Stevie Wonder – Talking Book

Of all the albums considered to be part of Wonder’s “classic period” (which I think you can safely define as post-Motown, pre-80s), this one is probably my favorite.

Obviously Superstition is one of the baddest tunes ever, and You Are The Sunshine Of My Love is one of the sweetest, and the whole collection is just rich, and soulful, and funky, and bluesy, and organic, and ambitious, and legendary for all the right reasons.

There are just SO many great moments on here. The opening of Maybe Your Baby. The vocals sweeps in the back half of You and I atop that gospel piano. Those horns on Tuesday heartbreak. The folksong simplicity of the final track.

Here’s a great little factoid about this album worth knowin’ if you don’t know it:

The  original pressings had Braille lettering on it, spelling Stevie Wonder’s name, and the album title. It also had a short message:

“Here is my music. It is all I have to tell you how I feel. Know that your love keeps my love strong.”