The second release from the 1972 - 1976 five album 'classic period,' Talking Book gives us a zesty mish mash of wah wah keyboards (that's the Hohner clavinet model C you're hearing), synthesizers, Jeff Beck guitar licks, and very little to complain about. I want refrain from gushing about any album I review, so I promise to say something constructive about this album along the way. In the meantime...
Classic era Stevie Wonder has its perks. You don't really have to be a fan of the artist to appreciate a majority of the output from this era, and Talking Book is no exception. This album, much like Music of My Mind, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and the sprawling Songs in the Key of Life features a number of songs you've probably heard, or might at least sound familiar. In fact, thanks to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Jonas Brothers, and American Idol, you've more than likely encountered 'Superstition' or 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life.' There is no denying it, Stevie has definitely woven a portion of his art into the tapestry of our culture.
To get more to the point, Talking Book is cohesive and definitive. All of these songs sound like they belong together, especially the signature wicky-ta-wicky-ta-wicky-ta shuffle that propels a majority of the album. There is not much in the way of lyrical substance or depth here, but these songs still manage to kick out the fun. Plus, Jeff Beck (finger pickin' extraordinaire) and Ray Parker, Jr. (ghostbustin' extraordinaire) make guest appearances as Stevie's backing guitarists. I do want to point out, however, that Talking Book is not an album of filler propped up by one stellar single...even if 'Superstition' is a song that simply must be heard before you die. Each of the ten songs offered hear could be singles in their own right (two of them were, three of them were B-sides). And on a personal note, 'I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)' is on my list of favorite all-time love songs.
On a constructive note, eight of the ten songs here deal with the theme of love. That's not necessarily the worst thing, but that's also Celine Dion stuff. Granted, the album is called Talking Book, Stevie Wonder is blind, so his preferred books would have to 'talk' in some way, and I'm guessing his heart is an open 'book,' so the love-heavy theme may be the point. Even so, everything has its saturation point, and listeners may be better off avoiding thinking too hard about the subject(s) of Stevie's songs, and keeping their focus to how these songs feel...which is pretty damn funky.
The above being said, I kept my promise and managed to avoid a gush fest. However, even with its most sentimental moments, Talking Book manages to exist in a stratosphere well above most other albums of its kind, from its decade, or from any other decade or artist. Stevie Wonder may not wind up being your most favorite artist, but do yourself a favor -- check this album out, if only once.
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