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More meticulously crafted than its predecessor Arc of a Diver and more musically adventurous than its follow-up, Roll with It, Back in the High Life represents the pinnacle of Steve Winwood's '80s pop output. High production values, interlocking percussion lines, R&B backing vocals, horns, synthesizers, and ideas borrowed from various world musics enhance and update Winwood's proclivity for blues, R&B, and rock. His distinctive blue-eyed soul vocals are, naturally, at the front of the mix as well.
The runaway number one single, "Higher Love," with its syncopated groove, pan-African percussion, and slick Top 40 production, kicks off this accessible set. Elsewhere, the dance-gospel of "Wake Me Up on Judgment Day," the semi-acoustic title track, and the funk-touched "Split Decision" (which proves Winwood's R&B roots were still strong) keep the stylistic wheel turning. The record's success, sonically and commercially, should come as no surprise. Since his days in Traffic, Winwood has been a masterful stylistic synthesist, melding a range of aesthetics in ways that invariably connect with listeners. Back in the High Life is further proof of his remarkable abilities.
© Rovi Staff /TiVo
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David Frank, AssociatedPerformer, Synth Pads - Robbie Kilgore, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Eddie Martinez, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Robinson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - NILE RODGERS, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Sequencer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Will Jennings, ComposerLyricist - CHAKA KHAN, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - PHILIPPE SAISSE, Synth Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Bralower, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Thomas, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Carol Steele, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1986 Island Records Ltd.
Russ Titelman, Producer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Will Jennings, ComposerLyricist - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
David Frank, Horn Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Eddie Martinez, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tom Malone, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Hammond Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass, Drum Programming, Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Randy Brecker, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - George Young, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Bralower, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Ferrone, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - BOB MINTZER, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Walsh, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Carol Steele, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - George Fleming, ComposerLyricist - James Hooker Brown, ComposerLyricist - Lewis Del Gatto, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
Russ Titelman, Producer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Will Jennings, ComposerLyricist - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
Russ Titelman, Producer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Will Jennings, ComposerLyricist - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
David Frank, AssociatedPerformer, Synth Pads - Robbie Kilgore, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Russ Titelman, Producer - Ira Siegel, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Robinson, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - NILE RODGERS, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, Synthesizer, Drum Programming, Sequencer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jocelyn Brown, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Stephens, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Will Jennings, ComposerLyricist - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Bralower, Drum Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew Thomas, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Carol Steele, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Connie Harvey, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1986 Island Records Ltd.
Russ Titelman, Producer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joseph Fidler Walsh, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
Russ Titelman, Producer - Steve Winwood, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jason Corsaro, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Viv Stanshall, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1986 Island Records Ltd.
Album review
More meticulously crafted than its predecessor Arc of a Diver and more musically adventurous than its follow-up, Roll with It, Back in the High Life represents the pinnacle of Steve Winwood's '80s pop output. High production values, interlocking percussion lines, R&B backing vocals, horns, synthesizers, and ideas borrowed from various world musics enhance and update Winwood's proclivity for blues, R&B, and rock. His distinctive blue-eyed soul vocals are, naturally, at the front of the mix as well.
The runaway number one single, "Higher Love," with its syncopated groove, pan-African percussion, and slick Top 40 production, kicks off this accessible set. Elsewhere, the dance-gospel of "Wake Me Up on Judgment Day," the semi-acoustic title track, and the funk-touched "Split Decision" (which proves Winwood's R&B roots were still strong) keep the stylistic wheel turning. The record's success, sonically and commercially, should come as no surprise. Since his days in Traffic, Winwood has been a masterful stylistic synthesist, melding a range of aesthetics in ways that invariably connect with listeners. Back in the High Life is further proof of his remarkable abilities.
© Rovi Staff /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 8 track(s)
- Total length: 00:45:23
- Main artists: Steve Winwood
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited ℗ 1986 Universal Music Operations Limited
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