Check out Stevie when he was with the band Traffic, "Low spark of high heeled boys" and remember when listening, what you think you are hearing, is not what you are hearing.
With a voice like that, and Chaka Khan singing harmony and background vocals, a beat you can dance to and not want the song to end, this song could not lose. Love Steve Winwood!
Steve Winwood is amazing and hell yes he can sing and play. Anybody that can hang with Chaka Khan can most definitely sing! And yes, that is Niles Rodgers on bass.
He started with Spencer Davis at 14 but their first record was released when he was 16. Both I'm a Man and Gimme Some Lovin' were written and recorded when he was 18. The latter was conceived, written, rehearsed, and a rough demo made by the band in about 45 minutes.
Steve Winwood is one of the most underrated musical geniuses of rock. Played with Hendrix, Clapton, Baker, Mason, Muscle Shoals Swampers, and may have been the best musician in each of those gigs. And what a voice.
I don't think he is underrated at all. He's played with some of the greatest bands -- Spencer Davis, Bind Faith, Traffic. He's played with some of the greatest musicians -- Clapton, Ginger Baker, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, Jimi Hendrix.
This song is sooooooooooooooooooooo underrated! Easily in one of my top 20 songs of all time across every type of music. The lyrics are realer than people give credit for. This song is a prayer, period. I church to this all the time.
Nile Rodgers has produced a large amount of musicians for years.Duran Duran , Steve Winwood,and many more. Likely produced his band Chic in the '70's..
Jamel please try also these other greatest songs from him" While you see a chance" , "Valerie" , "Why can't we live together" & from his old group "Spencer davis group" the song Gimme some lovin'
Back in the highlife is a must.. but you can’t beat young Steve winwood vocals. Blind faith “Had to cry today” Spencer’s Davis group “gimmie some lovin” Traffic “dear Mr fantasy”. Can’t beat young winwood vocals.
@@neonpark1874 yes let’s also not forget split decision. He and Clapton are my top two favorite musicians of all time. The man can literally play almost every instrument and amazing vocals unlike anybody. If you haven’t checked out him and Clapton at MSG it’s an amazing concert. I have the SE DVd and watch it all the time.
I love this song! You can’t go wrong with Steve Winwood, Chaka Khan, and Nile Rogers on guitar! I loved when Chaka did that twirl, she looked like the black Stevie Nicks then! 😂❤️❤️
Perfect 80s slice of blue eyed soul. This has everything, orchestra hits, Latin rhythms, funk guitar, synth bass and Chaka Khan on vocals. What’s not to like!
Jamel - Chaka Khan was thrilled to be on stage with Steve! He is a colossus who has never been out of the limelight since 1965. Clapton searched him out to form Blind Faith; EVERYBODY wants to play with Steve. BTW, the organ on Jimi Hendrix' song "Voodoo Child" is Steve! THAT'S one to check out.
BTW, not "Voodoo Child - Slight Return" which is the more played song. The original "Voodoo Child" on the "Electric Ladyland" album. Then listen to the rest of the album!
That was Niles Rodgers on guitar. Jamel probably knows him from Le Chic and Sister Sledge. And yeah, Steve Winwood is one of the most respected musicians ever, by everyone.
BTW, no disrespect to Chaka Khan - Steve is also thrilled to be on stage with her. My context is, Steve could be on stage with Tina Turner and they'd both be turned on to be sharing the stage with a peer.
I had forgotten that Chaka Kahn was in this with him. I still think she’s one of the most beautiful and talented women on the planet, she, and Annie Lennox.
Yes, PLEASE!! I requested that yesterday, the official video version. Besides it being a fantastic song and an incredible performance by everyone playing, that video is brilliant! Just as high quality as a really well made movie.
If you rewatch the tribute to George Harrison “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Prince, you will see STEVE WINWOOD on the keys in the back!
I love this collaboration between Steve and Chaka! Don’t we all feel about life and love and soul like this song sounds?! I hope we’ve all been blessed to have felt like that at some time or another.
Winwood is extremely talented. On Arc of a Diver he wrote all of the songs, played all of the instruments, engineered and produced the entire album. Also, the album was recorded in his own studio
Flogged this album like a dead horse back in the day.... Poor old Stereo! Yeah for those who remember what that was, turn tables tape decks, reel to reel, amps woodgrain finish 👂🎵👂🎵👂🎵 dial it up!!!!
Last year, I was given a non emergency ambulance ride from Downey, Ca to L A Kaiser Sunset Hospital for an exploratory cardiac angiogram. The procedure discovered a 90% blockage in the artery known as the “widow maker”. The doctor placed a stent in the artery and needless to say, saved my life. This song was played on the radio during my ambulance ride. Every time I hear this song since then , it reminds me of the experience.
@@garylindsey5174 You know these days when I’m with others and that tune is playing, inevitably someone mentions how good the harmonies are. I usually respond with something like “hell yeah they are, that’s James Taylor.”
@@klonidier Hell yeah. I used to love picking voices out and then finding I was right. Not sure if you're familiar with this, but one I could never confirm, was on Van Morrison ' s "Brown Eyed Girl". The backup on the "shout la la la la la la la la latida" sounds like the guy from The Amazing Rythym Aces, known for the song "Third Rate Romance". Never could confirm that and did a lot of searching lol
This is Steve Winwood in the 80's. Disco had died, and the world was ready for some soulful rock and soul. Not only is Chaka Khan on this video, but did you notice who is playing guitar? That is Niles Rogers from the group Chic ("Le Freak"), and who also did "Get Lucky" with Daft Punk just a few years ago! Steve played organ on Voodoo Child (Live version) with Jimi Hendrix, and has played with all the greats. He was known as someone who loved to jam. He is The Man!
@@emmef7970 I don't know about that - Hall and Oates are his contemporaries. I think Winwood's a better dancer, more relaxed and "natural" than Bowie. Also much better looking, but that's a matter of opinion.
I was wondering when you would notice Chaka Khan, so when you didn't at first...and then you did see that it was Chaka! I loved your reaction ! Steve Winwood is a GENIUS! sooo is Chaka too!!!!
Just waiting for your reaction to seeing Chaka Khan was worth it! This takes me back to 1985 and my first solo trip around the UK, this song was on my mix tape and always cheered me up on the trains and buses. Thank you, brother Jamel 🙌🏼
Lady LC: I think we were all waiting for that moment when he would recognize Chaka Khan in the video. The expression on his face was PRICELESS! Cheers!
Legend has it that Chaka’s recordlabel didn’t want Chaka to be credited as a duet, because she had a solo record coming out a little later. They were afraid of mixed messages in the marketing of Chaka. Consider Steve Winwoods Roll with it...
That was an awful marketing team. Chaka co-wrote Addicted to Love with Robert Palmer as a duet and Warner Brothers her record label took her vocals out for the same reasons. Dumb move.
This was when I discovered the glory that is Steve Winwood and was instantly smitten. Had to go back to listen to his previous groups, who I had heard of but didn’t know he was a part of. Still one of my all time favorite singers ❤️ Check out his Madison Square Garden concert with Eric Clapton. Two legends together ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Steve Winwood making incredible music since the 1960's with; Spencer Davis, Traffic, Blind Faith and of course as a solo artist. JJ, you can drown in this man's catalog and your reactions to any of those would be enlightening.
This is one of my go-tos when I need an emotional pick up. It's just impossible to sit still when listening to Steve Winwood. That bass line is courtesy of Philippe Saisse, playing a synth-bass, and it DEMANDS that you move, and pulls you onto the dance floor. "Back in the High Life" is a different kind of song. It's very emotional and introspective.
That's our girl, MISS CHAKA KHAN😍sliding in on the harmonies & the grooving in the video~ Luv it! Try "High Life"💜( Still watching ads~u guys still donating? Say "hey" to Mama & them for me!😉✌
Jamel: check out Steve's daughter Lily singing a slow beautiful version of his Higher Love song with him doing backup on the Chorus, also fantastic!!! Cheers!
Steve Winwood is what you might call a "quiet superstar", by which I mean he wrote his first hit song when he was seventeen (I think), has played with and written for countless louder superstars, and he's still touring: stevewinwood.com/events. He's 72.
This song caught me totally by surprise. I have always loved his music but this song went to another level. I read that he played all the instruments on this album.
My father loved Steve Winwood. This song holds a special place in my heart as, when my father was in his final hour, I put my headphones on him and cranked it. I'd like to believe what they say about your hearing being the last to go. I wanted him to transition to a great song. - I only smile when I hear it; no sadness with Steve.
Steve Winwood has been around since the '60s. It's amazing how he can change with the times. This song is VERY '80's and more poppy than his classic music from the old days. Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys and Dear Mr. Fantasy are fantastic songs from when he was in the band Traffic. Must listen to both. I always thought he was just a piano player, but I watched a video recently of him with Eric Clapton, and Winwood was jamming on the guitar. Quite impressive. This guy is definitely a phenomenal talent. He was like 16 when he sang for the Spencer Davis group.
Steve is my favorite artist. Kinda glad you waited until you were fully immersed in rock before you discovered him. Love your face when you realize Chaka Kahn is singing back-up. Ain't Nobody Better than her :-)
Gimme Some Lovin' - Steve is so young in this but his voice...wow! It's from the 60's and you'll love it Jamel! It's my 67th birthday today and if you play it I'll get the best present!
Steve’s handlers had him look all city slicker for marketability, but he actually is a back to the country type guy. Back in the day, his band Traffic had an old farmhouse out in the boonies of England with the living room set up with their instruments and got inspiration from living the mellow “nature boy “ life.
He still lives rurally, plays the organ at the local church and records music in his barn. I recently mistook him for a farmer at an event with his wife, as he was sat quietly in a tweed jacket in the corner. Lovely man. His latest Covid music upload is about life springing forth from the soil ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-vpU01KQIUJM.html
@@fredackrill, Thanks for offering that up ! Very cool song. It bookends well with my first listen to Steve, when I was 13. My friend’s older sister found us listening to 60s Pop songs and showed us albums by Cream and Hendrix, then put on the song “John Barleycorn Must Die”. Been a big fan ever since - had 4 albums of Traffic in my collection during high school. Finally had a chance to see his live show in 2017 - so impressive !
This song is still a masterpiece after all these years, even when he plays it in a more stripped down version as he does these days. This entire album, Back in the High Life, is just incredible start to finish (I wore out the vinyl in my teens). By the way, in addition to Chaka Khan, that's Nile Rogers in the video. He had stellar help on this album beyond those two, including James Taylor and Joe Walsh. Thank you for another wonderful reaction, Jamel.
I saw Winwood in 1992 on tour for Refugees of the Heart. There were 2 drum kits set up on the stage. He went back and did a drum duet with the touring drummer. I turned to my friends and said it was probably going to melt into the intro for Higher Love. I was correct. Good times. Two years later I saw him live again for the Traffic reunion.
If you're going to have someone sing harmony with you, can there be anyone better than Chaka Khan? BTW, if you want diversity, check out Roll With It by Steve. I think you'll love it; I know I do!
