BFrank Posted June 30, 2003 Report Posted June 30, 2003 (edited) :tup Some serious B-3 here. No doubt his best album in about 20 years. Not overproduced at all - just an organ trio with the occasional Karl Denson sax/flute thrown into the mix. Winwood's Hammond is pushed up front all the way through this thing, which is a breath of fresh air. Welcome back, Steve! Edited June 30, 2003 by BFrank Quote
Harold_Z Posted June 30, 2003 Report Posted June 30, 2003 I saw him on a Saturday morning NBC news show about a week ago and Stevie and band both sounded GOOD. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted July 1, 2003 Report Posted July 1, 2003 Randy's been talking about this one to me all week. I'm going to have to pick it up. Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 1, 2003 Report Posted July 1, 2003 I, too, had some people tell me how much hammond he played on it. Up in the mix, ect.... Hmmm. I've actually heard some very, very early stuff of his where he's doing the full Jimmy Smith thing, bass and all. He's a great player, but I'm not really hip to his stuff. A little before my time. "Back In The High Life Again" is about it for me.... Quote
BFrank Posted July 1, 2003 Author Report Posted July 1, 2003 (edited) I would love to hear what you guys think of this. Let's hear some critiques when you pick it up. BTW, "Cigano" (cut 2) kills. Reminds me of the Meters' "Cissy Strut". Edited July 2, 2003 by BFrank Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 12, 2003 Report Posted July 12, 2003 I just got it today. I LIKE IT A LOT! It's an organ trio with percussion added and Stevie singing and playing organ bass. On some tracks there's sax and flute by Karl Denson. Not overproduced at all - good grooves and good playing. It's improvisational in nature and the playing is just what it's supposed to be. Whether it's jazz or not is up to you - it's improvised within a framework, it cooks, it's intelligent. It's GOOD MUSIC. Great version of WHY CAN'T WE LIVE TOGETHER, which was an early 70s R&B hit by Timmy Thomas. If I remember that record correctly it was just organ and drum machine (rhythm ace). Quote
jazzbo Posted July 22, 2003 Report Posted July 22, 2003 (edited) This is a pretty cool cd! So much better than those Arc of A Diver thangs he was putting out. . . . . I've always liked the organ sounds he comes up with. And dig that he is doing a Sade tune. Edited July 22, 2003 by jazzbo Quote
SinginSumo Posted August 9, 2003 Report Posted August 9, 2003 A terrific album! I found it to have a kickin' California groove. The addition of congas or timbales on most of the tracks was just the right spice for these jams. This album might even make my personal Top Ten list for this year. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 21, 2003 Report Posted August 21, 2003 Still haven't picked this up because I'm poor. <AHEM> Quote
Big Al Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 Very good and insanely greeeeazy!!! Definitely in my top ten as well! Quote
chris olivarez Posted August 26, 2003 Report Posted August 26, 2003 Heard this one this morning and it sounds pretty good to me. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 There's an interview with Winwood in this month's Keyboard magazine. Nice little article. He discusses his practice routine for pedals. I still haven't heard this record. One of these days I'm going to place a huge order for CDs I've been meaning to get... ... in about 10 years... Quote
Michael Fitzgerald Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 I had high hopes for this, but was very disappointed when I previewed it in the record store. I ended up not buying it. The tunes are just BORING. Monotonous vamps. I was hoping for some harmonic sophistication and interesting songwriting because SW certainly has it in him (somewhere). None on there as far as I could tell (I listened to maybe a minute of each track). I guess some people go for "grooves" but I need quite a bit more otherwise a "groove" is just another word for a "rut." Arc of a Diver is actually quite a good album (While You See A Chance is a gem in terms of the qualities I mentioned above), Talking Back to the Night is not bad too - both were one-man operations. The demo-like quality works well, in my opinion. It's the ones after those two that are real disasters: formulaic, way overproduced, and just pop fluff in terms of the lyrics and music. BTW, some people aren't aware of his first solo record, Steve Winwood, from 1977 - it never made much impact. Not the strongest, but with some worthwhile things. Better than anything since Talking Back, at least. The Keyboard article is interesting - the new album was recorded live - vocals, organ, pedals, the whole deal. Not many pop things like that. But so much is very simplistic, so maybe it's not all that impressive. Mike Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 yea yea yea but did any of you see the tour this summer. it was so awesome. they ripped a low spark and glad, empty pages, and pearly queen. oh hell yeah Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 oh...i dont know how i could have forgetten....but just in case any of you are wondering, Stevie Winwood is completely down with the babyface. just so you know Quote
BFrank Posted October 2, 2003 Author Report Posted October 2, 2003 Mike - Sorry you didn't like it. Maybe it needs to be played straight through.....at least once, to get the full effect. It's just a loose enjoyable album, IMO. I thought I should have seen him this past Sunday at the Fillmore, but didn't make it. It was probably a lot of fun. Quote
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