Arc of a Diver

Steve Winwood | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B000001FSY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,366 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #49 in Music > R&B > Soul > Blue-Eyed Soul

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

He wasn't Little Stevie, the 16-year-old phenom who set mid- '60s London blazing with his Ray Charles-like vocals, anymore. He was a half-forgotten ex-member of some of rock's most progressive (Traffic) and vilified (Blind Faith) bands, and he was considering leaving show business while recording this--his second album--alone and without a backup band. Arc of a Diver reflects a resigned-to-fate mood. It boasts a synth-heavy, dub-like ambience, with dirge-y tracks like "Spanish Dancer" and the wistful single "While You See a Chance" all but zoning out of your speakers. The fates were kind, though. Recording the single, Winwood inadvertently erased the drum intro. This spacey alteration, together with his catchiest tune since "Paper Sun," catapulted the song onto the charts. In a few years he would be among the top-selling vocalists in the world. His mood was lighter. He could afford to hire engineers that didn't make mistakes. --Don Harrison

Product Description

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this 1981 album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Winwood's best solo album, September 5, 2000

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arc of a Diver (Audio CD)

The 1986 album "Back in the High Life" may have sold more copies, but "Arc of a Diver" is Steve Winwood's best solo album. It contains the smash hit "While You See a Chance," and plenty of other smooth jazzy pop songs in the same mode. There is not a bad song in the mix, though the standouts are "Slowdown Sundown," "Spanish Dancer," and "Dust." Though fans of Winwood's days with Traffic may lament the lack of adventurism on this album, those who love great songcraft will feel right at home.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great sophomore effort for Winwood, May 9, 2005

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arc of a Diver (Audio CD)

During my MTV days, Steve Winwood's big 80's splash with songs from Back In The High Life didn't go unnoticed by me. After discovering that album and Chronicles, I had the good fortune of someone loaning me her tape of Arc Of A Diver, which I copied. My interest in his second solo album was due to the upbeat "While You See A Chance." Winwood's sweeping organ-like synths open his first Top Ten solo hit-it reached #7 in 1981-along with the accompanying lively piano that gives it a radio-friendly beat, with some downright introspective lyrics on if one is truly free from the past and ready to take another road one blue morning with a gray wind blowing. I find myself enjoying this song more than "Higher Love."

The title track reached #48 on the singles chart, a slower midpaced affair. "Spanish Dancer" along the same languid lines, may be an example of what many called "lazy music" to describe Winwood's early solo stuff. This song was included on the Chronicles compilation made to cash in on the success of Back in The High Life.

I wonder why "Second-Hand Woman" wasn't a chart-topper, as it's a more lively affair with Winwood's trademark keyboards set to a disco beat. Some racy imagery is present with the title woman being "a slot machine to take my dime" but it is quite the danceable track. The same holds true for the near eight minute on-the-run opus "Night Train" with its funky beats mixed with guitars, particularly a solo around the six minute mark, and the usual keyboards. A single mix of this could've done well, but alas.

Two non-singles in particular strike me and both are slow songs. They are "Slowdown Sundown." A wistful ballad, calling wine that "glassful of memories" and something to soothe the balm of yesterday's pain. The tempo goes up during the bridge, which is a toast to whoever can understand this madness of life. The closing track "Dust" is the other song which also deals with memories one wants so bad to go away, in this case meaning time with a woman, yet how to deal with a love that's gone, but a friendship that still remains? Indeed, "a feather duster is no substitute for the real thing," meaning time, "the universal healer." That brings to mind the Dr. Who quote "the sands of time wash us all clean."

Mellow, but not "lazy music" as was described by some, Arc Of A Diver shows that Winwood still had some life in him following Traffic. Considering the turn-of-the-decade changes going on in the music scene, i.e. punk and new wave, it's fortunate that Arc found an audience. And Winwood played all the instruments on the album, much like Prince had done his own debut For You. Despite having only seven songs, Arc benefits from a consistent synth-keyboard style, upbeat dance tunes to reflective ballads.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars was and is still a pretty decent album., April 18, 2004

By 

David G. Wood (kelowna, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Arc of a Diver (Audio CD)

i listened to this album over and over again when i first bought it around 1980. i am a huge fan of traffic and basically anything to do with steve winwood. i hadn't heard it in years and just recently picked it up again . it may not be steves finest moment but it's still a good album. it does sound abit 80ish but that's not really a bad thing considering whats out there thats new...i'd never pay full price for it but given the chance to pick it up for 12bucks like i did well it's a worth while buy.