Wonder refused but offered to write another song for the phenomenal guitarist. Srvs live rendition of superstition appears on his greatest hits vol. It was a theme in mind stevie wonder wrote for his friend jeff beck, but berry gordy saw the grandeur of hit and ordered him to publish it in his album. Stevie wonders second album this year is in many ways a reprise with. The song was wonder s first numberone single since signed, sealed, delivered, im yours and topped the billboard hot 100 on january 27th, 1973 originally, superstition was written for jeff beck, as part of an agreement between the guitarist and stevie wonder. After releasing two head records during 197071, stevie wonder expanded his compositional palette with 1972s talking book to include societal ills as well as tender love songs, and so recorded the first smash album of his career.
This reissue is newly remastered from original analog. The keyboard clavinet used as almost percussive instrument with a breathtaking arrangements of wind, caught an unprecedented rate. Jeff recorded superstition in july, so i thought it would be out. Though at this point he was virtually playing all of the instruments on his songs by himself, wonder preferred to let other guitarists play on his records, and he liked the idea of a collaboration with beck. Arp synthesizer, audio production, composer, drums, harmonica, keyboards, main personnel, moog. As beck floats a solo at the twominute mark, listen out for the bandleaders encouragement. Beck was instead offered cause weve ended as lovers, which he recorded for 1975s blow by blow. When superstition was released, it was warmly welcomed on the same radio stations that played the stones, earning wonder many new fans. Stevie wonders superstition was supposed to be for jeff beck. His list of cameos is vast, and covers a multitude of decades, genres and artists. You put together another jeff beck group and, toward the end of that lineup, you got with stevie wonder and wrote some music with him and recorded a solo on what became talking book. Wrote superstition originally for friend jeff beck while completing his 1973 album talking book.
Jeff beck on lookin for another pure love for example. But stevie wonder got a little help from a new electronic device. B5, i believe when i fall in love it will be forever. Jeff recorded superstition in july, so i thought it. Oct 29, 2018 provided to youtube by universal music group lookin for another pure love stevie wonder talking book. The deal was for jeff beck to play on the recording sessions of his upcoming album talking book in return for wonder writing him a song. Though at this point he was virtually playing all of the instruments on his songs by himself, wonder still preferred to let other guitarists play on his records, and he liked the idea of a collaboration with beck, a starinthe. Talking book marked the arrival of artist as oneman band in popular music. Loris harvin, shirley brewerlead guitar buzzy feton, jeff beckwrittenby stevie wonder, syreeta wright. My favorite track is probably blame it on the sun, but the lp is full of easily recognized hit tunes brought to life with stevies electronic funk soul stylings writ large. Jeff beck was an admirer of wonder s music, and wonder was informed of this prior to the talking book album sessions. May 16, 2018 you put together another jeff beck group and, toward the end of that lineup, you got with stevie wonder and wrote some music with him and recorded a solo on what became talking book. Most noted for his work with electronic music synthesizer programming for stevie wonder beginning in the 1970s for awardwinning albums including music of my mind, talking book, innervisions, fulfillingness first finale and jungle fever, all projects which featured margouleff with collaborator malcolm cecil as associate producers, engineers and synthesizer programmers. Talking book is the fifteenth studio album by american singer, songwriter and musician stevie wonder, released on october 28, 1972, on the tamla label for motown records.
Innervisions, fulfillingness first finale, songs in the key of life and hotter than july. Stevie wonder talking book 1973, gatefold, vinyl discogs. But at the end of the day, jeff definitely appreciates wonder. Telling the story behind the music, beck s twin inspirations hot rodding and rocknroll are now bound together in the official signed limited edition book of his career. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, monarch pressing, braille. It is the soundtrack to the documentary the secret life of plants, directed by walon green, which was based on the book of the same name by peter tompkins and christopher bird. Like no other stevie wonder lp before it, talking book is all of a piece, the first unified statement of his career. So how did it end up on stevies record talking book rather than on beck, bogert and appice. As the second of five consecutive albums which made up stevie s classic period, talking book found wonder at the top of his game, combining tight song writing with warm electronic arrangements. Stevie wonders isolated vocals, horns, bass and drums. Big brother marks stevie s foray into political commentary.
Cover text in red compared to others with tan text. It was released on october 24, 1972, as the lead single from his fifteenth studio album, talking book 1972, by tamla. Stevie wonder, jeff beck, stevie ray vaughan each of them is a legendary rock musician, and each is rated one of the best in the world on his instrument. Funk soul stevie wonder talking book 1992, cd discogs. Backing vocals debra wilson, loris harvin, shirley brewerguitar lead buzzy feton, jeff beck. Making it all seem quite effortless, wonder has produced another of the very best albums this year.
The song began when jeff beck came into the studio to contribute guitar parts to the talking book sessions. Jeff beck has been one of the hottest musical tickets when it comes to guest spots and collaborations over the years. Wonders music had been undergoing a marked change from. Stevie wonders superstition lyrics meaning song meanings.
Which stevie wonder album did jeff beck play a session of guitar. Stevie wonder, still just 22 years of age, unveiled what many consider to be his. Over five decades, he has blazed a trail forging a unique style lauded by critics, fans and fellow guitar legends. Provided to youtube by universal music group lookin for another pure love stevie wonder talking book. Provided to youtube by universal music group you are the sunshine of my life stevie wonder talking book. It was also his second album to be released in 1972 as music. My favorite track is probably blame it on the sun, but the lp is full of easily recognized hit tunes brought to life with stevie s electronic funk soul stylings writ large. Beck heard maybe your baby and asked if he could cover it on his album. Find album credit information for talking book stevie wonder on allmusic.
Feb 01, 2016 we will start with the original version by stevie wonder, and then discuss covers of that song by beck, bogert and appice and stevie ray vaughan. Talking book simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Accounts vary slightly, but beck created the drum intro and wonder initially offered the. Talking book is the fifteenth studio album by american singer, songwriter and musician stevie. Oct 29, 2018 provided to youtube by universal music group you are the sunshine of my life stevie wonder talking book. Here, we present you 12 of the best stevie wonder talking book 1972. Stevie wonder s journey through the secret life of plants is an album by stevie wonder, originally released on the tamla motown label on october 30, 1979. Sandwiched between the release of music of my mind and innervisions, talking book saw wonder enjoying more artistic freedom from motown. Originally intended for jeff beck, stevie wonder s superstition topped the charts on jan. Jeff beck which stevie wonder album did jeff beck play a. Find album credit information for talking book stevie wonder on allmusic allmusic.
Dylan from burlington, vt thats interesting about the jeff beck thing. Jeff beck was an admirer of stevie wonder s music, and wonder was informed of this prior to the talking book album sessions. It contains a few courageous artistic moves stevie possibly wouldnt have taken later, including the 44 hillbilly blues feel of big brother, the psychedelic 60s influences and as a music historian could note later. Stevie wonder talking book 1972 on talking book wonder played most of the instruments himself, but delegated stunt guitar on lookin for another pure love. But at the end of the day, jeff definitely appreciates wonders rendition also. But they arent the only songs of note on the album. Wonder originally wrote the song as a thankyou gift for jeff playing guitar on talking book, the album that featured superstition as its first single. Talking book is the fifteenth album by stevie wonder. Superstition and you are the sunshine of my life are the big hits from talking book. Unbelievably he also plays the majority of instruments on the songs with some notable guests jeff beck on lookin for another pure love for example. Guest artist, guitar, guitar acoustic, main personnel. Talking book is the first of four monster hit albums for stevie wonder released in the 1972 to 1976 time period.
Dec 30, 2000 the story of stevie wonders talking book listen. Features song lyrics for stevie wonder s talking book album. Two more guitar heroes, jeff beck and buzzy feton, appeared on lookin for another pure love, beck s solo especially giving voice to the excruciating process of moving on from a broken relationship. As much as talking book is a careerdefining album, it still isnt as much trademark stevie wonder as the 19736 albums. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, gatefold, braille. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, hollywood press, gatefold. Guest musicians appearing include jeff beck, ray parker jr. Originally offered to jeff beck who had created the drum beat, wonder was persuaded by berry gordy to make it his own first. Before talking book was released, stevie went on tour with the rolling stones, which boosted his credibility in the world of rock. Talking book is the first in the series of truly great albums released by stevie wonder from the early seventies to the early eighties.
Superstition is a song by american singersongwriter stevie wonder. Jeff beck appears through the courtesy of equator security overseas ltd. Stevie wonder says talking book was a turning point, his first real growth as a boy becoming a man. Nov 06, 20 the song began when jeff beck came into the studio to contribute guitar parts to the talking book sessions. Talking book earned wonder his first grammy award, with you are the sunshine of my life winning best male pop vocal.
Stevie had been raising the bar of his artistic imagination for some time, when he unveiled what many consider to be. The lyrics describes popular superstitions and their negative effects. Guest appearances include jeff beck, ray parker, jr. And making all of the artistic decisions himself and relying less on motown head berry gordy. Though at this point he was virtually playing all of the instruments on his songs by himself, wonder still preferred to let other guitarists play on his records, and thus he liked the idea of a collaboration with beck, a star guitarist.
Accounts vary slightly, but beck created the drum intro and wonder. Talking book established stevie wonder s albums during this period not as mere vehicles for new hit songs but as whole works of art that required the music loving public to pay attention. Joshua from twin cities, mn this song has also been covered by another stevie, namely the late, great stevie ray vaughan. Wonder had actually written this song for jeff beck, but at the insistence of his own manager, wonder himself recorded it first. The album is widely noted for being the signal recording of wonder s classic period. This release without braille on cover, similiar label with braille here stevie wonder talking book. Stevie wonder lookin for another pure love youtube. Stevie wonder talking book 1972, gatefold, braille, vinyl. Web stevie wonder hispana, talking book stevie wonder. While working on wonder s next album, talking book, at new york recording studio electric lady, cecil and margouleff were producing a lp for guitarist jeff beck. In beck01 jeff beck takes us on the journey of a lifetime.
Though beck had actually recorded the number in 1972, motown rushreleased wonder s cut ahead of the album, and superstition became his second number one hit in january 1973. Wonder wrote it for his friend guitarist jeff beck in the early 1970s. The man may have got it wrong a few times, but there is no. Talking book is the fifteenth album by stevie wonder, originally released in 1972. Talking book, then, is an extension and refinement of the work begun in music of my mind itself a vast refinement of the uneven efforts in where im coming from, confirming the achievement and getting more comfortable with it. For more than a decade stevie wonder was the most consistent artist in all of music.
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