Stevie Wonder - Talking Book
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Stevie WonderEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2000-03-21
Music Label: Motown
Soundtracks:
- 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)
Free Music Notes for Talking Book
Free Music Review: ..blame it on the sun:rays of sunshine:stevie's golden sun..
Hit: 5 Stars
just seven months after the release of his inaugural new era album "music of my mind"the musical genius stevie wonder comes back with the second installment of his new era "talking book" (an album that was born from his opening new era album "music of my mind"in the same year of 1972)...but with "talking book" wonder's expression of musical creativity is an expansion from "music of my mind" but this time around there is more depth,power and brilliance.wonder's freedom of expression is all the more remarkable demonstrated by the striking album cover photograph."talking book"is the first album cover in wonder's career of which he is photographed(by robert margouleff)in complete freedom:he is sitting on god's natural earthground draped in a long flowing reflective brownish metallic silk outfit(which is reminiscent of the silk that our black kings and queens wore centuries ago.)he is also without his trademark dark shades,and showcasing the powerful afrikan braided hairstyle-which in itself is a political social statement from stevie that he is proud of his black afrikan roots.
and like it's predecesor before it("music of my mind")"talking book"was recorded at jimi hendrix's electric ladyland studios in new york-and other studios as well including air studios in london/crystal studios and the record plant both in los angeles,california.wonder again teamed up with the experts of the synthesizer sound-robert margouleff and malcolm cecil.on the album "talking book"wonder again applies another first in his brilliant career.the opening track 'you are the sunshine of my life'(with it's gorgeous opening chords is perhaps one of the most famous opening chords in music history)is the first song in wonder's career where he utilized 2 other vocalists:jim gilstrap sings the first 2 lines...and then comes the beautiful soft voice of gloria barley as she sings the next 2 lines 2 lead off the beginning of the track while wonder himself would be the third and final vocalist.although the song is only 2:45 seconds long it is one of the greatest lovesongs of all-time.who could 4get these famous lines?'you are the sunshine of my life,that's why i'll always stay around-you are the apple of my eye,forever you'll stay in my heart'/...however,when wonder released the song as a single there were horns on the single version.the horns were added 2 the single version 2 give the song more vibrance while the album version has a more laid back relaxed feel 2 it.
on 'maybe your baby'wonder takes his hardfunk 2 another level.his opening synthesizer blast on this cut is so damn funkafied it almost renders the other funky cut on this album'superstition'obsolete.'maybe your baby'has a groove that is so mean that it makes'superstition'sick!!!six minutes and forty-five seconds of wonder giving up the high octane funk!!!the song's message is in the madness:anger at a woman who walked out on him and she made plans with another man.thus this event devastated him and whence the morning came of which wonder vocalizes:'in the mornin'when i've got a heartache/i can't call up the doctor for help/'cause the only person that could ever do me any good/is steppin' out with my best friend'...resentment set in and the angry 'maybe your baby done made some other plans'chorus lines are becoming of rage because of a cheating lover.also featured in the song is ray parker jr's funkafied guitar attack.(could wonder's speeded up vocals later in this song be a later future influence 4 prince?)
'you and i'(we can conquer the world)is one of wonder's most compelling and beautiful ballads.the song employs wonder's synthesizer current and beautiful piano playing.it is a very beautiful lovesong 4 a man and woman who are in love with each other.this is a lovesong of wedding bliss of which wonder intones these romantic lyrics 4 his woman:'here we are on earth together-it's you and i-god has made us fall in love,it's true-i've really found someone like you'...the near conclusion of this loveballad tugs at the heart of lovers who want love that is unconditional:'i only pray that i have shown you a brighter day/because that's all that i'm living for,you see/don't worry what happens to me'...i need no further in discussing the beauty of this song it speaks 4 itself...'tuesday heartbreak'is a moderately upbeat song about love specifically about heartbreak:because his woman has found another man.despite this unfortunate situation,he still wants 2 be with her when she's all alone whether it's the daytime or nightime occurrence...'you've got it bad girl'(a mellow cut)with lyrics written by yvonne wright and music written by stevie himself,is a song about a man's obsession 2 capture the love of a woman whom he so desires,but she is reticent and rejects true love that is staring right in her face of which wonder explains:'you know the plans i am making/are intended to capture you/so you practice false reactions,to delay the things i do,foolish you'...
'superstition'is the first official song when i really became aware of stevie wonder when i was a 8 or 9 year old child back in 1972.my sweet mother liked it so much that she bought it on a 45 of which she let me have it that i still have 2 this day.'superstition'which was the first single release from "talking book" was a good and bad omen for stevie when it first came out as a single release.wonder had originally written the song for the legendary guitarist jeff beck(whom wonder had met in london where they had jammed 2gether doing music)first the good omen:this central anthem of funk 'superstition'(with it's powerful classic drum intro plus clavinet perfomed by wonder)went all the way to number one on both the r&b and pop charts in december,1972 which contained the key lines of the song:'when you believe in things that you don't understand,then you suffer,superstition ain't the way'...second the bad omen:it was also around the same time wonder was recording 'superstition'-jeff beck was also recording his version of wonder's tune.wonder begged motown not 2 release his version because it would cause a conflict between him and jeff beck.motown told stevie:'man are you crazy?'and sure enough motown released wonder's version of 'superstition'and when it was getting close 2 topping the charts,naturally jeff beck was fuming in a music interview.wonder knew beck would react angrily in this situation.both wonder and beck were involved in a feud over the song.the situation was solved when wonder wrote 2 songs for beck.later,and afterwards beck knew motown had made the right decision in releasing wonder's version of the song.
'big brother'is one of wonder's early political songs in his new era.this clavinet driven cut has very powerful lyrical overtones of social decay:'my name is secluded,we live in a house the size of a matchbox,roaches live with us wall to wall'...and mentioning true prophet leaders being killed-and the true masses are hurting that the true prophets are gone and at the song's conclusion the true masses inform the evil doers that they are inviting thier country 2 their own final doom 2 fall.but my all-time personal favorite cut on this classic album is the very mellow emotional 'blame it on the sun'...with the lyrics written by the beautiful syreeta wright and the music written by wonder himself of which stevie plays all the instruments on the song.'blame it on the sun'comes 2 life as a visual still life inside the album cover that features a silhouette profile image of wonder at the early dawning of a new morning day as the sun is in it's shinning dawn beginning underneath a pleasing cool bluesky.this brilliant photographic image fits 'blame it on the sun'perfectly more than any other song on this classic album.in the song,wonder delivers his serious but heartfelt compassion about isolation,love that is lost that went astray(or could it be about the painful breakup between him and syreeta?)the song's heartfelt compassionate lyrics and the sad but beautiful melody is one 4 the ages:'where has my love gone?/how can i go on?/it seems dear love has gone away./where is my spirit?/i'm nowhere near it,oh yes my love has gone astray./but i'll blame it on the sun,the sun that didn't shine.....i'll blame it on the tide and the sea,but my heart blames it on me....who poured the love out?what made this bitter doubt? is peace not here for me to see???this song has so much feeling and compassion,that it is beyond emotion.
'looking for another pure love'is another mellow cut about heartbreak and also trying 2 regain love.the song also features jeff beck with a nice guitar solo part.'i beleive'(when i fall in love it will be forever)is the final cut that speaks of life's peaks and valleys and 2 fall in love again 4 good and ending with god answering prayers in this song of emotional pain and 2 regain life on solid spiritual ground.the music on this song starts quietly and as the music progresses,wonder's voice is with powerful conviction alongside the music that progressively finishes very strong- giving "talking book" (released in late october,1972)a very powerful ending.stevie wonder's enduring talent shines with each of his monumental seventies releases."
Talking Book Poster
Limited 24k gold pressing of the Soul star's 1972 album. Features the hits 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' and 'Superstition'. Audio Fidelity Records. 2010.The two No. 1 hits 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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