Talking Book

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The songs from this 1972 album perfectly illustrate the contrasting sides of Wonder's complex personality: "Superstition" is a strong rocker, a paranoid bit of wah-wah guitar funk that's as persistent as the best punk music; the opening track, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", is a pure love song that would sound corny coming from any other voice. A hint of bitterness, perhaps owing to Wonder's then-dissolving marriage, gives Talking Book its edge. But overall it's obsessed with love, and while "Sunshine" is still one of the singer/keyboardist's most beloved songs, the closing "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" is much deeper and more rewarding. --Steve Knopper

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Customer reviews

review by: musicman date: 2008-07-22 rating:
a classic album from the legend stevie wonder!!!
talking book this is a classic soul album i love it and play it quite regually its cool it features two known songs you are the sunshine of my life,superstition and lots of other good songs which aint recoginised so much radios have a habit of playing 2 or 3 songs by one artist all radio stations are guilty of it eg queen bohemian rhapsody,youre my best friend,dont stop me now and sometimes we will rock you but theres plenty of other fab songs by queen eg innuendo,these are the days of our lives,somebody to love and more i like a winters tale too off the made in heaven album fab!! but they do this with any artist play certain songs thats why i get bored by radio stations rather go and put my own cds on!! if i listen too radio its radio2 mark radcliffe and stuart maconie and steve wright and chris evens good djs on radio2 chris evens is funny!! lol but to the point this is a classic apart of the trilogy with innervisions,songs in the key of life make the trilogy complete!! buy them all happy listening i bought this a few years ago and cant stop playing!!

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review by: 60s/70s boy date: 2008-06-18 rating:
Excellent
After the superb Music Of My Mind, Stevie kicks things into high gear here with Talking Book. This is one of those albums where an artist is at the top of their game and every song is great. If I was gonna skip one it would maybe be track 2 which does go on longer than it needs to, but who can argue with the quality of songs such as 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' , 'You And I', 'Big Brother', 'Tuesday Heartbreak', 'I Believe When I Fall In Love' and of course the mighty 'Superstition'. On this album Stevie shows he can produce beautiful ballads, great funk numbers and biting social commentary. If you get this album you'll have one of the greatest rnb/funk records ever recorded. Not bad for 3 or 4 quid!. Make sure you get the 2000 remaster, better sound quality. Get it and enjoy!.

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review by: staxasoul date: 2006-09-23 rating:
The first in the great trilogy
"Talking Book" was a groundbreaking album, significant on several levels; at the time of it's release it was the first album ever to make such extensive use of new technology in the Moog synthesiser, it elevated Stevie Wonder to a new status with a wider audience as a result and, arguably, it also ushered in an era where Soul music was a dominant genre.

Taken as a whole, the album showcases SW at the peak of his creative powers, and although I feel "Inner Visions" is the more complete album this runs it very close - stand out tracks are, for me the less well known ones like "Maybe Your Baby" and "I Believe" each of which hints at the turmoil in his private life at the time.

If you are a music fan and interested in influential albums then you should have this album - for Soul fans your collection is not complete without it.

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review by: date: 2006-09-10 rating:
So good...
A stunning collection of tunes written by a man who at this time was consistently producing music of an incredibly high quality:

You are the sunshine of my life.
Superstition
Blame It on the Sun
I believe

These are all fabulous tracks in different ways. But the best is 'You and I'. A wonderful ballad, demonstrating Stevie's fantastic voice and his subtle use of early synthesizers. On the last chorus he modulates the song up into a different range and the song is taken to a new emotional level. Something similar was done with 'Lately' a few years later.

Every collection should have this album.




review by: brad_stone date: 2005-01-25 rating:
As close to a perfect soul album as you'll hear
As relevant and enjoyable today as it was in 1972, Stevie Wonder's 'Talking Book' is a soul classic. One part of the triplet of groundbreaking albums that were 'Talking Book', 'Innervisions' and Songs In The Key Of Life', this edition is an emotional ride as turbulent as Wonder's personal life at the time.
The album kicks off with the hit 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life', an upbeat love song with an interesting, almost tribal, use of percussion. Next comes the funk, with 'Maybe Your Baby', with baselines looping and melting over each other in a way Steveie Wonder does so well.
The album continues on its journey from chilled out track to track, until an explosion of funk in 'Superstition'. This is probably one of the best tracks the man ever wrote, and is an essential part of understanding his music, the sheer cool that seeps from the speakers almost makes them dance along with you.
The ethnic, earthly influences showing Wonders more spiritual side come across in the upbeat 'Big Brother', before you are taken to emotional depths with the painfully beautiful 'Blame It On The Sun', a heartbroken musical monologue which captures some of his most effective songwriting.
It is hard to fault this album at all, this is a real musical treat, a self assured work of genius from one of the most talented soul performers of all time.

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