Talking Book

by Stevie Wonder

Overview

After releasing two "head" records during 1970 and 1971, Stevie Wonder expanded his compositional palette with 1972's Talking Book to include societal ills as well as tender love songs, and so recorded the first smash album of his career. What had been hinted at on the intriguing project Music of My Mind was here focused into a laser beam of tight songwriting, warm electronic arrangements, and ebullient performances -- altogether the most realistic vision of a musical personality ever put to wax, beginning with a disarmingly simple love song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (but of course, it's only the composition that's simple). Wonder's not always singing a tender ballad here -- in fact, he flits from contentment to mistrust to promise to heartbreak within the course of the first four tracks -- but he never fails to render each song in the most vivid colors. In stark contrast to his early songs, which were clever but often relied on the Motown template of romantic metaphor, with Talking Book it became clear Wonder was beginning to speak his mind and use his personal history for material (just as Marvin Gaye had with the social protest of 1971's What's Going On). The lyrics became less convoluted, while the emotional power gained in intensity. "You and I" and the glorious closer "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" subtly illustrate that the conception of love can be stronger than the reality, while "Tuesday Heartbreak" speaks simply but powerfully: "I wanna be with you when the nighttime comes/I wanna be with you till the daytime comes." Ironically, the biggest hit from Talking Book wasn't a love song at all; the funk landmark "Superstition" urges empowerment instead of hopelessness, set to a grooving beat that made it one of the biggest hits of his career. It's followed by "Big Brother," the first of his directly critical songs, excoriating politicians who posture to the underclass in order to gain the only thing they really need: votes. With Talking Book, Wonder also found a proper balance between making an album entirely by himself and benefiting from the talents of others. His wife Syreeta contributed two great lyrics, and Ray Parker, Jr. came by to record a guitar solo that brings together the lengthy jam "Maybe Your Baby." Two more guitar heroes, Jeff Beck and Buzzy Feton, appeared on "Lookin' for Another Pure Love," Beck's solo especially giving voice to the excruciating process of moving on from a broken relationship. Like no other Stevie Wonder LP before it, Talking Book is all of a piece, the first unified statement of his career. It's certainly an exercise in indulgence but, imitating life, it veers breathtakingly from love to heartbreak and back with barely a pause. ~ John Bush

Product Details

Release Date:	12/02/2016
Label:	Island / Motown
UPC:	0602557097566

Tracks

1. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
2. Maybe Your Baby
3. You and I (We Can Conquer the World)
4. Tuesday Heartbreak
5. You've Got It Bad Girl
6. Superstition
7. Big Brother
8. Blame It on the Sun
9. Lookin' for Another Pure Love
10. I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stevie Wonder   Primary Artist,Drums,Vocals,Harmonica,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,ARP Synthesizer,Moog Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Austin Godsey   Primary Artist
Joan Decola   Primary Artist
Steve Madalo   Trumpet
Trevor Laurence   Saxophone
David Sanborn   Sax (Alto),Guest Artist,Saxophone,Vocals (Background)
Ray Parker, Jr.   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Jeff Beck   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Trevor Lawrence   Saxophone,Sax (Alto)
Steve Madaio   Trumpet
Daniel Ben Zebulon   Congas,Percussion
Scott Edwards   Bass
Lani Groves   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Robert Margouleff   Moog Synthesizer
Howard "Buzz" Feiten   Guitar
Malcolm Cecil   Moog Synthesizer
Shirley Brewer   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Deniece Williams   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Gloria Barley   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Dennis Williams   Vocals (Background)
Debra Wilson   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Delores Harvin   Vocals
Loris Harvin   Vocals (Background)
Buzzy Feton   Guitar

Technical Credits

Robert Margouleff   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Producer,Photography,Associate Producer
Stevie Wonder   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Malcolm Cecil   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Producer,Programming,Associate Producer
Austin Godsey   Engineer,Recording
Kevin Reeves   Digital Remastering
George Marino   Mastering
Harry Weinger   Research,Supervisor
Syreeta Wright   Composer
Yvonne Wright   Composer
Joan Decola   Recording
Tokiwa Kinoshita   Editorial Coordinator
Mathieu Bitton   Package Design
Minoru Harada   A&R