Back in the High Life

Infobox Album |
Name = Back in the High Life
Type =Album
Artist = Steve Winwood


Released = June 1986
Recorded = 1985-86
Genre = Rock, Blue-eyed soul
Length = 45:03
Label = Island Records
Producer = Russ Titelman, Steve Winwood
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3s967ue0h0j0 link]
*"Rolling Stone" (favorable) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/stevewinwood/albums/album/136028/review/6068303/back_in_the_high_life link]
Last album ="Talking Back to the Night"
(1982)
This album = "Back in the High Life"
(1986)
Next album ="Chronicles"
(1987)

"Back in the High Life" is the fourth solo album by blue-eyed soul musician Steve Winwood. It was a top ten hit on the album charts in the United States and has sold over five million copies. The single "Higher Love" topped the singles chart and won the Grammy Award for "Record of the Year"; "Back in the High Life Again" (US #13), "The Finer Things" (US #8, the second biggest hit from the album), and "Freedom Overspill" (US #20) were also big hits. This was Winwood's last studio album with Island Records after twenty years with the label. The album also features some remarkable collaborations in backing vocals, featuring Chaka Khan in "Higher Love" and James Taylor in "Back in the High Life Again".

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings except where noted
#"Higher Love" – 5:45
#"Take It as It Comes" – 5:20
#"Freedom Overspill" – 5:33 (Winwood, George Fleming, James Hooker)
#"Back in the High Life Again" – 5:33
#"The Finer Things" – 5:47
#"Wake Me up on Judgement Day" – 5:48
#"Split Decision" – 5:58 (Winwood, Joe Walsh)
#"My Love's Leavin'" – 5:19 (Winwood, Viv Stanshall)

Production

*Produced By Steve Winwood & Russ Titelman
*Mixed By Tom Lord-Alge
*Engineered By Jon Wolfson, Steve Rinkoff, Scott Mabuchi, Chris Lord-Alge, Tom Lord-Alge, Jeff Lord-Alge, Bruce Lampcov, Dave Greenberg, John Goldberger, Rob Eaton, Jason Corsaro, Nobby Clark, Ed Bruder, Sean Chennery, Jim Boyer & Claude "Swifty" Achille
*Drums, Percussion: Carol Steele, John Robinson, Steve Ferrone, Mickey Curry, Jimmy Bralower
*Bass: Phillipe Saisse
*Synthesized Bass: Steve Winwood, Phillipe Saisse
*Guitars: Steve Winwood, Joe Walsh, Ira Siegel, Nile Rodgers, Paul Pesco, Eddie Martinez
*Horns: George Young, Bob Mintzer, Louis Del Gatto, Randy Brecker
*Keyboards, Synthesizers: Steve Winwood, Andrew Thomas, Rob Mounsey, Robbie Kilgore, Arif Mardin, David Frank
*Drum Programming: Steve Winwood, Jimmy Bralower
*Horn Arrangements By David Frank
*Backing Vocals: James Taylor, Mark Stevens, Chaka Khan, James Ingram, Dan Hartman, Connie Harvey, Jocelyn Brown

Awards

*1986 Grammy Awards, Best Engineered Album, Non Classical
*1986 Grammy Awards, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, "Higher Love"
*1986 Grammy Awards, Record of the Year, "Higher Love"

Charts

AlbumSingles