Steve Winwood (album)

Steve Winwood
Studio album by
Steve Winwood
ReleasedJune 1977
Recorded1976–1977
Genre
Length37:38
LabelIsland
ProducerSteve Winwood, Chris Blackwell, Mark Miller Mundy
Steve Winwood chronology
Winwood
(1971) 		Steve Winwood
(1977) 		Arc of a Diver
(1980)

Steve Winwood is the debut solo studio album by blue-eyed soulster Steve Winwood. It was released in 1977, three years after the break-up of his former band, Traffic. Though the album sold moderately well in the US, it was a commercial disappointment compared to Traffic's recent albums, peaking at number 22 on the Billboard albums chart. In the UK, where Traffic's recent albums had only been moderately successful, Steve Winwood reached number 12 on The Official Charts.[1] Island Records released two singles from the album, "Hold On" and "Time Is Running Out", both of which failed to chart.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[3]

Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote: "Combined with Stomu Yamashta's ersatz electronic classicism on Go, Winwood's chronic meandering seemed vaguely interesting. On its own again, it just seems vague."[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi, except where noted.

Side one

  1. "Hold On" – 4:32
  2. "Time Is Running Out" – 6:30
  3. "Midland Maniac" (Winwood) – 8:32

Side two

  1. "Vacant Chair" (Winwood, Viv Stanshall) – 6:54
  2. "Luck's In" – 5:23
  3. "Let Me Make Something in Your Life" – 5:33

Personnel

Track numbering refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Musicians

  • Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals (all tracks), electric piano (1, 2, 5), synthesizer (1, 2, 4), electric guitar (1, 2, 5, 6), saxophone (1), organ (2, 3, 4, 6), clavinet (2), acoustic piano (3, 4, 6), harmonium (3), harpsichord (3), acoustic guitar (3), electric and acoustic basses (3), drums (3), percussion (3, 5)
  • Junior Marvin – guitar (4)
  • Willie Weeks – bass guitar (1, 2, 5, 6)
  • Alan Spenner – bass guitar (4)
  • Andy Newmark – drums (1, 2, 5, 6)
  • John Susswell – drums (4)
  • Brother James – percussion (1, 4)
  • Jim Capaldi – percussion (2), backing vocal (2)
  • Rebop Kwaku Baah – congas (2, 5)
  • Nicole Winwood (credited as "Nicole") – backing vocal (2)

Production

  • Steve Winwood – producer
  • Chris Blackwell – producer
  • Mark Miller Mundy – associate producer
  • Phill Brown – recording engineer
  • Robert Ash – assistant engineer
  • Ray Doyle – assistant engineer
  • Lee Hulko – mastering
  • Fin Costello – photography
  • James Hutcheson – cover design, paintings

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] 78
UK albums chart (Official Charts Company) 12
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) 22

References

  1. ^ "Steve Winwood chart history". OfficialCharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  2. ^ Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Steve Winwood - Steve Winwood | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  3. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 22 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 342. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.