The Start of Stevie's Creative High!
Frederick Baptist | Singapore | 02/19/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Talking Book" is the start of a string of Wonder albums (pun intended) from Stevie which continues with "Innervisions", "Fulfillingness ..." and my favourite "Songs In the Key of Life" which represents a more socially conscious musician who was clearly inspired by Marvin Gaye's classic "What's Going On" and also represents his best ever work. Ironically Motown was deadset against Wonder's change in songwriting and musical direction fearing a sales backlash and yet these 4 albums represent Stevie's best selling albums as well.
Although not as strong overall as compared with "Songs ..." and "Innervisions", "Talking Book" is still a very good cohesive album which offer the hits "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "Superstition". I still can't shake off the feeling though that the former is sung almost sarcastically as the energy in the vocal delivery is so lacklustre as compared to Stevie's usual powerful self or maybe he was just tired. The other great track is "You and I" which I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was an original Wonder track as I'd first heard it on a Michael Buble album although I like Stevie's version better anyway. "You've Got It Bad Girl" is hypnotic and it sticks in my head a long time after; thankfully I'm not sick of it yet. No fillers on this album as all the songs are excellent and my favourite guitarist's (Jeff Beck) role as sideman on "Superstition" and "Looking For Another Pure Love" also enhances the overall enjoyment of this album for me. This album with it's theme of love and love lost and hope of finding true love is to Stevie what "Blood On the Tracks" is to Bob Dylan in some ways.
This mini-lp replica sleeve (mlps) album isn't the best designed that I've seen being made from very thin cardboard that isn't sturdy and looks as if it will come apart soon when the glue inevitably gets old although a 16-page booklet with all the lyrics in both English and Japanese is included. The sound quality is good but not great and is certainly not the best sounding remastered cd that I've ever heard although it's good enough.
You will need to ask yourself if the very high price on this baby justifies average/good sound quality and average mlps design although the song content is certainly first class and above reproach."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1