Steve Winwood - Back in the High Life

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. Album Details

One of the cornerstones of catchy, radio-friendly pop

From listening to this album, it's hard to believe that Steve Winwood used to be the lead singer for the great 60s rock groups Traffic and The Spencer Davis Group, and while some purists may call him a sellout, there's no denying that whatever kind of music Steve Winwood makes, he can do it good. Bouncy upbeat pop perfect for work, the car, or even just cleaning the house, this album made huge hits out of "Higher Love", "The Finer Things" and the title track, and all three of these (particularly Higher Love), still get played almost daily on adult contemporary radio stations. The slower paced "My Love's Leavin'" is also first-rate. October 29, 2007

Stands the test of time

The year I really started to take interest in music was 1986. It was the summer inbetween 6th and 7th grade and every song that I liked I would go out and buy the 45 single. Because I didn't have much money an album would really have to strike my interest to get me to buy it. "Back in the High Life" was one of those albums. The song "Higher Love" was a huge hit and I loved the song "Back in the High Life Again". Because there were at least two songs I liked I saved up the money and bought the tape. Every song sounded like a hit and I played the heck out of that tape until it wore out. When I got a CD player in the late 80s this was on my purchase list.

There were many albums and songs that I enjoyed in 1986 but very few albums that have held up well. Many albums had a lot of songs that sounded the same. You would have an artist that had a HUGE hit in one style and half of the next album would be trying to copy that style in order to get another big hit. Albums like this was an exception. Of course it helps that this is Steve Winwood's first big solo hit album. There is a lot of varity to keep this album interesting from the first to the last song and it is short enough that it doesn't over stay it's welcome. It is now 2007 and I have yet to get tired of this album and it has remained in my essential favorites for over 20 years.

If you are a fan of the 80s, even though you may have "Higher Love" on one of the many 80s compilations out there, the other songs are just as good and in some cases better (like "Finer Things" and "Freedom Overspill"). Give this one a chance.

My only complaint is this album is in much need of remastering. This is a minor complaint because all I have to do is turn up the volume a tad more than I have to do with other CDs. July 16, 2007

Got it for "Back in the High Life"

Discovered I liked "Higher Love" and "Finer Things" and that was it. The sound quality on my disk isn't great--I had to raise the volume and do some fiddling to get it to compare to the previous levels that had worked for months. Wasn't worth the price, IMHO. July 12, 2007

Three good songs and the rest is forgettable to unbearable

I'm really surprised how high the ratings are for this. I'm a big Steve Winwood fan but really only three songs on here do it for me. The Celtic sounding Back In The High Life Again with nice mandolin and James Taylor harmony. Split Decision co written by Joe Walsh which gives the album an edge and My Love's Leavin' co written by former Bonzo Dog Vivian Stanshall(it's a shame the two of them didn't do this as a duet, as it's also perfect for Viv's voice). The hits Higher Love and The Finer things are okay but the rest isn't really any good in my humble opinion. May 28, 2007

Great Variety In One Package

This is a wonderful set of Steve Winwood's performances, and may be the best in all of his career. Althought there are "only" eight songs included on this disc, each one is unique and creative, with its own characteristicsand style. Also, each of these tracks is over five minutes long, for a total of about 45 minutes of play. Therefore, one does not feel shortchanged by listening to the eight songs, for each is great in its own right.

Steve primarily focuses on jazz, soul, dance, and island styles blended with good ol' rock 'n' roll. The lyrics of these songs explore fairly deep issues of life but the music tends to be light-hearted and suited for a party. Several of these tracks have become major hits on pop radio during the late 1980s, and the listener may be moved to sing along as the tune plays on the radio or on one's personal music player.

The album starts out with "Higher Love", a bouncy, lively hit with plenty of lighthearted percussion, and a memorable, sing-along chorus. This song is about finding a type of love in contrast to world problems and concerns, and was a popular hit on the radio. "The Finer Things" is generally an island sound, almost reggae-like, and was also a major hit. This track explores the enjoyment and appreciation of the good parts of a relationship with a loved one. "Back In The High Life" is perhaps the gentelest track, with a piano and synthetic fiddle in the background, and a folk/country sound; it was another major hit to reach the airwaves. It deals with returning to the good life after having to face responsibilities and problems.

The remaining five songs are of high quality as well, and noteworthy on their own. "Take It As It Comes" is the second track and is marked by a prominent brass section, giving it a jazzy flavor. This high-energy piece covers the necessity of dealing with and accepting difficulties in one's life. The next track, "Freedom Overspill" has a rhythm and blues style and brass horns, and could be misattributed to another very popular R&B singer. In this song, the subject encourages his friend to open up and talk about concerns and problems. "Wake Me Up On Judgement Day" makes a great dance song for a party, with a high-energy pop/synth background, even though the lyrics are about a guy who would rather sleep through the world's problems caused by human error. The second-to-last track "Split Decision" includes verses with a reggae sound and a chorus with a southern rock style similar to that of Joe Walsh. This mid-paced song tells a story about a guy in conflict with himself over making decisions and taking action. The last track "My Love's Leavin'" contains a synthetic string background along with extensive percusion and electronic keyboard. As the title suggests, this song is about experiencing the loss and heartache when one's lover leaves him.

Overall, this is probably the best of Steve Winwood's albums in his entire music career. If the listener obtains just one of his albums for their collection, this would be the best one to choose. It demonstrates his versatility in his musical styles and performances. May 12, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...