This is a 1973 “twofer” (that’s two for the price of one for the uninitiated) from the Netherlands collecting together Mr. Stevland Hardaway Judkins (his name at birth, you didn’t actually think his name was Wonder did you ? Although checking the names of some current sportsmen in the US it wouldn’t be a surprise, my current favourite is Koolaid McKinstry…yes really!) 2 albums originally released in 1972. For some reason on this release they are presented in reverse order as “Talking Book” was released after “Music Of My Mind”, trust the Dutch to be contrary.

Little Stevie Wonder, as he was known back in the 60’s, released his first single for Motown, “I Call It Pretty Music, But The Old People Call It The Blues”, in May 1962. 10 years on and Stevie had his head turned by synthesisers after hearing Tonto’s Expanding Head Band and had a hankering to write more socially relevant lyrics in the vein of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. He began working with Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff of Tonto’s Expanding Head Band and their first project together was 1972’s “Music Of My Mind”.

“Music Of My Mind” was Stevie’s first album under a new contract with Motown (although in the US it was released on the Tamla label. Confused ? Well in the US Motown and Tamla are separate imprints of the Motown company, as were Gordy, Soul, VIP, Rare Earth, Mo-West and a host of others. What we know as the “Tamla Motown” label only exists outside the US…clear ?). This new contract allowed him full artistic control over the music he recorded and released. Wonder produced the album and played all the instruments, except trombone on opening tune “Love Having You Around” and guitar on one song, himself. One thing that jumped out at at me is that almost every song on this album outstays it’s welcome, they are too long, just for the sake of being too long and not because the songs warrant it. A prime example is “Keep On Running”, it’s almost 7 minutes long and if it were only 3 you wouldn’t be missing out on anything.

My folks had a copy of “Talking Book” so I knew it from a fairly young age.  I therefore find it strange that the two songs I most associate with it are the somewhat schmaltzy “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” (we really should have seen “I Just Called To Say I Love You” coming shouldn’t we ?) and the beautiful closing “I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)” and not the synthesised mountain-o-funk known the world over as “Superstition”. The primary reason I grabbed this twofer was it had “Superstition” on it and every DJ at some point needs a guaranteed floor-filler, which “Superstition” most certainly is, but it was so nice to be reminded of ”I Believe…” when I played it in full.

These two albums were released only 5 months apart in May and October 1972. Stevie Wonder, who must have been on a creative speed trip, turned 22 that year and, unbelievably, these two were his 14th and 15th studio albums in just 10 years. His next two, “Innervisions” and “Fulfillingness First Finale”, were also recorded with assistance from Margouleff and Cecil and together with Stevie’s 18th studio album, “Songs In The Key Of Life”, form what’s known as his classic period. We all love a bit o’ Stevie…right ?

I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever) - https://youtu.be/VfDZNwJ3jVU?si=crOYrlqlaOOlwPNh

Yet another album that I own purely for just one track, the Northern Soul classic and title track. A 7” of “Home Is Where The Heart Is” will cost you anything starting from £50 and upward these days, this album is a much more manageable option. The song itself is a tuff bit of 70’s Southern soul, aimed at the dancefloor and with Bobby growling “You can take the boy out of the country, But you can’t take the country out of the boy” in the intro. It was played as a new release on the Northern Soul scene back in 1976 and is still a regular spin at “oldies” nights today (Oldies on the Northern Soul scene meaning records that were played back in the 70’s, cos they’re all old ! At Newies nights they play newly discovered, but still old records, confused ?).

In all honesty I’ve no reason to listen to the rest of it ever again. Bobby is a legend in Soul music and I do like some of his 60’s output, particularly 1966 single “What Is This ?” and of course the quite wonderful “Across 110th Street” from 1972 movie of the same name (some of you may know it as it was also used in Quentin Tarantino’s “Jackie Brown”), but there is nothing else on this 1976 album to touch the title song, in fact it’s all a bit “Chocolate Salty Balls” if you get the reference.

Home Is Where The Heart Is - https://youtu.be/FlPr_0NQirs?si=zOA_u5bZwzHGQlIt

On the 5th August 1972 The London Rock and Roll Show happened at Wembley Stadium. The concert featured appearances by genuine US rock ’n’ roll stars Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Bill Haley & His Comets alongside British acts like The Houseshakers, Joe Brown, Emile Ford & the Checkmates, Screaming Lord Sutch, Heinz and Billy Fury. The gig has been credited with kicking off something of a rock ’n’ roll revival in the UK music industry and by 1974 bands like Mud, Showaddywaddy and The Rubettes were riding high in the charts with a kind of Glam/Rock ’n’ Roll hybrid.

Also in 1972 Roy Wood had left the Electric Light Orchestra taking keyboard and French Horn player (Uncle) Bill Hunt and cellist Hugh McDowell with him to form Wizzard. Wizzard made their live debut at the London Rock and Roll Show. It obviously had an influence on Roy Wood as here we are 2 years later and Wizzard’s 2nd album “…Introducing Eddie & The Falcons” is a rock ’n’ roll revival album based on the story of the imaginary titular band, Eddie & The Falcons. A number of the tracks are musical pastiches or tributes to old rockers, "Eddy’s Rock”, an instrumental on guitar/saxophone is styled after Duane Eddy, "Everyday I Wonder" bears more than a passing resemblance to Del Shannon's "Runaway", "Come Back Karen" does the same for Neil Sedaka's "Oh! Carol" and "I Dun Lotsa Cryin' Over You" is a thinly disguised nod to Elvis Presley.

The lone single released from the album, "This Is the Story of My Love (Baby)”, only reached a disappointing #34 in the charts (their lowest previous chart placing for a single was #6). Uncle Bill left the band before recording was finished and the pianist on final track, "We're Gonna Rock 'n' Roll Tonight”, is Bob Brady and not Bill.

A year later Wizzard had split up. They left behind a string of classic singles including Xmas perennial “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” which I’m sure Roy Wood regards as lovingly as Noddy Holder and Jim Lea do “Merry Xmas Everybody”…Kerrrching! indeed…

This Is The Story of My Love (Baby) - https://youtu.be/WY5UDZkkCBM?si=0trQQUeRbAPdomaW