Stalking Cook

Overall Album Score: 9.5 out of 10

We're finally at Stevie Wonder's highly revered period of his discography, and ... gah! ... This album is almost too excellent for words!

First of all, this is the album with "Superstition" on it, which is probably my favorite "funk-pop" song ... I like it better than David Bowie's "Fame," which if you've ever been to my David Bowie page ... I admit that I like few things better than David Bowie songs... This is also the album with "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," which gained a lot of popular acclaim when it was released!

This album is said to be the first "crossover" album, being the first to convince rock fans to listen to R&B music. I wouldn't know that, of course, because I wasn't around in 1972 and don't know of this album's real influence on people. ... But I do say that this album does, indeed, do an effective job of at least melding R&B with 70s pop-rock. ... A very effective job!

There's very little not to like about Talking Book. The only way you're going to not like this is if you find 70s pop stupid, but ... I'd imagine that you're just not giving it a chance. This is an album that everyone should have.

Overall Album Score: 9.5 out of 10 (A great album ... Stevie Wonder's first great album! Woohoo!!)

Average Song Score: 9.4 (All songs on this album are great. Great, great, great, great, etc.)

Album Tilt: 9.5 (This is an ideal album when it comes right down to it. There's a lot of diversity on here ... songs being either groovy-weird, groovy-danceable, easy-listening, soul-pop, funk-pop, regular-pop, emotional ballads; not one song sounds alike. Yet, every song unmistakably has Stevie Wonder's sense of charm and optimism in them.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (He pulls off some things here that other artists only wish they could! Read the track reviews for more details!)

Track Reviews

You Are the Sunshine of My Life 9.5/10

Most simply put, this is a 70s pop song that has that whole feel-good feel that other artists like The Carpenters tried dearly to capitalize on! But too few of these artists actually did this with a melody that wasn't annoying or production that wasn't too cheesy. ... Stevie Wonder does song very well, indeed! The melody is catchy and the song does, actually, make you "feel good."

Maybe Your Baby 9/10

Sort of a disjointed and sloppy groove is the basis of this song ... I really don't know about this song! On one hand, it doesn't seem to want to end (until seven minutes has passed), but on the other hand, it doesn't get annoying at all. I'm just enjoying that groove and every time that "Maybe your baby done made some other plans" is repeated, it seems to get better, which doesn't happen to often with your ordinary pop star! I guess such is Stevie Wonder's magic!

You and I 10/10

Another love song ... this one is bleaker and more emotional than "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and it's better too, if you ask me! Hey! Anything like this that captures emotions so well, I'm going to like better than a song that's simply "feel good!" Besides, the melody is basically flawless, Stevie's piano playing is great, and those sweeping synthesizers in the background were the perfect touch. ... A great song.

Tuesday Heartbreak 10/10

Wow! Can 70s funk-pop really get any better than this? It's a very brief, upbeat song with a melody that can't be beat. And, of course Stevie's vocalizations are as enchanting as they've always are ... I can't help but totally fall in love with this.

You've Got it Bad Girl 8.5/10

Another happy smooth, soul-pop song! ... Very very happy! ... The melody is good, but it's not enough to warrant a 10. I'm still totally and unabashedly enjoying this song, though. ... 'Tis wonderful.

Superstition 10/10

VERY VERY NEARLY a 10plus. If I give it a few months, I might want to give this a 10plus, but ... I'm reluctant to do it at the moment just because this hasn't quite grown on me enough. ... But ... I have to be careful about how many 10pluses I award anyway. Well, the groove of this song is undoubtedly great. This is a very good song ... and it's every bit as danceable as the best songs from the disco era.

Big Brother 9.5/10

This song sort of has that 12-stringed guitar feel the Byrds had in the mid-60s. As you would probably expect, this is a rather tranquil song! The harmonica in the background gives the song the signature Stevie Wonder sound, though ... not to mention his singing! ... This is yet another really good song! ... They just keep coming!!!

Blame it on the Sun 9.5/10

Geez ... it's so difficult not to fall in love with these songs! ... It starts out quietly and slowly ... and then as if it were the greatest song on the planet, it picks up and takes you along with it! ... I'm not giving it a 10, though ... so it obviously isn't the greatest song on the planet (...I can't explain it ... it's just not ***great*** ... maybe it's the melody, which isn't the catchiest thing on the planet), but it is excellent, and Stevie Wonder is awesome!

Lookin' For Another Pure Love 8/10

The only song of the album that I can't totally become enthusiastic over, although it does have a lot of inertia! It has a rather simple idea and Wonder manages to carry it out throughout its four-minute running length. ... The melody isn't the greatest, and it does repeat a lot, but ... that's okay. It's still a fine song!

I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) 9.5/10

It's really hard for me to get into this song! But ... how many times do you suppose other classic rock people have tried to accomplish the same thing Stevie did here? He repeats the line "I believe when I fall in love it will be forever," each time a new sound in the song's groove grows louder or becomes evident ... Really, this is an interesting song if you pay attention to it!!

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