Talking Book
Encyclopedia
Talking Book is the fifteenth album by Stevie Wonder
, released on October 28, 1972. A signal recording of his "classic period", in this one he "hit his stride". The album's first track, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life
", earned Wonder his first Grammy Award
, for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
.
and Innervisions
, Talking Book saw Wonder enjoying more artistic freedom from Motown. Guest appearances include Jeff Beck
, Ray Parker, Jr.
, David Sanborn
, and Buzzy Feton (Howard "Buzz" Feiten). The sound of the album is sharply defined by Wonder's keyboard
work, especially with the synthesizer
s he incorporated, giving a funk
y edge to tracks like "Maybe Your Baby". His use of the Hohner
clavinet
model C on "Superstition" is widely regarded as one of the definitive tracks featuring the instrument. His swinging clavinet and harmonica
embellishments on "Big Brother", though, defy categorization.
Cecil and Margouleff produced four of Wonder's "classic" albums in all: Music of My Mind
, Talking Book, Innervisions
and Fulfillingness' First Finale
, as well as several albums by the Isley Brothers and others. They employed an unusual production
technique using multiple layers of instruments such as the clavinet, Fender Rhodes
electric pianos, and Arp
& Moog synthesizer
s in place of the string orchestra
s used in convention
al production techniques. This combination is what gives Talking Book and these other three albums their distinctive sound.
The cover depicts Wonder with cornrows, Indian jewelry and a velvet afghan
.
artists were incapable of creating music that could be appreciated by rock audiences, and marked a unique period for R&B artists (especially Motown artists).
Talking Book peaked at #3 on the Pop Albums
chart, and became the first album for Wonder to top the Top R&B Albums chart where it remained for three weeks.
Wonder won three awards for Talking Book at the 1974 Grammys
: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
for "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", and both Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
and Best R&B Song
for "Superstition". Incidentally, at the same ceremony, Wonder's next album, Innervisions
, won Album of the Year
and Talking Books producers Malcolm Cecil
and Robert Margouleff
won the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
award for their work on that album.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 90 on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
.
except where noted.
Produced by Stevie Wonder.
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, released on October 28, 1972. A signal recording of his "classic period", in this one he "hit his stride". The album's first track, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
", earned Wonder his first Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
.
Background
Sandwiched between the release of Music of My MindMusic of My Mind
- Side One :# "Love Having You Around" – 7:21#* Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, talk box, drums, Moog bass#* Art Baron – trombone#* Background Singers – uncredited...
and Innervisions
Innervisions
Innervisions is the sixteenth album by American musician Stevie Wonder, released August 3, 1973 on Motown Records; a landmark recording of his "classic period"...
, Talking Book saw Wonder enjoying more artistic freedom from Motown. Guest appearances include Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, Ray Parker, Jr.
Ray Parker Jr.
Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
, David Sanborn
David Sanborn
David Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
, and Buzzy Feton (Howard "Buzz" Feiten). The sound of the album is sharply defined by Wonder's keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
work, especially with the synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s he incorporated, giving a funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
y edge to tracks like "Maybe Your Baby". His use of the Hohner
Hohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
model C on "Superstition" is widely regarded as one of the definitive tracks featuring the instrument. His swinging clavinet and harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
embellishments on "Big Brother", though, defy categorization.
Cecil and Margouleff produced four of Wonder's "classic" albums in all: Music of My Mind
Music of My Mind
- Side One :# "Love Having You Around" – 7:21#* Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, talk box, drums, Moog bass#* Art Baron – trombone#* Background Singers – uncredited...
, Talking Book, Innervisions
Innervisions
Innervisions is the sixteenth album by American musician Stevie Wonder, released August 3, 1973 on Motown Records; a landmark recording of his "classic period"...
and Fulfillingness' First Finale
Fulfillingness' First Finale
-Side One:#"Smile Please" – 3:28#*Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums#*Michael Sembello – electric guitar#*Reggie McBride – electric bass#*Bobbye Hall – congas, bongos#*Jim Gilstrap – background vocals...
, as well as several albums by the Isley Brothers and others. They employed an unusual production
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
technique using multiple layers of instruments such as the clavinet, Fender Rhodes
Rhodes piano
The Rhodes piano is an electro-mechanical piano, invented by Harold Rhodes during the fifties and later manufactured in a number of models, first in collaboration with Fender and after 1965 by CBS....
electric pianos, and Arp
ARP Instruments, Inc.
ARP Instruments, Inc. was an American manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, founded by Alan Robert Pearlman in 1969. Best known for its line of synthesizers that emerged in the early 1970s, ARP closed its doors in 1981 due to financial difficulties...
& Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer
Moog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
s in place of the string orchestra
String orchestra
A string orchestra is an orchestra composed solely or primarily of instruments from the string family. These instruments are the violin, the viola, the cello, the double bass , the piano, the harp, and sometimes percussion...
s used in convention
Convention (norm)
A convention is a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted standards, norms, social norms or criteria, often taking the form of a custom....
al production techniques. This combination is what gives Talking Book and these other three albums their distinctive sound.
The cover depicts Wonder with cornrows, Indian jewelry and a velvet afghan
Afghan blanket
An afghan is a blanket, wrap, or shawl of colored yarn. It is knitted or crocheted, often in geometric shapes. It can also be referred to as a "throw". Afghans were first made in Afghanistan and commonly featured geometric designs with many holes in the pattern. They are hand-stitched or knitted...
.
Reception
Released after Wonder toured with the Rolling Stones in 1972, Talking Book became an immediate hit. The popular appeal of the recording helped destroy the myth that R&BRhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
artists were incapable of creating music that could be appreciated by rock audiences, and marked a unique period for R&B artists (especially Motown artists).
Talking Book peaked at #3 on the Pop Albums
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, and became the first album for Wonder to top the Top R&B Albums chart where it remained for three weeks.
Wonder won three awards for Talking Book at the 1974 Grammys
Grammy Awards of 1974
The 16th Grammy Awards were held March 2, 1974, and were broadcast live on American television. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1973.- Award winners :* Record of the Year...
: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance was awarded between 1966 and 2011...
for "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", and both Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance was awarded between 1968 and 2011. The award has had several minor name changes:*In 1968 it was awarded as Best R&B Solo Vocal Performance, Male...
and Best R&B Song
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song has been awarded since 1959. From 1969 to 2000 it was known as the Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Song, from 1962 to 1968 it was known as Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and from 1959-1961 as Best Rhythm & Blues Performance...
for "Superstition". Incidentally, at the same ceremony, Wonder's next album, Innervisions
Innervisions
Innervisions is the sixteenth album by American musician Stevie Wonder, released August 3, 1973 on Motown Records; a landmark recording of his "classic period"...
, won Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
and Talking Books producers Malcolm Cecil
Malcolm Cecil
Malcolm Cecil is a British jazz bassist and Grammy Award-winning record producer.A founding member of the UK's leading jazz quintet of the late 1950s, The Jazz Couriers, he went on to join a number of British jazz combos led by Dick Morrissey, Tony Crombie and Ronnie Scott in the late 50s and...
and Robert Margouleff
Robert Margouleff
Robert Margouleff is a Grammy Award winning American record producer, recording engineer, electronic music pioneer, audio expert, and film producer....
won the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
The Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical has been awarded since 1959. The award had several minor name changes:*In 1959 the award was known as Best Engineered Record - Non-Classical...
award for their work on that album.
In 2003, the album was ranked number 90 on Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is the title of a 2003 special issue of American magazine Rolling Stone, and a related book published in 2005.Related news articles:...
.
Track listing
All songs produced, arranged and written by Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
except where noted.
Side one
- "You Are the Sunshine of My LifeYou Are the Sunshine of My Life"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" is a 1973 pop single released by Stevie Wonder. The song became Wonder's third number-one pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number one on the easy listening chart. It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. This song was...
" (Wonder) – 2:58- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums
- Jim GilstrapJim GilstrapJim Gilstrap is an American singer best known for his work as a session musician and his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times.-Career:...
– first lead vocal, background vocal - Lani Groves – second lead vocal, background vocal
- Gloria Barley – background vocal
- Scott EdwardsScott EdwardsScott Edwards is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle Dockers between 1995 and 1996. He was drafted from Claremont in the WAFL as a foundation selection in the 1994 AFL draft and played mainly as a wingman....
– electric bass - Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas
- "Maybe Your Baby" (Wonder) – 6:51
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
- Ray Parker Jr.Ray Parker Jr.Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. , is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.-Early life and...
– electric guitar
- "You and I (We Can Conquer the World)You and I (We Can Conquer the World)"You and I " is a song written and sung by Stevie Wonder. The track is found on his 1972 album Talking Book. Wonder is also credited for playing piano, T.O.N.T.O...
" (Wonder) – 4:39- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, piano, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
- "Tuesday Heartbreak" (Wonder) – 3:02
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender rhodes, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
- David SanbornDavid SanbornDavid Sanborn is an American alto saxophonist. Though Sanborn has worked in many genres, his solo recordings typically blend jazz with instrumental pop and R&B. He released his first solo album Taking Off in 1975, but has been playing the saxophone since before he was in high school...
– alto saxophone - Deniece WilliamsDeniece WilliamsJune Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
– background vocal - Shirley Brewer – background vocal
- "You've Got It Bad Girl" (Wonder, Yvonne Wright) – 4:56
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
- Jim Gilstrap – background vocal
- Lani Groves – background vocal
- Daniel Ben Zebulon – congas
Side two
- "SuperstitionSuperstition (song)"Superstition" is a popular song written, produced, arranged, and performed by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was 22 years old. It was the lead single for Wonder's Talking Book album, and released in many countries. It reached number one in the USA, and number one on the soul...
" (Wonder) – 4:26- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
- Trevor LaurenceTrevor LaurenceTrevor James Laurence is a former field hockey player from New Zealand. He competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California with the national team, which finished seventh.-References:*...
– tenor saxophone - Steve Madaio – trumpet
- "Big Brother" (Wonder) – 3:34
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocals, Hohner clavinet, drums, harmonica, Moog bass
- "Blame It On the Sun" (Wonder, Syreeta WrightSyreeta WrightSyreeta Wright , who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was a Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter most notably known for her work with Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston.-Early life and career:...
) – 3:26- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, drums, Moog bass, T.O.N.T.O. synthesizer
- Jim Gilstrap – background vocal
- Lani Groves – background vocal
- Uncredited – guitar
- "Lookin' for Another Pure Love" (Wonder, S. Wright) – 4:44
- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums, Moog bass
- Debra Wilson – background vocal
- Shirley Brewer – background vocal
- Loris Harvin (Delores Harvin) – background vocal
- Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
– electric guitar - Buzzy Feton (Howard "Buzz" Feiten) – electric guitar
- "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)"I Believe " is a soul song written by Stevie Wonder and Yvonne Wright, for Wonder's 1972 album, Talking Book....
" (Wonder, Y. Wright) – 4:51- Stevie Wonder – lead vocal, background vocal, piano, Hohner clavinet, drums, Moog bass
Personnel
- Malcolm CecilMalcolm CecilMalcolm Cecil is a British jazz bassist and Grammy Award-winning record producer.A founding member of the UK's leading jazz quintet of the late 1950s, The Jazz Couriers, he went on to join a number of British jazz combos led by Dick Morrissey, Tony Crombie and Ronnie Scott in the late 50s and...
- Programming, Engineer, Associate Producer - Robert MargouleffRobert MargouleffRobert Margouleff is a Grammy Award winning American record producer, recording engineer, electronic music pioneer, audio expert, and film producer....
- Engineer, Associate Producer, Photography - Austin Godsey - Engineer, Recording
- Joan Decola - Recording
- George Marino - Mastering
Produced by Stevie Wonder.
External links
- Talking Book at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...