CD-Charts Position 1
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Nine Lives

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date May 05, 2008
I find it very hard to criticise Steve Winwood.He is a quality musician with a quality voice. He started out a teenage prodigy who took the charts by storm, then spent much of the 70's doing pretentious but quality material typical of the era with various line ups. In the 80's he went commercial and had massive success, particularly in the States. Then he tried to carry this theme into the 90's and somehow it didn't work any more. His last album 'About Time' was largely based on latin rhythms with an intimate sounding combo and was a classy piece of work. This new effort seems to fall somewhere in between that album and his 70's work. Whilst it lacks a certain focus and dynamism, it is still a quality piece of work. For me, the bluesy minimalistic ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Arc Of A Diver

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date January 19, 1987
Arc of a diver was Steve Winwood's second solo offering after his eponmynous debut. Moving well away from his earlier work with Traffic, Blind Faith and the Spencer Davis Group, Arc of a Diver has a very early 80's feel to it, with 'electronics' in abundance, though its no less impressive because of that. The album kicks off with a real tour de force "While you see a chance" is a rousing number that was the obvious single from the album. In a sense its almost a 1980's form of gimme some lovin...catchy melody, memorable lyrics and very effective use of keyboards (indeed, Winwood plays virtually all the instruments himself on this album). Second hand woman and the title track Arc of a Diver are fairly mediocre, but "slowdown sundown" and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Back In The High Life

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date July 07, 1986
Whilst his other solo recordings are never less than excellent, this is probably the best of the lot. His distinctive vocals perfectly complement each track - and there 'aint a dud track here.

For anyone wanting to start a Winwood collection, this is the one to start with.

CD-Charts Position 4
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Chronicles

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date October 21, 1987
This CD may be a bit miserable with the running time, but it's better to have ten good tracks rather than fifteen middling ones.

It has most of Winwood's better known songs, such as While You See a Chance and Arc of a Diver, so it's a good introduction to his music.In any case there are only two or three Winwood compilations available and the other one has material from his Spencer Davis and Traffic days.

The only drawback to this CD is the sound, which is somewhat muddy and transferred at a very low level.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Nine Lives (CD+DVD)

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date May 05, 2008
This CD may be a bit miserable with the running time, but it's better to have ten good tracks rather than fifteen middling ones.

It has most of Winwood's better known songs, such as While You See a Chance and Arc of a Diver, so it's a good introduction to his music.In any case there are only two or three Winwood compilations available and the other one has material from his Spencer Davis and Traffic days.

The only drawback to this CD is the sound, which is somewhat muddy and transferred at a very low level.

CD-Charts Position 6
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Keep On Running

by: Lofty Amao Blind Faith The Spencer Davis Group Kebaka Traffic Steve Winwood

Release Date March 18, 1996
This CD may be a bit miserable with the running time, but it's better to have ten good tracks rather than fifteen middling ones.

It has most of Winwood's better known songs, such as While You See a Chance and Arc of a Diver, so it's a good introduction to his music.In any case there are only two or three Winwood compilations available and the other one has material from his Spencer Davis and Traffic days.

The only drawback to this CD is the sound, which is somewhat muddy and transferred at a very low level.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Roll With It

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date June 20, 1988
I bought this on casette when it was first released and never got around to buying the CD. Big mistake. I've rectified that now, mind.

The album is a mix of storming R&B tracks, mid-tempo gems and sublime ballads.

The crime here is that it was not anywhere near a big an album as it was in the States, where it was a monster.

Great, great, great.

CD-Charts Position 8
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About Time

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date June 23, 2003
Don't get me wrong - I like Winwood and looked forward to this release. Unfortunately, I'm not easily blinded and have to say it's a real disappointment. I held back on writing a review until I'd seen the live show that promotes it, and all it did was reinforce my view of the CD.

Firstly, it's poorly produced; the bass is especially wooly and drowns out most of the lower frequency harmonies. Having seen the live set, this is probably because he insists on playing the Hammond and no other keyboard. Using a bass guitar and using his left hand for a decent synth would have sharpened the whole thing up. The Hammond is lovely instrument, but it's just not a suitable sound for taking dominant lead duties in this environment. Indeed, it grates and sounds particularly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Talking Back to the Night

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date March 02, 1987
Steve Winwood was hitting his stride as a solo artist when "Talking Back to the Night" came out in 1982. Recorded almost entirely with only Stevie's keyboards, vocals and a state-of-the-art drum machine, it sounded absolutely great on vinyl in '82. First track "Valerie" even had a second of life in 1986 when the single charted in a remixed form.

These are great songs - really, amongst Steve Winwood's best. The sound just knocks it off the 5-star rating for me, though. Thick, analogue synths, just on the wrong side of "classic", and that state-of-the-art drum machine plant it firmly in 1982. Only perhaps "And I Go", with its swirling Hammond, sounds anything like timeless. Yet these are superb songs, Winwood's voice is on top form, and it's a supremely enjoyable record.

CD-Charts Position 10
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The Universal Masters Collection

by: Steve Winwood

Release Date March 23, 2005
Steve Winwood was hitting his stride as a solo artist when "Talking Back to the Night" came out in 1982. Recorded almost entirely with only Stevie's keyboards, vocals and a state-of-the-art drum machine, it sounded absolutely great on vinyl in '82. First track "Valerie" even had a second of life in 1986 when the single charted in a remixed form.

These are great songs - really, amongst Steve Winwood's best. The sound just knocks it off the 5-star rating for me, though. Thick, analogue synths, just on the wrong side of "classic", and that state-of-the-art drum machine plant it firmly in 1982. Only perhaps "And I Go", with its swirling Hammond, sounds anything like timeless. Yet these are superb songs, Winwood's voice is on top form, and it's a supremely enjoyable record.