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.
A grand 'Funky Friday' to fellow MOG funksters. 'Maybe Your Baby' is from Stevie Wonder's 1972 Tamia 319 release entitled Talking Book. It's a lengthy, repetitious track, but lamenting despair never sounded as hypnotically funky!http://www.steviewonder.org.uk/
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More grind than Prince, More funk than Parliment, and almost as much sorrow as Muddy Waters.Due tohis enormous lexicon of work(some of it downright cheese laden crap) it's easy to forget how frikkn talented Little Stevie is was and will be. I spose I'm preaching to the choir so I let this slice do my talking. I dare anyone to listen to this on your headphones and not notice a little glide in yo...
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Got kids? then you gotta love Stevie Wonder burnin' up the street with this awesome version of "Superstition" love the 'fros too- man, i miss the '70s!
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Two Stevie's causing lightning to strike along with Jody Watley. This was recorded for an MTV special in the early 90s. Stevie Ray's rhythm comping and fills are nasty beyond belief.Stevie Ray sings the first chorus, Stevie Wonder the second, and Jody Watley the third.Best performance I've ever heard of "Superstition". Seeing video for it is a bonus and makes it even more fun.
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Not properly a funk song, but clearly this R&B grooves with political fire.Stevie on the man... "You'll cause your own country to fall." It may happen yet, as we prepare to double down on big capitalism.
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Stevie Wonder is live on the set of Sesame Street. Watch for the kid on the fire escape and you will know the meaning of funk.
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A grand 'Funky Friday' to fellow MOG funksters. 'Maybe Your Baby' is from Stevie Wonder's 1972 Tamia 319 release entitled Talking Book. It's a lengthy, repetitious track, but lamenting despair never sounded as hypnotically funky!http://www.steviewonder.org.uk/
More >
Got kids? then you gotta love Stevie Wonder burnin' up the street with this awesome version of "Superstition" love the 'fros too- man, i miss the '70s!
More >
Another amazing live performance, lost to the ages until the advent of VH1 Classics and YouTube:This one was taken from a performance on January 23,1974 on a German TV show called Musikladen. For me, the great unanswered question is who the hell is that awesome drummer?
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More grind than Prince, More funk than Parliment, and almost as much sorrow as Muddy Waters.Due tohis enormous lexicon of work(some of it downright cheese laden crap) it's easy to forget how frikkn talented Little Stevie is was and will be. I spose I'm preaching to the choir so I let this slice do my talking. I dare anyone to listen to this on your headphones and not notice a little glide in yo...
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Estelle - Superstition (Stevie Wonder cover) If you thought the Brothers Jonas' little dip into Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" was semi-decent, you should probably check out Estelle's take on it. The British songbird covered "Superstition" for the Heroes compilation, which hits North America February 24th. The compilation includes covers by Duffy, Lily Allen, TV on the Radio, [...]
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 "Talking Book")
