Stevie Wonder – Talking Book (1972)
I hadn’t paid much attention to Stevie Wonder in the Sixties; he was just another incredible Motown hit Artist. I knew he was blind and sung great songs, but I was much too into what was happening in Britain than America at that time. What I failed to realise was that Stevie was a musical genius, writing many of his own hits and playing several instruments. It was only in 1972 with the release of this album that he really moved from ‘pop’ stardom to being considered a serious musician and one of the most influential artists of the time. This was also his 15th album, many of which had not been released or available in the UK until later. But what an album; firstly the cover photo of a now grown up and no longer ‘little’ man seeming to reclaim his African heritage in clothes and hairstyle; but then the music. From the first chords of ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’ you knew this was something special. The use of early synthesisers and the Hohner Clavinet were a revelations, such a distinctive and different yet incredibly funky sound. This album marked Wonder’s move into Classic Artist status and he has enjoyed a long and successful career ever since. Best on this are ‘Maybe Your Baby’, ‘I Believe When I Fall In Love’ and best of all, one of my all-time favourite tracks ‘Superstition’
