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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Solo Debut For Winwood, June 25, 2004
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.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
excellent solo debut, May 17, 2005
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!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A creditable if unambitious solo debut, March 10, 2003
By A Customer
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.
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~ Steve Winwood
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by Steve Winwood 
