Steve Winwood is a keyboardist who played in multiple short-lived British bands between the mid-Sixties and early-Seventies. These were the Spencer Davis Group, Powerhouse, Traffic and Blind Faith. We’ve already talked about Eric Clapton, Winwood’s bandmate in Powerhouse and Blind Faith. And we will talk about some of Winwood’s other former bandmates in the future. But for now, we focus on Steve Winwood’s self-titled solo debut, released in June 1977.
Though the album was a moderate commercial success, the singles were not nearly as big as Winwood might have hoped. The album opener “Hold On” didn’t chart. “Time Is Running Out” didn’t chart either, but it did get some rock airplay in the U.S. “Vacant Chair” did as well, though it was not an official single (i.e. not released on a 7-inch).
I have nothing but respect for Steve Winwood. I saw him in concert in 2017 and he was fantastic. However, most of the songs were from his older bands. He played very little from his solo material. According to Setlist.fm, nothing from his solo debut specifically had been performed live since the Eighties. Maybe he isn’t proud of the album in hindsight or maybe nobody wanted to hear it. If the former, then I understand a little after hearing the clumsily syncopated drumming in the verses on “Luck’s In.” Whatever it is, I am willing to argue that the album is overlooked. It isn’t life-changing, but it is a respectable 7 out of 10. A solid blue-eyed soul album and solo debut.
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