Back in the High Life (CD - 1986)

Personnel: Steve Winwood (vocals, guitar, mandolin, piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drum programming); Chaka Khan (vocals, background vocals); James Taylor (vocals); Joe Walsh (guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar); Eddie Martinez, Ira Siegel, Nile Rodgers, Paul Pesco (guitar); Louis del Gatto (saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); George Young (alto saxophone); Bob Mintzer (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet); Tom "Bones" Malone (trombone); Rob Mounsey (keyboards, synthesizer, string synthesizer); Robbie Kilgore (keyboards, synthesizer); Andrew Thomas (synthesizer, programming); David Frank, Arif Mardin (synthesizer); Philippe Saisse (bass synthesizer); Jimmy Bralower (drums, programming, drum programming); John "J.R." Robinson , Mickey Curry, Steve Ferrone (drums); Carol Steele (congas, tambourine, percussion); Carole Steele (percussion); Connie Harvey, Dan Hartman, Mark Stevens, James Ingram , Jocelyn Brown (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Tom Lord-Alge.

Recording information: Giant Sound, New York, NY; Nethert; Power Station, New York, NY; Right Track Recording, New York, NY; Right Track Recording, NY; Unique Recording Studio, New Yo; Unique Recording Studio, New York, NY.

Photographer: Arthur Elgort.

Arranger: David Frank.

Turning to involved percussion tracks and horns, Winwood turns another musical corner on this sophisticated album, which contains echoes of everything from gospel to Caribbean music. Contains the number one hit "Higher Love." ~ William Ruhlmann

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 are 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. minimize