 Back In The High Life, 2004-03-07
Back In The High Life has to be one of the best songs I have ever heard and I have been following folk and rock and roll since the 50's.Its just too bad he hasn't kept with this style of song more often.
To me it sounds like Phil Collins, Cat Stevens and John Denver in a song by 0ne Artist Steve Winwood. Great song but this style should have been done more often.
Listening to some of his other songs, you can't notice the same style. He doesn't seem to capitalize on the true and great talent that he has.
38 of 39 customers found the following review helpful:
One of the most impressive albums of the 1980s, 2003-08-24
Steve Winwood was indeed enjoying the high life after the release of this album in 1986. Back in the High Life is one of the best albums of that musically rich decade, providing Winwood with four huge hit singles. Winwood almost became too popular as a result of these songs; the radio played Higher Love, The Finer Things, Freedom Overspill, and Back in the High Life Again so often that even I eventually began to grow tired of them. As a result, I can say that I enjoy this album even more today than I did at the time of its initial release. Winwood's distinctive, laid-back music never goes out of style, and it soothes the soul while touching the heart with some quite emotional, really meaningful lyrics. I'm afraid I can't really describe the music; all I can say is that it combines drums, guitars, and horns in a way that is all its own.While the album is remembered primarily for commercial successes such as Higher Love (featuring memorable backup vocals by Chaka Kahn) and Back in the High Life Again (featuring harmony vocals by James Taylor), it features eight songs of incredible quality. I might note that each track exceeds five minutes in length, so this album is not as short as it may appear. Take It As It Comes had real hit potential in my opinion. Wake Me Up on Judgment Day doesn't seem that memorable yet plays itself over and over in your mind after you hear it. Split Decision features some great guitar riffs, proving that Winwood can get down and rock a little when he wants to. The final track, My Love's Leavin', may well be the best song on the album, communicating both loss and hope in a way few artists can equal. You would be hard pressed to find a more impressive album from top to bottom than Steve Winwood's Back in the High Life.
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
Steve Winwood's Comeback Album, 2002-07-23
After only mixed results on three solo albums which he tried to record and produce on his own, Steve
Winwood turned to the production talents of Russ Titleman and a number of guest musicians for "Back in the
High Life." The result: two Grammys, a #1 single and #1 album, a "comeback" album in every sense of the
term, and one of the best recordings of the 1980s. Having used synthesizers as an artistic crutch on his
previous solo efforts, Winwood uses them here as merely one ingredient in a masterful '80s pop-rock mix.
"Higher Love," "Freedom Overspill," "Back in the High Life Again," and "The Finer Things" were massive hits
at the time, and still hold up well today. "Back in the High Life" was - and still is - a triumph.
5 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
Steve Winwood's Comeback Album, 2002-07-23
After only mixed results on three solo albums which he tried to record and produce on his own, Steve Winwood turned to the production talents of Russ Titleman and a number of guest musicians for "Back in the High Life." The result: two Grammys, a #1 single and #1 album, a "comeback" album in every sense of the term, and one of the best recordings of the 1980s. Having used synthesizers as an artistic crutch on his previous solo efforts, Winwood uses them here as merely one ingredient in a masterful '80s pop-rock mix. "Higher Love," "Freedom Overspill," "Back in the High Life Again," and "The Finer Things" were massive hits at the time, and still hold up well today. "Back in the High Life" was - and still is - a triumph.
Great Album., 2002-07-05
This is a great album that has many good songs on it. Every single song is worth listening to on this album. This album features the Number 1 hit for 1 week Higher Love. This album is a prelude to more hits that ould come such as "Valerie" and "Roll With It". This album spent many weeks in the top ten and sold 3 Million copies which was well deserved. Higher Love still gets much airplay which is good because it is a quality song. Good Album and Highly Recomended.
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Amazon Sales Rank:#2731