Customer Reviews

Steve Winwood

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Unfairly overlooked by many of his fans, Steve Winwood's self-titled debut solo album from 1977 is a wonderful smooth-groover, filled with melodic songs and excellent musical chops. If some of the album sounds like Winwood's old band Traffic, it's because four of the six songs were co-written by Winwood's partner in Traffic, drummer Jim Capaldi, and Traffic percussionist Rebop Kwaku-Baah also plays on a couple of tracks. But hey, I'm certainly not complaining! "Hold On" is a catchy, Steely Dan-esque number, and "Time Is Running Out," featuring Capaldi & Kwaku-Baah, is a punchy pop-rocker that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Traffic album. "Midland Maniac," on which Winwood plays all the instruments, is a lovely piano-popper, as is "Vacant Chair." "Luck's In" is a smokin' tune, with a killer, Traffic-esque jam at the end. And "Let Me Make Something In Your Life" is a perfect ballad. Although it would take Steve Winwood one more album to truly establish himself as a solo artist, which he did with his 1980 hit release "Arc Of A Diver," his self-titled solo debut is a truly excellent album, and I sincerely hope that more of Steve's fans will check it out. I guarantee you'll like it.

Released in 1977, three years after the final demise of his band Traffic, Steve Winwoods first solo album was regarded by some critics as a disappointment, being accused of not being distinctly different from the sound of Traffic. What had originally begun as a Winwood solo record in 1970 evolved into the third Traffic album John Barleycorn must die, but with Steve becoming even more the dominant musical force in the band Barleycorn perhaps indicated his own preferred musical direction. The Steve Winwood album has elements in common with the later Traffic albums in that it comprises relatively long tracks (the longest reaching 8:30), with plenty instrumental passages, and at times complex rhythms. Furthermore, Winwood plays all guitars and keyboards, with drums and bass provided by session players, whilst former Traffic collaborators Jim Capaldi and Rebop contribute song lyrics and percussion, although the flute and sax work of Chris Wood is absent.

Though very different from the slick American production of his very successful Back in the high life album nine years later, Steve Winwood represents a credible solo progression beyond Traffic, and on the song Midland Maniac Steve plays all the instruments, indicating the approach he would use for his next two albums. Although this first solo album did not achieve the critical acclaim or sales of its successor Arc of a diver, in terms of performance quality I feel that it is better; it gels better musically through involving several musicians working together on the basic rhythm tracks instead of one working alone and overdubbing.

Its hard to pick one stand-out track but in my view Vacant chair perhaps sums up the qualities of this album best. In short, if you appreciate Steve Winwoods music, you are likely to enjoy this underrated album.

A smooth ride.some of Steves best singing and some good songs,too.Different,for sure,than some of the later upbeat albums,but still excellent."Midland Maniac""Vacant Chair""Hold On"alone make it worth buying.I agree with other reviews that say this disc is too short.Still worth owning!

Steve Windwood's self-titled debut solo album (1977) was a dry run for the massively succcessful "Arc of a Diver" that would follow it three years later. Though it doesn't contain a hit as snappy as "While You See a Chance," all of the material here features the same laid back melodic feel (a sustantial departure from Winwood's previous work with Traffic and Blind Faith). "Vacant Chair" is probably the strongest song, though "Hold On" also has a strong hook. The rest of the material is longer and more leisurely. The ballad "Let Me Make Something in Your Life," is quite beautiful," while "Time is Running Out contains a decent groove. The one drawback is that the album contains only six songs with no bonus tracks and just over a half an hour of music. The CD booklet contains little more than the playing and songwriting credits.

Overall, a fine if somewhat slight debut solo album from from a veteran rock and roll luminary.

Steve Winwood emerged from the wreckage of his band Traffic with a smoother, sleeker and more pop oriented sound. His first solo album, though quite underappreciated, is also one of his best. The songs sound similar to those on his 1980 smash album "Arc of a Diver." The real standouts are "Hold On," "Vacant Chair" and the awesome ballad "Let Me Make Something in Your Life." If there's a quibble, its that at a mere 35 minutes, this album is far too brief. Nevertheless, fans of Winwood's music will not be disappointed by it.

This is not Steve Winwood at his peppiest-this is a pre-
Will Jennings as lyricist,pre-multi intrumental band album where
each song is placed in a rather stark setting.It starts with the
reggae-ish,minimal "Hold On" and goes right into the longish
dance-rock of "Time Is Running Out".Another highlite is the
sad and soulful "Vacant Chair" and the Traffic-like "Luck's In".
It's not altogether consisntant and tends on the musically slow
and morbid but those who tossed it aside first time around or
just havn't thought about it need to give "Steve Winwood" a more
open minded airing.

WOW! I absolutely LOVE this album! My only complaint is that at 37:27, it's kinda skimpy by today's standards. These tunes are so great that it really makes you wish you could hear more from these sessions. Most of the songs are Winwood/Capaldi compositions, and some remind me of the Traffic album "When The Eagle Flies". If you are a fan of that album, you will dig this! Very inteligent, insightful lyrics. Plus "Steve Winwood" has his awesome keyboard and guitar playing. Midland Maniac has Steve playing all instruments. He used that technique again on his next album "Arc Of A Diver". Steve is such a great guitar player, but no one seems to notice, instead focusing on his keyboard talent. "Steve Winwood" is an album that I have loved for years, listen to constantly, and have every lyric and solo memorized inside and out. Never gets old even after listening to it for over 20 years! "Let Me Make Something In Your Life" is a really meaningful song to me. It's that kind of album! If you like this music, be sure to check out Stomu Yamashta's GO and GO Live From Paris featuring Winwood and Al DiMeola among others. To my knowledge, these are unavailable on CD, but are INCREDIBLE. I think that fans of current "jam"-type bands such as Phish and Medeski, Martin & Wood would enjoy "Steve Winwood". From a collection of over 2,000 CDs and 2,000+ LPs "Steve Winwood" rates in the top 5 of my all-time faves!

Steve Winwood's First Solo Album (CD) was certainly a departure from his mid-Traffic days...but wasn't Low Spark and Shootout a departure from the early Traffic days anyway? This CD has more of a feel from Traffic's Where the Eagle Flies. The song...Time is Running Out...instead of a so-called "Disco attempt" in my opinion, is more early Rap if anything.

But let's face it...this CD is for true die-hard fans. I would buy it for Luck's In alone!

For the reviewers who called this album "a disappointment" or compared it to "the decline of Rome", I have one comment: LIGHTEN UP. And for those reviewers who say that this album doesn't compare to Traffic's Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, expand your musical horizons, guys. I have Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and I have have Winwood; and I like them both.

Winwood's first solo album, Winwood, was/is a great album which, unlike so many 1970's recordings, has withstood the test of time. I liked this album when I first heard it in 1977 (I still have the LP which I bought immediately after first hearing this album being played in a record store) and I still like this album today.

This album is a preview of the direction Winwood took on his next 2 albums, Arc of a Diver (1980) and Talking Back to the Night (1982), both of which are also really good albums.

Bottom line: if you liked Arc of a Diver and/or Talking Back to the Night, you'll like Winwood.

I bought this solo album when it came out in 1977 and I still listen to it. I found Winwood's later work too slick and polished for my taste but this album has a nice R&B feel to it. This album is mostly a three piece band with Winwood on keyboards and sometimes guitar. The rhythm section of Andy Newmark and Willie Weeks is superb, they are both master musicians. Winwood is a great singer and these are nice songs.

Traffic are still one of my favorite bands and the commercial path that Winwood took after breaking up the band is ultimately a little disappointing. But he found himself broke in 1977, despite having had a fairly successful career. This must have influenced his musical choices.