Customer Reviews

Chronicles

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Will Steve Winwood be best remembered for his solo output? Steve has been involved in several of my favourite albums of the past thirty-odd years. His keyboards contributed to John Martyn's classic 'One World' and Talk Talk's transitory 'Colour of Spring', to name but two. He even played organ on the epic 'Voodoo Chile' on Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland'. One of his most wonderful collaborations was with Stomu Yamashta, Mike Shrieve and Al DiMeola on the still-unreleased space-synth odyssey, 'Go'. His versatility constantly shines through on Traffic's 'On the Road'.

This Island compilation was released before Winwood escaped to Virgin and recorded the 'Roll With It' and 'Refugees of the Heart' CDs. But for me, it has most, if not all, of Winwood's catchiest pop songs: 'While You See a Chance', 'Valerie' and 'Vacant Chair' in particular. 'Wake Me Up on Judgement Day' is also a classic track. As another reviewer notes, there's perhaps too much of the 80s-genre crashing drum sound which fell from grace in the 90s. But despite that, there are some superb songs here.

When "Chronicles," was released in 1987, Steve Winwood was enjoying crossover success much like Carlos Santana enjoys today: Grammys, #1 hits, sexy videos, commercial endorsements, public and critical acclaim. After 20 years' hard work, Britain's most soulful voice and bluesiest organist was finally back in the high life.

"Chronicles" explains and justifies that success, but leaves clues to its eventual, inevitable end. The music is delightful and immaculately crafted, melodically twisting and turning where least expected (most notably "Higher Love," "Arc of A Diver," "Valerie," slightly remixed here). Production was state-of-the-art and featured tasteful, fitting roles by stellar guests (James Taylor, James Ingram, Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan). Winwood ruled a new strain of AC rock that included many of his contemporaries (Clapton, Stewart, American Billy Joel, etc.).

But Winwood's sound (jazzy synth lines, big drums) fell from favor as aggressive, guitar oriented rock shouted British R&B rockers (Winwood, Joe Cocker, the younger Paul Young) off the charts). Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton sustained with "Unplugged" sets; Winwood's studio craftsmanship made that impractical. Thus, Steve Winwood has not charted a hit single in 10 years.

Here's hoping a new generation of musicians appreciates Winwood's influence enough to join him in creating a megahit album like Santana's "Supernatural." That, and an update of this set, would successfully update Steve Winwood's legendary, if dormant, rock career. Nonetheless, a recommended set.

This compilation from Steve Winwood's first four solo albums on Island Records was issued in 1987 to capitalise on his success the previous year with 'Back in the high life'. It includes the memorable 'Vacant chair', from his first solo album (in 1977) and three tracks from each of the subsequent albums before he changed record labels after hitting the big time with 'High life'. Winwood's urgent, soulful vocals are instantly recognisable, and the songs chosen here are all excellent examples of his style. His distinctive organ and synthesizer soloing is also well in evidence. Interestingly, the three selections from the 'Talking back to the night' album have been specially remixed by Tom Lord-Alge, who mixed the immensely successful 'High life' album, and as a result they have a more powerful, commercial sound than the original versions.

The album runs to 55 minutes and only 10 (albeit long) tracks, and it's a pity that more songs were not included. It can't be described as a 'Greatest hits' because there are only really three hit singles on it ('While you see a chance', 'Higher love' and 'Valerie') so this would have been an ideal opportunity to include perhaps an extra track from each of the four albums. However, it gives a good overview of the first 10 years of solo recording by one of Britain's most respected R&B vocalists.

This is a wonderfully diverse sample of Winwoods 20 years of music making (at the time of this release) and all of the tracks are great. "Higher Love" was a well-deserved hit and "My Loves Leavin" is pure ecstacy. Yet there are far more lesser known songs on here that are also enjoyable like "Vacant Chair" and "Wake Me Up ON Judgement Day". The tracks from his 1982 "Talking Back" album are redone with a 1987 production and are great but I would've liked to hear them in their original versions. oVERALL this is a very good CD but there are a lot more great songs that are completely overlooked on this collection. It is however a great purchase to start off with or to introduce a newcomer to Steve's music!

This release only covers Winwood's work on Island. It is missing most of the key tracks from his solo career. An all encompassing retrospective is needed. In fact, I've saved Steve the time and picked the songs

Talking Back to the Night
While You See a Chance
Don't You Know What the Night can do
Valerie
Finer Things
Freedom Overspill
Roll With it
Why Don't we Live Together
Higher Love
Back in the High Life
One and Only Man
Lord of the Streets
Holding On
Vacant Chair

You can see by the songs listed here and missing from Chronicles, that this cd is merely a sampler and not a true "Chroncile" If you are looking for a "greatest hits" you could probably buy Roll With It, Back in the Highlife, and Arc of a Diver.

This cd is ok, but nowhere near what it needs to be.

I'd heard "Higher Love" on the radio before, and the remix of "Valerie" that was a hit a few years back, but what made me get this album was hearing "While You See Chance". I thought it was Peter Gabriel singing, (since it has a similar sort of vibe as the Genesis song "It"). Haha!

Though it doesn't seem to be a definitive best of, according to some of the reviews here, there are still some top tracks on here that I really enjoy. Steve has got a strong voice and has a great taste in synthesizer and keyboard tones, plus the songs have some crisp, evocative production. Some of his songs have a spiritual streak too (like "Higher Love", "Wake Me Up on Judgement Day" and "Help Me Angel"), which is interesting.

A couple of the tracks ("Help Me Angel", "Valerie" and "Talking Back To the Night") are remixed by producer Tom Lord Alge, who more recently mixed Evermore's album "Real Life". Not having heard the original Steve Winwood solo albums, I can only guess what he's done (added a bit of drum machine here and there, I think), but the tracks are catchy enough.

The booklet contains a brief history of Steve's recording career, with a couple of quotes from Steve himself. Doesn't say who the booklet is written by, which would have been nice to know.

Steve Windwood has his own style. There is a flair of "urbanism" on most of the tracks on this Cd. Some track`s doesn`t grip you at first, but there is something there, if you take your`e time an do some, let`s call it "active listning" where you open your`e senses and "let it go" . When you go through this CD, is like an interesting journey from the best of his solo stuff. The best track is the last one Track 10. Talking back to the night. Anyway let`s take it from the begining. Track 1 Wake me up on judgment day, is an ok opener, and sound`s like it`s from the 80 ths (and it is), with synthezeisers,guitariffs, and funky bassplayi, which creates a solid and interesting soundpicture. Track 2 While you see a chance is a nice one too, with a great syntezeisers play all trough the song. Track 3 Vacant Chair is a scene change, moody with a releaxable atmosphere all trough.. Track 4 Help me Angel, is a more up beat song with a optimistic theme, with a refrain who delivers. Windwood`s vocal have never sounded better. Track 5 My Love`s Leavin is a little letdown in a way in the beginning. The Windwood`s voice is good, but it realy doesn`t take off before the refrain. And from there it`s Windwood magic all through the song. Track 6 Valerie is a an upbeat and uptempo song with a great rythm which realy set the standards how a good popsong should deliver. Track 7 Arc of a Diver is an okei song. It has a walk along rythm all trough which makes you remember it. Track 8 Higher Love with it`s carrebiean touch, have the x-factor when it come`s to good craftmanship from Windwood`s craftmanship. Track 9 Spanish Dancer is a let down. To slow sometimes a bore listning. But then it come`s Track 10 Talking back to the Night, which realy delivers in every musical and vocal department`s. Closed your eyes when you listen to it, and you see colors, urban life, nightlife, and it will certainly bring you back to the 80 ths. Steve Windwood always delivers. That`s fore sure !

"Chronicles" isn't really a "Best Of", or a "Greatest Hits", but more of a sampling of his best songs. It does include "While You See A Chance", "Valerie", and "Higher Love", but at just 10 tracks, it's missing way too much, and should have another 6-8 hits. Even from just his late 80's albums, where's "Finer Things", "Freedom Overspill", "Back In The High Life Again", "Holding On", "Roll With It", and the excellent "Don't You Know What The Night Can Do?". Still, this is pretty good, and will have to do until we get an "Essential Winwood" collection.

Steve Winwood is a master of rock keyboard. His voice is also full and powerful. This album showcases a few of his best songs, and they're all great.

I was very pleased with the condition of my item it came quickly and overall i would say that it was a very pleasurable transaction. I would strongly recommend purchasing from this vendor in the future