Stevie Wonder: Talking Book (Original) CD Track Listing

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Stevie Wonder Talking Book (Original) (1972)
Talking Book (Original)\n1991 Motown Record Corporation\n\nOriginally Released October 27, 1972\nCD Edition Released ????\nRemastered Edition Released March 21, 2000\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: After releasing two "head" records during 1970-71, Stevie Wonder expanded his compositional palate 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 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). Stevie'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 songs -- 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 Stevie Wonder was beginning to speak his mind and use 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, Stevie also found a proper balance between making an album entirely by himself and benefiting from the talents of others. His wife Syreeta and her sister Yvonne Wright contributed three 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\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Talking Book is the album that crystallized Wonder as the self-contained singer/songwriter. "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" were both #1 singles. The rest of the album maintains an equally torrid level. -- Rob Bowman\n\nAmazon.com essential recording\nThe 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 \n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: David Sanborn, Jeff Beck \nProducer: Stevie Wonder \n\nAlbum Notes\nPersonnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, drums, percussion); Jeff Beck, Ray Parker, Jr., Buzzy Feiten (guitar); David Sanborn (alto saxophone); Trevor Laurence (saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Scott Edwards (bass); Daniel Ben Zebulon (congas); Malcolm Cecil, Rogert Margouleff (programming); Shirley Brewer, Denise Williams, Loris Harvin, Debra Williams, Gloria Barley, Lani Groves, Jim Gilstrap (background vocals). \n\nProducer: Stevie Wonder.\nReissue producer: Harry Weinger.\nRecorded at Air Studios, London, England; Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York; Crystal Studios and Record Plant, Los Angeles, California. \n\nOriginally released on Tamla (319).\nDigitally remastered by Kevin Reeves.\n\n1972 was an important year for Wonder: his new contract allowed him to produce albums without Motown's interference, and a spot as opening act on The Rolling Stones American tour widened his audience considerably. TALKING BOOK reaped the benefits of both, as 2 songs rose to number 1 on the pop charts ("Superstition" and "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"), and his songwriting and singing continued to push the boundaries of pop music.\n\nIndustry Reviews\n..ambitious, richly-textured...Even at its dreamiest, the music has a glowing vibrancy...Altogether, an exceptional, exciting album, the work of a now quite matured genius..\nRolling Stone Magazine (01/04/1973)\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe album with the best collection of Stevie Wonder songs, November 2, 2002\nReviewer: Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City: Duluth, MN United States)\nI think "Innversisons" is Stevie Wonder's best album in terms of providing a overall statement, but "Talking Book" is the better collection of songs. "Superstition" is my all time favorite Stevie Wonder song, a hard funk masterpiece that justifies the invention of the clavinet. That was the song that made all of America either reexamine the artist formerly known as Little Stevie Wonder or got them to take notice of him in the first place because from that point on there was no doubt the man was a major artist. As a general rule I am less enamored of his ballads, but "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is certainly his most palatable, but "Blame It On The Sun" strikes me as being a bit better, maybe just because it never received as much airplay or was covered as much as the original. I tend to like "Maybe Your Baby" and especially "Big Brother" as the non-hits that are always what makes a great album truly great. Attention must also be paid to the lovely multi-part harmonies on "I Believe" and the guitar work of Jeff Beck on "Looking For Another Pure Love." The motion on the floor remains the same: at a bare minimum you have to have "Talking Book," "Innervisons," and a good hits collection (e.g., "The Definitive Collection") in your music library. So when the arbiters of good taste come knocking on your door to check out what you have, do not say you were not warned.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nStevie's most accessible album of the 70s, October 23, 2002\nReviewer: nyasb (the Southland)\nI haven't read the other reviews, but I'll insert my two cents. First of all, I almost see this album as chapter two in a five-album saga (Music of my Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fullfilingness First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life). This is the lushest and most accessible of these albums. It displays Stevie's versatility (funk - Superstition, Maybe your Baby; ballads - You & I, Blame it on the Sun; folk/protest - Big Brother; "jazzy"/mellow - You've got it bad, Lookin for another Love)... Perhaps my favorite is the shortest (I think) song on the album - Tuesday Heartbreak. It is reminiscent in structure to the songs of the 60s, but the instrumentation (wah wahs) transform it into a funk/shoo-bop hybrid, while Dave Sanborn's soloing seems to prophetically foreshadow the use of the sax in 80's pop. Because this album is polished (not raw, like Music of my Mind) and accessible (except for Big Brother, all the songs are about love, and there are no strident or "expermiental" songs, unlike his other 70s work), I think it should be the introduction to those who want to become familiar with his definitive work (and find out why he's considered a musical genius).\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Perfect Soul Record., June 10, 2002\nReviewer: namepeace "namepeace" (Nashville, TN United States)"Talking Book," is, Quite simply, a flawless album. With songs and arrangements that are at times mournful and edgy, at times joyful and reverent, "Talking Book" will touch and amaze you.\nThe most popular songs on the album are, of course, the classics "Superstition" and "You Are The Sunshine of My Life." Yet like those two, many of the other songs on the album explore feelings of loss and betrayal with the same eloquence and flair: the funky "Maybe Your Baby" (with a funky hook and haunting background vocals heard in much of Prince's late 80's work), "Tuesday Heartbreak," and "Lookin' for Another Pure Love." My favorite song on the LP, however, is "You Got It Bad Girl," a plaintive ballad with smooth synths and subtle, clever lyrics. The album ends with the soaring, hopeful "I Believe" (featured in "High Fidelity").\n\nThere is not one subpar song on this album. I'd bet that most musical artists could record their entire lives and not produce 10 songs that are anywhere close to the 10 on this album. Stevie Wonder has made some great LP's, and scores of great songs, but this album, in my opinion, is his best, and perhaps the greatest album I have ever heard in any genre.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nbreakthrough, February 22, 2001\nReviewer: Matt Calvert (Gt. missenden, Bucks United Kingdom)\nWhen deciding which of Stevie Wonder's 70s album catalogue is the greatest, one cannot deny that 'Talking Book' is a serious contender. After forging his own unique sound on 'Music Of My Mind' (with excellent some results) that heavily incorporated new keyboard technology such as the Moog and Arp synthesizers, electric pianos and clavinets, Wonder's efforst are consolidated in what is arguably his definitive 70s recording. \nWhilst many fans are familiar with hits such as the ballad 'You Are Then Sunshine Of My Life' and the clavinet-powered groove of 'Superstition', the album's real jems are relatively obscure tracks such as 'You and I' and 'You Got It Bad, Girl' which fully display Stevie's songwriting maturity and vocal versatility. As always he lays down his own rhythm section on drums and Moog bass, adding on top more of his own personality to the mix that includes Jeff Beck on guitar ('Looking For Another Pure Love') and David Sanborn on alto ('Tuesday Heartbreak', another highlight) in addition to his now-legendary synth orchestrations and electric piano backdrops. \n\nAt the end of the day, 'Talking Book' is an essential requirement of any respectable soul collection (as is 'Innervisions' and 'Songs In The Key Of Life') as most critics would verify. Stevie's commercial breaththrough, and for a reason - Stevie Wonder's songwriting and performing excellence.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nSongwriting heaven., July 30, 2000\nReviewer: Stephen Doig (New Zealand)\nFundamentally, 'Talking Book' is the amazing document of a true musical genius at the peak of his powers. More wonderful is it's ability to stir strong emotions of the heart, enlighten the mind, and move your spirit and body. This was the first of Stevie Wonder's three great albums, which included the excellent 'Inner Visions' and the quite revolutionary 'Songs In The Key Of Life'. There is something about 'Talking Book' however - some organic quality or musical purity that makes it just that little bit more dear to me - for a mortal like myself it is difficult to define this genius exactly. Take the incredible 'You And I' a tender, poignant love song among, if not the best in Stevie's oeuvre; it is sung with such conviction that you cannot fail to be moved very deeply - it could make even the most mundane relationship seem true and noble. 'Superstition' carries a gritty, memorable groove that is internationally recognizable, being so deeply ingrained in the musical consciousness of anyone thats grown up within earshot of a radio. Even the pure love song 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' which has been bastardized over the years really - still sounds good in it's original form and context. Of course there is still room for social-consciousness, most notably with Stevie's scathing appraisal of a certain president Nixon in 'Big Brother'. 'Tuesday Heartbreak' is irresistably funky and works well in being sequenced after 'You And I'. There are also three quite beautiful ballads to end this astonishing album, 'Lookin' For Another Pure Love' being particularly affecting. I think I may have run out of superlatives to describe Talking Book, but anyone that's heard it will tell you they are all justified. If you've not listened before then do yourself one mighty favour and do so - now.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nTalking Book still sounds fresh today, July 13, 2000\nReviewer: Terry Saundry (Keysborough, Vic, Australia)\nStevie the Wonder's breakthrough album from 1972. The classic ".... Sunshine Of My Life" leads off but then we run into "Maybe Your Baby" which I find hard going. The rest of side one is fine and side two is consistently excellent. Getting Jeff Beck to play on "Lookin' For Another Pure Love" was a masterstroke. Due mainly to the deterioration of the vinyl (why?), I hadn't played this or the other Wonders I own for ages. Even though these new CD's apparently are not remastered from the original tapes (Wonder owns them - anyone know what happened?), the sound is excellent and the digipak edition I have reproduces the sleeve beautifully. It's a winner!\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nTimeless Music From A Modern Master., July 9, 2000\nReviewer: WILLIE A YOUNG II "willow" (Houston, TX.)\nThis brilliant work by Motown's first child prodigy has become the standard by which all R&B is judged. Filled to the brim with gorgeous melodies, gentle keyboard textures, and romantic, but never sappy lyrics, "Talking Book" has weathered every trend in music and is still without peer. This seminal release from a man who is justifiably called a genius is still a class act. The opening "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a pop music standard that sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday and is probably the greatest love song ever written. Stevie's understated electric piano, the soft bongo playing in the background, the sprightly horns on the chorus and beautiful vocals by Lani Groves, Jim Gilstrap (on the intro) and Wonder himself all combine to make this song the perfect intro to a classic album filled with brilliant, timeless music. Pointing out highlights is almost pointless, this being a complete, cohesive work of art. The songs presented here perfectly complement each other and create an open-ended song-cycle that ebbs and flows in all the right places. The funky, paranoid "Superstition" (a no.1 R&B and pop hit) is matched by the extended, slow, bass/clavinet drenched "Maybe Your Baby" which itself is innovative in it's use of multi-speed and altered vocals, wicked rock guitar and Stevie's searing lead vocal. The ballads are wonders unto themselves; the acoustic guitar blessed "Blame It On The Sun", the stark and hopefully romantic "You And I", and a pair of smooth-as-butter ballads, the jazzy, easy paced "Lookin' For Another Pure Love", and the drop- dead beautiful "You've Got It Bad Girl" are the most sonically pleasing confections on the album. Highlighted respectively by a great guitar solo (do it Jeff!) and synthesizer solo Stevie stretches out to astounding effect on these numbers. (Special note: The 'Jeff' Stevie is referring to is none other than Jeff Beck, in case there are still 2 or 3 people in the world who don't know.) This is the record that forever put 'Little Stevie Wonder' to rest and showed the world that a gifted musician, composer and singer was claiming his place in moderm music and effectively launched one of the single greatest runs (both creatively and commercially) in the history of pop music. No collection is complete without it.
This rock cd contains 10 tracks and runs 43min 29sec.
Freedb: 7e0a2f0a
Buy: from Amazon.com

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