Many would go straight for innervisions or songs in the key of life, but this is my favorite stevie wonder album. But the man who recorded multiple alltime classic albums including talking book, innervisions, songs in the key of life, hotter than july, and in square circle has. It was november of 1988, and i had just been finally and irrevocably turned down by a girl id been pursuing for. Talking book marked the arrival of artist as oneman band in popular music. Stevie wonders journey through the secret life of plants is an album by stevie wonder, originally released on the tamla motown label on october 30, 1979. Hear a jubilant stevie wonder performance from this week. A1 to a4, b1 to b2 notes original pressing with braille message on gatefold cover. Superstition was one of the biggest hits from talking book, but it was originally intended for someone else. Stevie wonders career reached a new level in 1972 with the release of talking book.
It is considered by many to be his greatest and most influential album. Blind virtually since birth, wonders heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. Compared to wonders poppish soul characterized by his formative recording years, talking book explores new grounds in instrumentation such as synthesizer and clavinet. Talking book by stevie wonder on amazon music unlimited. And making all of the artistic decisions himself and relying less on motown head berry gordy for. The 21track album includes all of his greatest hits, from the live 1963 smash, fingertips part 2 and uptight, through i was. Producer robert margouleff talks about his memories in the studio recording the classic album that turned 40 this weekand the frustrations. Listen to your favorite songs from talking book by stevie wonder now. It contains a few courageous artistic moves stevie possibly wouldnt have taken later, including the 44 hillbilly blues feel of big brother, the psychedelic 60s influences and as a music historian could note later.
It reached number one in the usa, and number eleven in the uk, in february 1973. Before talking book was released, stevie went on tour with the rolling stones, which boosted his credibility in the world of rock. Stevland hardaway judkins born may, 1950 known by his stage name stevie wonder, is an american musician, singersongwriter, record producer, and multiinstrumentalist a child prodigy,wonder became one of the most successful and wellknown artists on the motown label. The sound of the album is sharply defined by wonder s keyboard work, especially with the synthesizers he incorporated. It also helped wonder move past his image as a child star. The album is widely noted for being the signal recording of wonders classic. Stevie wonders 1972 album talking book is comparable to the beatles rubber soul. As a first, it established stevie as a multiinstrumentalist, and started the long tradition of him being one of the few musicians on his records. Innervisions, fulfillingness first finale, songs in the key of life and hotter than july. Stevie wonder opted for arguably the greatest sustained run of creativity in the history of popular music. Find album credit information for talking book stevie wonder on allmusic allmusic.
If you have an audiophile setup and youre hoping for a clean copy of talking bookan otherwise superb, brilliant recordyou might as well hit ebay and look for. Talking book is the first of four monster hit albums for stevie wonder released in the 1972 to 1976 time period. Stevie wonder, still just 22 years of age, unveiled what many consider to be his first masterpiece, talking book, on 26 october 1972. Which included the number one hitsong, superstition. Stevie wonder 1972 talking book full album youtube. A prominent figure in popular music, he is one of the most successful songwriters and musicians in the history of music. Stevie wonder biography childhood, life achievements. Superstition is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by stevie wonder for motown records in 1972, when wonder was twentytwo years old. Producer and engineer malcolm cecil taught stevie wonder how to use the tonto the instrument that would change his career forever. Released in 1972, talking book is stevie s fifteenth album and the second of five consecutive albums referred to as his classic period. Stevie wonder says talking book was a turning point, his first real growth as a boy becoming a man.
Get the best deals on stevie wonder lp vinyl records when you shop the largest online selection at. It was included on wonders talking book album and released as a single in many countries. Talking book is the first in the series of truly great albums released by stevie wonder from the early seventies to the early eighties. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, hollywood press, gatefold. It mostly consists of love songs, save for big brother, a chronicle of ghetto blues, and the classic hit. Yet talking book sounds more effortless and certainly less political than 1973s innervisions. Stevie wonder talking book 1973, gatefold, vinyl discogs. As much as talking book is a careerdefining album, it still isnt as much trademark stevie wonder as the 19736 albums. It is the soundtrack to the documentary the secret life of plants, directed by walon green, which was based on the book of the same name by peter tompkins and christopher bird. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Music of my mind, talking book, innervisions, fulfillingness first finale, songs in the key of life, the secret life of plants, and hotter than july. In 1972, at just 22yearsold, wonder entered his classic period with the arrival of his 15th studio album, talking book, home to that catchy little tune called superstition. My favorite track is probably blame it on the sun, but the lp is full of easily recognized hit tunes brought to life with stevie s electronic funk soul stylings writ large.
Stevie is the only artist so honored with three consecutive releases. After releasing two head records during 197071, stevie wonder expanded his compositional palette with 1972s 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. This song featured the clavinet which stevie wonder was credited pioneer of, he later used the electric amplified keyboard instrument in many of his other albums along with the. Right from the way the title was written in braille on the cover of the album to the shape, placing and suggestions of individual tracks, talking book was stevie wonders most personal album. In late 1972 stevie wonder released an album which today is known as a historic piece in music,talking book. Talking book is the fifteenth studio album by american singer, songwriter and musician stevie wonder, released on october 28, 1972, on the tamla label for motown records.
Stevie wonder signed, sealed and delivered new vinyl. Find album credit information for talking book stevie wonder on allmusic. Arp synthesizer, audio production, composer, drums, harmonica, keyboards, main personnel, moog synthesizer, primary artist. Talking book is the fifteenth album by stevie wonder. For more than a decade stevie wonder was the most consistent artist in all of music. Stevie wonder is an american musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, gatefold, braille. But stevie wonder got a little help from a new electronic device called a. But it wasnt until talking book in 1972 that wonder finally managed to become independent of what motown needed and demanded from him. In that first decade of his artistic ancipation which began in 1972, the singer, songwriter, producer, and multiinstrumentalist released seven classic albums.
Also, and like soulmate innovator gaye, he retained more artistic freedom than ever before. It was also his second album to be released in 1972 as music. Stevie wonders second album this year is in many ways a reprise with. Listen free to stevie wonder talking book you are the sunshine of my life, maybe your. The album is widely noted for being the signal recording of wonder s classic period.
You are the sunshine of my life is the first song on talking book, which may well be my favorite stevie wonder album. When superstition was released, it was warmly welcomed on the same radio stations that played the stones, earning wonder many new fans. The greatest creative run in the history of popular music. Talking book simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Say what lionel richie is convinced stevie wonder can. Stevie wonder producer malcolm cecil breaks down the. B5, i believe when i fall in love it will be forever, 4. Stevie wonder talking book gatefold limited edition new tan colored vinyl lp. Talking book marks the beginning of wonders incredible run from 1972. Stevie wonder is an american musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. After releasing two head records during 197071, stevie wonder expanded his compositional palate with 1972s talking book to include societal ills as well as tender love songs, and so recorded. Universal music enterprises has remastered stevie wonders alltime best selling hits collection, stevie wonder.
Without question, these songs showcased a more mature side of stevie wonder, and was, at the time, his most successful album to date. Stevie wonder, original name steveland judkins or steveland morris, born may, 1950, saginaw, michigan, u. Both artists subsequently recorded more innovative work. Stevie wonder s 1972 album talking book is comparable to the beatles rubber soul.
97 710 617 687 329 1397 1319 627 651 1073 574 816 154 326 234 902 628 298 1439 408 1304 612 665 1539 807 1309 1434 1078 616 1064 122 698