Stevie wonder que es un seco una eminencia pero no conecte, solo la primera canción por temas de recuerdos pero nada más alla
this record is so smooth and glossy. wonders voice is absolutely a dream and the whole album such a bop
Me gustó la vibe, es chill y me da vibras de playa, pero lo tendría más de fondo. Las canciones que más me gustaron fueron: I Believe, Blame It On The Sun, Tuesday Heartbreake y You and I. Superstition ya la conocía, es bastante famosa.
I was kind of tired while listening due to me staying up but regardless a good ablum. I had never listened to this album before but have head the track superstition before my favorite track from this album is either You are the sunshine of my life or big Brother a solid album all together. I would give it a 3.5/5 in current standing
NK
Nice, not my taste tho
Some classics here, more experimental tracks that don't always hit.
Not great for me, but of course features the classic so.
je sais pas ce que j’ai avec stevie wonder mais 2-3 sons ça me va parfaitement, mais un album entier, moyen. 3-/5
Maybe I don’t like soul music? Or I have no soul. Nothing to fault, but I won’t revisit, except that last track, I loved that.
I love Stevie, but not this LP per se. "Superstition" is absolutely phenomenal though. 3 stars just for that tune.
Superstition
Talking Book is clearly a classic, but much of it felt so familiar that I found myself listening to it almost like background music. That said, tracks like Superstition and Maybe Your Baby really stood out to me, with their heavier groove and slightly darker feel.
Not as much as a fan as I thought I’d be. His voice is amazing but the songs didn’t hit me as well as some other in his catalogue have.
i mean, it's stevie wonder
Another record where there is one absolute banger and I find the rest to just be ok
CLASSICCC. loved listening to this in my room while cleaning. some clear highs and lows which made this engaging.
Overall, pretty nice album and when I saw that Superstition would be in it, I got very excited. It was nice listening to it while I was writing some stuff, and it was overall quite enjoyable.
Wonder's Songs In the Key of Life are a bit of an outlier in my collection. I adore the mood and the craftsmanship, even though the music isn't particularly for me. Talking Book is very much the same thing, but weaker and with a lot of squeak. It's a nice enough album, but I doubt it'll become a regular for me. Highlights: Maybe Your Baby, Superstition, Lookin' for Another Pure Love Nos: You've Got It Bad Girl, Big Brother
I listened to it somehow but it's too happy for me, even if it's a romantic album the sound and instruments are too exciting like jazz and his voice doesn't give me the emotional I feel when I listen to Nat King Cole or Frank Sinatra, but I will keep my mind open to listen him more. My favorite song was Superstition (1972).
Strong 3, but not as good as songs in the key of life
The start of an incredible run of albums for Stevie and there’s plenty to like on this album. Three all-time classics on one album is a feat rarely achieved. Unfortunately, there’s also plenty that sort of just passes by without leaving a mark. Overall with a listen but the best was yet to come. Best: You are the Sunshine of My Life, Superstition, I Believe (When I Fall in Love…)
Superstitious is a great song. Not too fussed about the rest.
I know the man is a musical genius, and... Every album is a chore for me. Just not my style. At least this one's got Superstition.
Some songs are kind of on the boring side, and then there's bangers like Superstitions.
Not my go to Wonder album but decent enough.
This album walks that fine line for what I think makes Stevie great and the reasons I found some of his music, well, not so great. Specifically, the greatness in the funk and sound of Superstion and Maybe Your Baby. And then most of the remaining songs were the over sappy love songs. I have some fond memories of hearing You Are The Sunshine of My Life and I Believe, growing up in Indiana. Throw in You and I and those were my favorites. Overall a pretty good album. I'll go with the 3.5 for the memories of the past and the fact Superstition is an all time classic. 3.5
3.5 Our fourth Stevie album on this list, though his first chronologically of the bunch, and in some ways, I think I preferred it for that reason (at least over Innervisions and Fulfillingness) - it just felt a little less overdone in comparison, which I think allows for his natural talent to shine through a bit more clearly. As mentioned in those reviews, I’ve never been any kind of diehard fan of his body of work, nor would I even go as far as to say that I thoroughly enjoyed every song I heard here, but I do think it contains some of his best stuff, and everything else is at least entertaining enough to keep the album interesting. It’s probably no shocker to say that two of the best songs here are ones synonymous with the guy, Superstition and You Are the Sunshine of My Life. I don’t really have much to say about the tracks that hasn’t been said before, but I feel like you’d be hard-pressed to say anything negative about them. Perhaps that they’re overplayed (Superstition especially), but I enjoyed hearing them again each time here, to the point where I about found Superstition to be too short a track despite its 4.5 minute runtime - that riff is too damn catchy for its own good. Also, apparently Trevor Lawrence plays saxophone on the track, which is crazy because I thought it would have been like 25 years before the Jaguars quarterback was born. Good on him for still having that kind of flow and athleticism in his 50s. Eat it, Tom Brady. That said, there’s one song here that comes damn close to Superstition in my opinion, and it’s one that I had never heard before: Blame It on the Sun. It’s sort of a sad tune in comparison to the aforementioned, but boy, is it beautiful, R&B perfection. Don’t have much to say about it beyond that; I think it largely speaks for itself, however, I will give the closer, I Believe, a shoutout as well for its more optimistic and upbeat, though similarly beautiful, love-inspired songwriting. Those are really all the standouts on the record, though Big Brother is a pretty relevant song typically today - I just wish it was a bit more interesting musically. Still, solid album through and through, and while some songs are better than others, Stevie’s gifted musicianship comes through on all. I can’t say the guy has become any kind of all-time favorite of mine, but I certainly wouldn’t complain to see even more of him on this list.
Good
Good album
Really good. This is my second Stevie Wonder album and before this lost I had never heard him
Not his best stuff..
sözleri kotu degil ama melodisi ve ritmi tam sevdiğim gibi değil. 2.5 falan veririm
"Superstition" was definitely the catchiest song on this album, but the rest were good too. For how much hype this guy has I was expecting to be blown away, but it's still a solid record.
Final Stevie Wonder already? That's a surprise. It's only been 60 albums since I rolled Fulfillingness, which I don't remember all that much about due to my ongoing trauma. My anus is quivering and I'm still walking bowlegged after I was royally fucked over by Songs in the Key of Life. Two hours is just way way way way too fucking long for an album. I've no clue how I will brave the three-hour albums on this list. They'll never take me alive. Anyways, on with this album. Please be a standard runtime. Yesssss. 40 minutes. Thank you, Mr. Wonder if that is your real name. I liked this album more than his previous release. While funk still isn't really in my wheelhouse, I can't deny that this music is solid. Good vocal melodies abound, and the hooky funk sound is solid where it appears. The bluesy guitars are pretty good too, which I'm not traditionally a fan of. The jumpy, reverberating sound pairs nicely with the backing textures and sounds of this album. A solid listen overall. "Superstition" was a Stevie Wonder song? I think I've just been Mandela-effected. My Dad used to play this song in his car quite regularly. While I recall the instrumental perfectly, I don't remember the vocals sounding so characteristically Stevie. Granted, I had listened to precisely zero Stevie Wonder albums at the time and therefore had no point of reference, but my anecdote stands all the same. Anyways, good song. That sleazy guitar hook is pretty fantastic, the brass sections are a great accompaniment and the jumpy songwriting is well-matched with both the instrumental and subject matter. Good song. I approve. Book time. I recall saying in my other reviews of Stevie Wonder albums that four list albums was the perfect number for an artist of this standing. I still agree, so I'm only really checking the book entry for the thrill of it. Let's see. The beginning of his famed trilogy of early-70s albums. "...a confessional album about love, and the loss of it...". "He would write love songs that charted higher, but never would he deliver so personally felt and so painfully wise a treatise as Talking Book." I had hoped for more from this entry, but these are solid enough qualifiers. I cosign this inclusion.
This was a fairly decent album. Lots of similar sounds throughout the whole thing. Listened to it in the background to be honest so I’m not giving a song by song analysis. I think the stand out for me in this album was Blame It on The Sun, obviously everyone knows Superstition with its funky synth lick, but BIOTS really has a beautiful sound. The chorus has a lovely progression, with beautiful almost Spanish sounding guitar in the background.
You are the sunshine of my life 3/5
There’s not much better than funky Stevie. There’s not much worse than sentimental Stevie.
Många låtar jag inte hört innan, en hel del tråkiga låtar tyvärr. Superstition är stjärnan. Är inte supertaggad på skivan. Blir en 3a.
listened to with mais :) sunshine of my life - very cute and more emotional 7 minutes song unfortunately i have adhd tuesday heard break - very funky made me wanna dance you got it bad girl - slower kinda funk super stition - writing on the wall. funky. made me sway and wanna dance along
3.5 at best
As a fan of synthesizers and keyboards, I am prone to enjoy this album anyway, but I also dig that the lyrics for the most part are about personal stories and not political ones with the exception of stinker/filler, "Big Brother". He does such a fantastic job of background vocals on "Maybe Your Baby" that it actually sounds like a completely different human being accompanying him throughout the song. An notice that well before his "Ghostbusters" fame there is Ray Parker Jr. on guitar! While I think that "Superstition" is an absolute banger, it has always perplexed me the irony that Stevie Wonder is a Christian, and didn't seem to notice how his song perfectly describes Christianity as well.Fortunately, I don't get all that hung up on such things, so it doesn't ruin my experience of the album. "Superstition" is SO funky, SO iconic, that this album practically deserves a 3 just for its presence alone. TALKING BOOK is fairly strong through the first 6 tracks but loses all momentum on the last 4 songs, and I think a big reason for that is the track order was kind of dictated by the physical limitations of vinyl records. I feel like if this album had not come out during the vinyl era, the track order probably would have moved Superstition to the end of side 2, but because of the limitations of recording on vinyl with songs that have heavy bass, they were forced to place it either as the opener on Side 1, or opener of Side 2, which because of its subject matter, is clearly where they opted to place "Superstition". In the CD and streaming era they could have re-ordered the songs to build strength gradually going into the big finish of Superstition. It seems a little unrealistic to expect any track placed after "Superstiition" to hold up. Faves: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Maybe Your Baby", and "Superstition", and "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever".
Superstition såklart en banger, men som helhet mest bara rätt trevligt
Stevie Wonder är såklart en talang, men det här albumet sa nog inte mig något speciellt.
Asså väldigt feel good men också ganska trött tyvärr, mellanmjölk.
Ganska trevligt.
Knew some of Stevie Wonder's tracks here and there, but hadn't listened to a full album before, so was looking forward to this. I did enjoy the album, and it's hard not to with big hitters like Superstition and a strong closer in I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever). But I did feel a bit disappointed. Other than those big hits and some other interesting tracks (Maybe Your Baby, Big Brother, Blame it on the Sun), the rest felt a bit like filler. That said, I'll definitely listen to this again, and maybe it will grow on me more over time.
-Es bastante tranquilo pero disfrutable. -Perfecto para escuchar un domingo a medio día a 20° grados centigrados. -La segunda mitad es más activa. Un álbum en lo particular muy disfrutable. 7.5/10.
I did my best, but the songs were just so slow. I listen to it while working and it wasn't getting me in the groove. Likely in the wrong mindset because he was definitely talented as fuck.
I usually love soul and funk, but this album left me slightly disappointed. It's not bad - I just enjoyed it less than I expected. Stevie Wonder is a great artist, but Talking Book is very uneven in my opinion, constantly alternating between brilliant songs (like Maybe Your Baby, Superstition or Blame It On The Sun) and less impressive ones (You Are The Sunshine, You And I and Big Brother did nothing for me). My main gripe is that it's a bit too sweet, too slow, too much on the easy listening side. I like it better when it grooves hard, but it just doesn't happen very often here. I still enjoyed the album overall, but I doubt I'll come back to it, there was just no real wow factor for me. 5/10
15th album at just 22… and the guy is already reshaping the planet. This feels like hacking through the jungle, carving out something that would end up influencing decades of pop. Not all of it is really my thing, but even tracks that seem minor at first, like You’ve Got It Bad Girl, shine with a Pastorius-style bass, delicate drumming or subtle vocal lines. A beautiful record, finely produced, and very easy to sink into. t’s all the more impressive knowing Stevie Wonder plays almost everything on the record (bass, drums, keys…).
En del bangers och en del lite tråkigare
Oh man, this was... underwhelming. I don't know how I manage to like "Innervisions" so much but "Fulfillingness' First Finale" and this one can't do anything special for me, and I'm honestly terrified about what my future experience with "Songs In the Key of Life". The only song I can really say I like is "Superstition". It is, for many reasons, considered to be one of his best songs ever, as the groove is immaculate and the trumpets give it so much energy and life. It is undoubtedly an incredibly upbeat and lively track. For the rest... I am not as excited as I am about the big track. The groovy songs didn't really impacted me as much and I couldn't resonate with the slow moments. Are there some great moments? Yes there are: "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is quite groovy intro, and the last three tracks are also nice and pleasant. Nevertheless, I think they all pale in comparison with "Superstition". At least I can say that I like it, appreciate it and that I really wasn't bored (even though "Maybe Your Baby" felt tedious) thanks to the very palpable passion in this man performances.
Nice chill album but not my cup of tea.
Saved? ✅ Would listen again? 🤔 Would recommend to anyone? 🤔 Would buy on Vinyl? ✅
The album is ok. He's very productive but I wouldn't say that his albums are masterpieces. A couple of the super famous songs in that one and the rest of it is fine to listen. 2.5
Perfectly fine album that had songs I liked listening to. Don't see myself putting is on ahead of songs in the key of life though. 2.5.
Superstition and You and I were my favorite tracks
J’aime bien les « Blame it on the sun » qui est très bien et « Superstition », le reste n’est pas terrible (assez commercial). 5,5/10
Interesting, all the songs before Superstition have quite a different sound and almost genre to them. They’re pretty sparse, frilly vocals, with not super catchy melodies. Then superstition hits and it’s like bam in your face well written song with strong synth/guitar and bass lines. Vocals go off, the previous songs don’t hit like this at all. The rest of the album is generally slower tempo, laid back, moody. Superstition is being up the average for this album severely. It’s not like the other songs were necessarily bad, but it’s not like they were really great either.
I knew You Are the Sunshine of my Life and Superstition. I’m not a huge Stevie Wonder fan. His voice is good; it’s just not a style of music that I listen to a lot. I know he is good. I just don’t love it.
Good, just not my overall vibe
6.5/10 vibe
Bit of a mixed bag. But the good is very good
not one of my favourites, I’m not sure why. i feel like “objectively”, I should like it - stevie wonder’s got an incredible voice, there’s some interesting instrumentation, but I think for my specific taste it’s a little slow and a little hand-wavy at times. it’s incredible that the album was published with a braille inscription. the twangy, rhythmic bass is a theme throughout. another case where i found it difficult to hear it as an album, without the already familiar song jumping out. i think that may be part of it, that superstition is so much more upbeat than many of the other songs.
This isn't an album you need to hear before you die. But the last song, I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will be Forever) is a song you should listen to. The only standout on the album, with the rest being true to the progressive soul, funk rock jazz genre. Would be 2 put of 5 stars but that song brings it up to 3 stars.
He is so wholesome omg
Superstition and a bunch of songs that are fine.
Any album by Stevie Wonder is like a warm hug -
Steveie Wonder's voice is like a warm hug
Okish dai
I've never been into Stevie Wonder's music. The two big songs here (You Are the Sunshine of My Life and Superstition) have always seemed kind of corny to me, probably because I came of age a decade after these songs were released, so to me they were practically elevator music. I did enjoy the funkiness of Maybe Your Baby and the beauty of I Believe, but not so much that I expect to revisit this album in the future.
Pretty mellow, to me this album tastes like those caramel hard candies. Superstition definitely deserves its popularity and Lookin' For Another A Pure Love and I Believe were my stand outs. I think I might liek Stevie's Songs In The Key Of Life album a bit more. 6.6/10
When this gets upbeat and funky it’s a lot of fun. Problem is, there are a lot of long, slow, repetitive tracks that drag this down a lot. Songs in the Key of Life this is not.
Superstition is an obvious winner, though it feels out of place on this record. I liked it. That's all I got.
Sunshine and Superstition are absolute five star and the rest of this '72 release is a mix of soulful and funk tunes that aren't quite as memorable. Still a high bar set by Stevie and worth a listen.
Dig the hits still, but the rest is just okay
3.5. Great album
Stevie's at his best when he's dropping some serious funk, and we get some of that on this album, especially in Superstition. The rest of the album, though, doesn't stack up quite as strongly for me
The slow songs just aren't for me, the rest are obviously legendary.
tbh i was expecting to like this more than i did, his voice is 10/10 but i just felt bored, it doesn’t feel like an album to sit and listen to more like background music as you do something else, it feels like you need the right environment to listen to it. not to say i didn’t like it or didn’t enjoy it but it felt repetitive and pointless at times? and i think his voice carried most of the songs. fav songs: superstition, big brother, i believe, blame it on the sun least fav: maybe your baby
Superstition is a 5, the rest less so.
This was difficult to rate, because the song superstition is one of the greatest songs of all time, but the rest of the album was just okay.
Progressive soul, funk, soul, rock, jazz. I enjoyed it more than Innervisions.
Bem legal esse álbum do Stevie Wonder. Acho que conhecia algumas músicas, mas foi bom de ouvir. Gostei de "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "Blame It On The Sun" e "Maybe Your Baby" e "You've Got It Bad Girl"
vibes demais. 3,5
It’s far from my favourite Stevie project, however I still believe it’s a decent album. It just didn’t click in the same way ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ & ‘Fullfillingness’ First Finale’ did. I really believe this album is perhaps the start of what was a really strong run of albums that were near perfect with Stevie, and that this album was crucial in him finding his sound and experiments with different tones and playing styles. I really loved the start of the song ‘Maybe Your Baby’ it was so heavy and caught my attention from the very first chord struck. There’s a small part of me that believes if this wasn’t from Stevie Wonder it wouldn’t be on this list, it has amazing tracks but not sure I would class it as an amazing album throughout, what came after was truly amazing. Favourite tracks are: ‘Maybe Your Baby’, ‘Superstition’, ‘I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)’
Superstitious is a 5 outta 5 bop but the rest is just too sappy and unfunky
Solid but not great.
Solid album. Stevie is always a joy to listen to. 3.5⭐️
Liked it
I admit I’ve never really got why Wonder’s run of 70’s albums are all so highly rated in the pantheon, but I’ve also never made myself sit and listen to one either and you know what they say about “contempt prior to investigation” (Can you tell me because I’ve always concluded that line is bullshit so I’ve never got to the end of it).Anyway, I could live without the soppier ballads, but outside of that this is good and Superstition endows whatever it comes into contact with an en extra star (I don’t make the rules. I mean, I do but I just make them up without thinking about them)
60/1089 3.2998* Great Steve I wonder album that has a couple of his many bangers. Nice album to be played softly in the background of an upscale restaurant. Hits....superstition, yatsoml
Of it's time as regards production and some of the songs. Obviously the highlights sparkle
Me parece un álbum que no es tan de mi tipo. Pero entiendo su grandeza y aspectos de cuidado en la producción y composición. Stevie canta god y se nota su voz al instante. Aunque era un poco diferente en sus inicios.
I thought I would enjoy this more but I just didn't? I think it needs MORE groove.
Another Stevie Wonder and still not Songs In The Key Of Life - will all his albums be on the first 101? Still enjoyed this the highlights are great! 1. Superstition 2 I believe 3 sunshine Of My Life
Love the electronic piano on this record. Its funky and groovy! Superstition is iconic. Other favorites included You are the sunshine of my life, tuesday heartbreak and I Believe. Solid album, I think I enjoyed Innervisions more. 6/10 (for now)
Stevie Wonder is an amazingly talented human being. That being said, this album was a bit too slow and simple for me. The songs that we all know and love were fantastic, but the rest of the album almost put me to sleep. The beats were funky throughout but overall it was way too mellow. I enjoy his up tempo songs so much more than the slow jams.
This isn’t the classic that is promised. Truthfully, it is a pretty boring listen if you remove the 2 hits. Stevie has never been one for editing himself, and this album is great proof of that fact. His experiments and sonic explorations don’t strike me as the work of “a m*therfuckin’ musical genius” but as excessive material that would have been better served to be kept in house. It is undeniable that he makes great music (Superstition) but it is surrounded by too much mediocrity here, and in so many other places in his catalogue.
Stevie's voice is something special. Two well known songs going in, one an all time classic the other just okay. The rest was all new to me and I liked most of it. New Stevie favorite is Maybe Your Baby, not the warmest theme, but wow does it groove. Over all the album was good, enjoyed the listen.
good vibes happy vibes, mostly love songs
Better than the day before but tainted by back to back stevie
A bit more happening than Fulfillingness. Probably 3.5
Enjoyable. Clearly experimental and different. But felt very disjointed as an album. Not my favourite Stevie album.
I was expecting A LOT better from the album w "Superstition" on it.
A classic Stevie Wonder album although I prefer his high energy funk rather than the typical syrupy ballads. Favorite tracks are "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (yes I contradicted myself since I like this ballad), and "Superstition"
Memorable: You & I, Superstition, Blame it on the Sun.
Talking Book just didn't do it for me like Innervisions did. It's plenty funky with synths abound, but I don't think Wonder's voice shined as much as it does on other albums. Standouts for me were "You and I" and "Superstition" A standard 3/5 for me, not really my thing but a pleasant listen.
1st half kinda sucked but superstition had to carry the rest of the album 6
Ça Groove, en vrai je sens que c’est un vrai album dans son genre même si je suis pas un archi fan de ce style. Ça reste très bien
A big week for 70s soul/r&b/funky albums this is the third in a week! I do like this genre I have found maybe not my ultimate fav but never gonna turn it off! This has some hits that have been overplayed in the world but doesn’t mean they’re not good!!
3/5
Die Bedeutung nicht rausgehört. Auch den Sinn nicht so. Muss vielleicht irgendwann nochmal hören. Ist aber auch das erste Album... (:
A nice album, very ‘kind’ and atmospheric. I have associations with Africa and jungles. Not my style of music, but I even added one song to favs.
10.01.2025, im Bus gehört
Bom
Beautiful instrumentation and production, impeccable vocals and songwriting. One of the great American songwriters.
Aside from Sunshine of my Life and Superstition, not too much to write home about here. Decent album overall but was a bit bored at the same time. You and I and Big Brother are the other standouts for me.
3.5 Estuvo bien, que increíble su voz. No me gustó cuando repiten mucho las letras pero el género y los instrumentales es un vibeee Top 3 Songs: - Blame It On the Sun - Superstition - Your are the sunshine of my life
Typical SW, (and soul in general). Great singles, leech albums. A 3 for the three good tracks.
Excellent instrumentation throughout. Superstition is an undisputed hit. It almost feels like it doesn’t fit in with this album because of how much better it is than the other songs and the fact that it’s the only one that isn’t necessarily a love song. You and I is beautiful. Lookin For Another Pure Love is also pretty
J'ai adoré "blame it on the sun"
10/10 vocals! However, some of the songs were a bit forgettable. I have a feeling it would really grow on me after a few more listens. Other than “Superstition,” I hadn’t heard any of the songs before. Standouts include “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love” and “Maybe Your Baby.” Looking forward to diving into some more Stevie Wonder in the future.
Hadn’t heard most of this record beyond “Superstition.” Enjoyed a handful of songs, but didn’t stick with me like I thought it would. Overall Rating: 7/10
Smooth, soulful, and inventive, if a little too sickly sweet in places. Superstition is a funk classic.
Some great tracks. Good album.
Superstition stands out as special. Nothing else caught my ear.
Un album à mettre dans un judebox en jouant au billard dans un bar lounge
Great vocals and I like that a woman is also singing with him. Guitar is also good. Superstition is great. Later songs are slower
Great soul funk.
Not bad. A little slow for me
Superstition is a great track, but aside from that, the rest of Stevie's work is somewhat boring.
Really good music.
While talking book has hints of Wonder's range and dynamism (superstitious the obvious highlight), most of the record still feels a bit too comfortable and safe for an artist of wonders caliber
Okay, it was good few hits. But didn’t feel like I uncovered something I was missing.
Superstition is great; the rest of the songs were okay.
saved by superstition, the rest isn't bad but it was unimpressive Would I listen again? Maybe Deserves to be on this list? No 3.3
Classic Stevie Wonder.
Not my favorite Stevie Wonder but still has some undeniable stuff on it. Compared to Innervisions or Songs in the Key of Life though...a touch too AM radio. Listened to it on my walk to work during a windy winter day...put a damn pep in my step. Favorite Tracks: You and I, Superstition, Big Brother,
ho preferito songs in the key of life ma questo è comunque chiaramente molto bello
Bell’album da tener in sottofondo, crea molta atmosfera ma non c’è nessuna traccia che mi ha colpito particolarmente
bouncy and funky a very easy listen i want to dance around the kitchen with a glass of wine in my hand
It was a pretty chill listen, but nothing much stood out to me. I believe Stevie Wonder has definitely had better albums. Eventually SOME of the songs began to blend into one another, but that might just be because it was the first time I listened to the entire album at once. I have a deep appreciation for this artist though.
On song 4 - so far I’m not the biggest fan but he really does have such a unique and cohesive sound to his music. Also his voice is so lovely. I can imagine listening to this album in the summer getting ready by a lake and having a boogie. Also this album has superstition on it which is one of my favourite songs. Bangers
This is a very funky album. Some absolute bangers on it! Superstitious is one of my favourite tracks.
Not really my jam, but appreciated the listen.
Cool
Side B is 5 Stars side A is 2.
Suoer
good music! i like the instruments a lot
Wasn’t sure about first half but loved the second!! Defo one to go back too!
Superstition's guitar riff rocks
I respect the brilliance here, but a lot of the big, showier funk moments are just too extroverted for my taste. The ballads, though...that's the Stevie lane that I love. Incredible musician, just not a sound I personally vibe with front-to-back.
Not as memorable or catchy as his best.
Stevie albums are a sliding scale from funk virtuoso to sickly sweet karaoke goober. Despite Superstitious, this album errs off course in the wrong direction. Although, when he says we can conquer the world, I believe him. Love that part.
One of his weaker albums. It was kind of all over the place, not much direction and not nearly as much intention with the vocals as my favorite works of his. I was going to give it a 4 but I've had the day to mull it over and I don't like it as much as the others I gave 4s even though it's Stevie Wonder
Personally… overrated! Listening to this I realized superstition was holding this album on its back! Blame it on the sun and you are the sunshine of my life were good but a 100 from critics is insane. I feel 78.
interesante
There are a few great songs on this album, but the ooey-gooey "apple of my eye" stuff is pretty unappealing to me. This was a very love-it/hate-it listening experience.
For all Stevie's amazing talent, I just don't like many of the songs on this album. YATSOML is good, and Superstition is an all-time great, but I only liked one or two others.
This wasn’t what I was expecting, only really knowing Superstition going into it. The rest of the album had a pretty different vibe to that song and I didn’t enjoy it as much. There were a few I thought were fun but overall it wasn’t really my thing. Fav song: Superstition Least fav: You’ve Got It Bad Girl
This was his fifteenth studio album and he was 22, hate hate hate. Superstition won him his first and second (of 25!!!) Grammys .None of the rest of the album lives up to Superstition but I'm glad to have heard the rest of the album (even if I won't ever go back to it). Favourite song: Superstition Least: Maybe Your Baby
Bedre end forventet. Der er flere hits, og mindre klaver end jeg troede..