Standing on His Own

In 1972, “Superstition” was released. The song hit number one on the charts with its electronic boogie beat and rough-sounding vocals. Stevie was on the radio all over the United States. He still did not have a white following, though. His music was considered purely an African American sound. Stevie wanted to change this image.

In the meantime, Stevie's marriage to Syreeta broke up. After a year and a half, the couple decided it was best to be friends. Stevie told people little about their split. He was always one to put things in the best light: “I just wasn't ready to get married. You know, it depends on whether the minds are in unison. You have to communicate. And I wasn't really communicating.” Stevie was always working at the studios. He rarely slept more than four hours each night. Often he would work for two days straight. These habits surely helped to split the two apart. Nevertheless, Stevie produced Syreeta's next two albums. They remained close friends.

Steve's next album Talking Book, which included “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” came out in 1972. Stevie agreed to promote the album by opening for the Rolling Stones on their tour that same year. Stevie loved playing in huge stadiums. The fans, mostly white, middle-class kids, accepted his music. The tour was a success and quickly tripled Stevie's fan base.