As a member of some of my favorite classic rock bands from the late 60’s (Blind Faith and Traffic), I’ve always been a massive stan for Steve Winwood. His gloriously high and rich tenor voice, his ability to play multiple instruments, and his emphasis on writing songs that prioritize the groove above all else have been hallmarks of his musical direction over his 50 year career. I can’t get enough.
On Arc of A Diver Winwood takes the blues rock elements that made him a star and introduces elements of what can be described as British-international groove, effectively turning in a soft rock pop album that sounds just at home in a Miami nightclub in the early 1980’s as it does in a dingy smoke-filled New York City bar in the early 2020’s. It’s the album that set his solo career on fire and set him on a synth-rock path that led to massive global hits throughout the 80’s.
But the best thing about this album is that the album liner credits almost read like a misprint— songwriting, arrangements, lead and backing vocals, Hammond organ, Steinway piano, acoustic guitar, Fender Strat electric guitar, Ibanez mandolin, bass guitar, Multimogg, Hayman drums, Minimoog, Prophet-5, and Yamaha CS-80 synthesizers…all credited to Winwood. And then there’s the production notes, where Winwood served as principal producer, engineer, and mixer as he wrote, recorded, and finalized the album by himself at his very own Netherturkdonic Studios that he built on his farm in Gloucestershire.
Considering the time period this was achieved in the age of analog recording, as well as the artistic talent seeping out of this album’s pores, it is one of the most stunning artistic achievements in music history.
Standout Songs: “While You See A Chance”, “Arc Of A Diver”, “Spanish Dancer”, “Dust”
Matthew. 