Stevie Wonder’s fifteenth studio album, Talking Book, arrived in October 1972 as a definitive landmark in music history. This record serves as the official start of Wonder’s “classic period,” a time when he secured greater artistic freedom from Motown and head Berry Gordy. Moving away from his image as a youthful prodigy, Wonder embraced an experimental sound defined by funky synthesizers and the revolutionary Hohner Clavinet. The album achieved massive commercial and critical heights, peaking at number three on the Billboard Top LPs chart and earning Wonder his very first Grammy Awards.
The Accidental Title
The album name originated from a simple observation in the studio. Associate producer Malcolm Cecil noticed the difficulty Wonder had in selecting which songs to include from his massive collection of new material. Cecil joked that the project was becoming an album rather than a “talking book”. Wonder loved the suggestion and agreed to make Talking Book the official title.
A Secret Braille Message
The original packaging for the album featured Stevie Wonder’s name and the title embossed in braille. Hidden within the gatefold was a personal message that remained exclusive to braille readers until the album’s reissue in 2000. The text reads: “Here is my music. It is all I have to tell you how I feel. Know that your love keeps my love strong”.
The Deal with Jeff Beck
The creation of the hit Superstition involved a unique deal with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck. Beck agreed to play on the Talking Book sessions in exchange for Wonder writing him a song. During a session, Beck came up with a drum beat, and Wonder improvised the iconic Clavinet riff on the spot. While Beck was originally supposed to release his version first, Berry Gordy insisted Wonder release it as a single to ensure it became a massive hit.
The Famous Opening Vocals
Despite being a Stevie Wonder staple, the famous first two lines of You Are the Sunshine of My Life are not actually sung by Wonder. The opening honors go to Jim Gilstrap, followed by Lani Groves singing the next two lines. Wonder eventually enters the track after his guest vocalists set the stage for what became his first number-one hit on the Easy Listening chart.
A Presidential First
Talking Book holds a special place in American political history as a personal milestone for a future leader. Former US President Barack Obama has identified the record as the first album he ever purchased. This connection highlights the broad cultural impact of the album, which helped destroy the myth that R&B artists could not create music appreciated by wide rock audiences.