Thursday 9/1/22 7:15pm ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Chronicles (1987)

Chronicles is the first compilation album by Steve Winwood as a solo artist and released October 26, 1987. The album contains some of his major hits up to this point and new remixes produced by Tom Lord-Alge, who had helped commercialize Winwood’s sound on his previous album Back in the High Life. One track, “Valerie”, was originally released as a single for Winwood’s 1982 album, Talking Back to the Night. Despite the original single being a commercial flop, the remix of the song included in this album peaked at No. 9 on the US charts and No. 19 in the UK. The album peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 album chart and No. 12 in the UK.

It was Winwood’s last release with Island Records, before his departure to Virgin Records.

“Wake Me Up on Judgment Day” 5:42
“While You See a Chance” 4:02
“Vacant Chair” 4:31
“Help Me Angel” 5:03
“My Love’s Leavin'” 5:12
“Valerie” 4:05
“Arc of a Diver” 5:25
“Higher Love” 4:07
“Spanish Dancer” 4:35
“Talking Back to the Night” 4:06

Sunday 7/10/22 2pm ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Junction Seven (1997)

Junction Seven is the seventh solo studio album by English musician and songwriter Steve Winwood, released June 3, 1997. The album broke the Top 40 in the UK but did not sell well in the US, and Winwood took a six-year break from making solo albums (returning in 2003 with About Time). This album was co-produced with Narada Michael Walden, while Winwood’s wife Eugenia co-wrote several songs. Des’ree provided vocals on ‘Plenty Lovin’.

Junction 7 is the nearest motorway junction to Winwood’s childhood home, at Great Barr, Birmingham.

“Spy in the House of Love” 4:46
“Angel of Mercy” 5:02
“Just Wanna Have Some Fun” 4:57
“Let Your Love Come Down” 5:48
“Real Love” 5:21
“Fill Me Up” 4:27
“Gotta Get Back to My Baby” 4:52
“Someone Like You” 4:39
“Family Affair” 5:17
“Plenty Lovin'” 5:57
“Lord of the Street” 5:26

Steve Winwood – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1, 10, 11), guitar solos (1), Wurlitzer electric piano (2), Hammond B3 organ (2, 3, 11), wah wah guitar solo (2), clavinet (3, 11), synth sax solo (3), organ (4), lead guitar (4), acoustic piano (5, 9, 11), acoustic guitar (6), additional keyboards (7), claves (7), horn arrangements (7), percussion (9)
Michael McEvoy – additional keyboards (1, 2, 5), voice (2), synth vibes (4), additional acoustic piano (4), bass (5, 6), keyboards (6, 8), dobro (6), drum programming (6, 8), synth strings (8, 10), bass programming (8)
Narada Michael Walden – keyboards (1, 3, 5, 8–10), bass (1, 3, 8), drums (1, 9, 11), drum programming (1–6, 8, 9, 11), Hammond B3 bass (2), percussion (2, 3, 5, 9, 11), synthesizers (3, 11), organ (4), cymbals (8), synth bass (9)
Frank Martin – keyboards (3-5, 11), programming (3–5, 11), bass (5)
Rebeca Mauleón-Santana – acoustic piano (7), horn arrangements (7)
Jimi Fischer – wah wah guitar (1), additional drum programming (2), additional acoustic piano (4), additional bass (4)
Vernon “Ice” Black – guitar (3)
Lenny Kravitz – guitar (4)
Nile Rodgers – guitar (9)
José Neto – acoustic guitar, nylon electric guitar (10), guitar solo (10)
Marc Van Wageningen – bass (7)
Myron Dove – electric bass (9)
Gary Brown – electric bass (10)
Gigi Gonaway – percussion (1), MIDI drums (11)
Walfredo Reyes Jr. – percussion (3, 4, 7, 11), drums (7)
Walfredo Reyes Sr. – percussion (7), timbales (7)
Daniel Reyes – congas (7)
Jerry Hey – string arrangements and conductor (2, 5, 9), trumpet (3, 4), horn arrangements (3, 4)
Nathan Rubin – concertmaster (2, 5, 9)
Marc Russo – saxophone (3, 4)
Melecio Magdaluyo – saxophone (7)
Wayne Wallace – trombone (3, 4)
Jeff Cressman – trombone (7)
Louis Fasman – trumpet (7)
Bill Ortiz – trumpet (7)
Nikita Germaine – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9, 11)
Tina Gibson – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9, 11)
Skyler Jett – backing vocals (1–3, 7, 9, 11)
Tony Lindsey – backing vocals (1–3, 7, 9)
Annie Stocking – backing vocals (1–4, 7, 9, 11)
Sandy Griffith – backing vocals (4, 8)
Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (4, 8)
Simone Sauphanor – backing vocals (6, 7)
Ruby Turner – backing vocals (6, 7)
Eugenia Winwood – spoken word (6)
Des’ree – lead vocals (10)

Wednesday 7/6/22 1am ET: Live Track Show

Tonight:

Cheap Trick, Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Everything But The Girl, Specials, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, Journey, Neil Young, Heart, Korn, Def Leppard, Metallica, Roy Orbison, Radiohead, Who, Harry Chapin, Carole King, Sara Bareilles, Nils Lofgren, Steve Winwood, Eagles, Rolling Stones with Ike and Tina Turner, Doobie Brothers, Queen

Sunday 5/29/22 6pm ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Talking Back To The Night (1982)

Talking Back to the Night is the third solo studio album by English recording artist Steve Winwood, released August 2, 1982 and released less than two years after the top 3 hit Arc of a Diver, it failed to see as much success as its predecessor, reaching #28 on the Billboard 200. “Valerie” was a minor hit in 1982, but when it and the title track were remixed and re-released in 1987 for Chronicles, the newer version of the songs became top 10 hits. The track “Help Me Angel” was also remixed for Chronicles, and was then released for the first time as a single.

Winwood performed all of the instruments on this album.

1. “Valerie” 4:05
2. “Big Girls Walk Away” 3:51
3. “And I Go” 4:12
4. “While There’s a Candle Burning” 3:08
5. “Still in the Game” 4:49
6. “It Was Happiness” 4:59
7. “Help Me Angel” 5:05
8. “Talking Back to the Night” 5:43
9. “There’s a River” 4:40

Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, Prophet-5, Hammond B3, Linn LM-1 programming, percussion
Nicole Winwood – backing vocals (tracks 2 and 5)

Thursday 5/12/22 9am ET: Feature Artist – Steve Winwood (Part 2)

Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born May 12, 1948) is an English singer, songwriter and musician whose genres include progressive rock, blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, pop rock, and jazz. Though primarily a vocalist and keyboard player, Winwood also plays a wide variety of other instruments; on several of his solo albums he has played all instrumentation, including drums, mandolin, guitars, bass and saxophone.

Winwood was a key member of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Go. He also had a successful solo career with hits including “While You See a Chance”, “Valerie”, “Back in the High Life Again” and two US Billboard Hot 100 number ones, “Higher Love” and “Roll with It” charting 20 years after the start of his recording career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004.

In 2005 Winwood was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards for his “enduring influence on generations of music makers”. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood No. 33 in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Winwood has won two Grammy Awards. He was nominated twice for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist: 1988 and 1989. In 2011 he received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

Between 1978 and 1986, Winwood was married to Nicole Weir (d. 2005), who had contributed background vocals to some of his early solo work. The two married at Cheltenham Register Office.

Winwood’s primary residence is a 300-year-old manor house in the Cotswolds, England, where he also has a recording studio. Winwood also has a home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Eugenia Crafton, a native of Trenton, Tennessee whom he married in 1987. They have four children. Both were Patrons of the Cheltenham Festivals of music and literature between 2007 and 2015.

His daughter Lilly Winwood is a singer; she was featured with him performing a duet of his song “Higher Love” in a Hershey commercial. Lilly Winwood is the opening act and sings backup on multiple songs during Steve Winwood’s 2018 Greatest Hits Live tour.

Spencer David Group (1963 – 1967)
Traffic (1968 – 1974, 1994)
Blind Faith (1969)

Wednesday 5/11/22 10am ET: Feature Artist – Steve Winwood (Part 1)

Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born May 12, 1948) is an English singer, songwriter and musician whose genres include progressive rock, blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, pop rock, and jazz. Though primarily a vocalist and keyboard player, Winwood also plays a wide variety of other instruments; on several of his solo albums he has played all instrumentation, including drums, mandolin, guitars, bass and saxophone.

Winwood was a key member of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Go. He also had a successful solo career with hits including “While You See a Chance”, “Valerie”, “Back in the High Life Again” and two US Billboard Hot 100 number ones, “Higher Love” and “Roll with It” charting 20 years after the start of his recording career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004.

In 2005 Winwood was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards for his “enduring influence on generations of music makers”. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood No. 33 in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Winwood has won two Grammy Awards. He was nominated twice for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist: 1988 and 1989. In 2011 he received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

Between 1978 and 1986, Winwood was married to Nicole Weir (d. 2005), who had contributed background vocals to some of his early solo work. The two married at Cheltenham Register Office.

Winwood’s primary residence is a 300-year-old manor house in the Cotswolds, England, where he also has a recording studio. Winwood also has a home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Eugenia Crafton, a native of Trenton, Tennessee whom he married in 1987. They have four children. Both were Patrons of the Cheltenham Festivals of music and literature between 2007 and 2015.

His daughter Lilly Winwood is a singer; she was featured with him performing a duet of his song “Higher Love” in a Hershey commercial. Lilly Winwood is the opening act and sings backup on multiple songs during Steve Winwood’s 2018 Greatest Hits Live tour.

Spencer David Group (1963 – 1967)
Traffic (1968 – 1974, 1994)
Blind Faith (1969)

Monday 3/14/22 8am ET: Steve Winwood – Back In The High Life (1986)

Back in the High Life is the fourth solo album by English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, released on June 30, 1986. The album proved to be Winwood’s biggest success to that date, certified Gold in the UK and 3× Platinum in the US, and it reached the top twenty in most Western countries. It collected three Grammy Awards and generated five hit singles, starting with “Higher Love”, which became Winwood’s first Billboard Hot 100 number-one chart topper, coming 20 years after he first entered that chart with “Keep on Running” by the Spencer Davis Group. Other global hit singles from the album were “Freedom Overspill”, “Back in the High Life Again” and “The Finer Things”. The single “Split Decision”, with ex-Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, was a US hit.

Musically, the album was polished and sophisticated, representative of pop production in the 1980s, featuring Winwood’s style of layered synthesizers and electronic drums that he had established with Arc of a Diver (1980). Unlike his two prior albums, on which he played every instrument himself, Winwood made extensive use of session musicians for this album, including Joe Walsh and Nile Rogers on guitars and JR Robinson on drums. Winwood himself also performed on a large number of instruments, combining live-played instruments with synthesizers and programming. Prominent backing vocals were provided by established stars, including Chaka Khan on “Higher Love”, James Ingram on “Finer Things”, and James Taylor on the title track. The album showcased Winwood’s lifelong fascination with the fusion of styles, bringing folk, gospel and Caribbean sounds into a rock, pop and R&B milieu. As with his previous albums, Back in the High Life served as an uplifting alternative to the angry or political punk that was sweeping the rock world.

The album was recorded and released during a time of significant change in Winwood’s personal life. After touring North America to promote the album during August–November 1986, Winwood divorced in England and then married in New York City. He bought a second home in Nashville, where he organized his next project, Chronicles, a retrospective album of earlier songs, including some remixes engineered by Tom Lord-Alge, whom Winwood had befriended in the making of Back in the High Life.

1. “Higher Love” 5:45
2. “Take It As It Comes” 5:20
3. “Freedom Overspill” 5:33
4. “Back in the High Life Again” 5:33
5. “The Finer Things” 5:47
6. “Wake Me Up on Judgment Day” 5:48
7. “Split Decision” 5:58
8. “My Love’s Leavin'” 5:19

Steve Winwood – lead vocals, backing vocals (1–3, 8), synthesizer (1, 4, 6, 7), drum machine programming (1, 3–6, 8), sequencer programming (1–3, 5, 6), keyboards (2, 5, 8), guitar (2, 8), Hammond organ (3, 7), synth bass (3), synth piano (4), mandolin (4), Moog bass (4, 7, 8), synth solo (5, 8)
Andrew Thomas – PPG Waveterm synthesizer programming (1, 5, 6)
Robbie Kilgore – synthesizer and sequencer programming, additional keyboards (5), additional synthesizer (6, 7), synth bell (8)
Rob Mounsey – additional synthesizer (4), additional keyboards (5), synth strings (8)
Philippe Saisse – synth bass (1)
Nile Rodgers – rhythm guitar (1, 6)
Eddie Martinez – lead guitar (1), rhythm guitar (3)
Joe Walsh – slide guitar (3), guitar (7)
Paul Pesco – guitar (5)
Ira Siegel – lead guitar (6)
John “JR” Robinson – drums (1, 4–7)
Mickey Curry – drums (2)
Steve Ferrone – drums (3)
Carole Steele – tambourine (1, 2, 7), congas (1, 5), percussion (3, 6, 8)
Jimmy Bralower – additional drum machine programming (1, 3–6)
David Frank – synth horns (1, 6), horn arrangements (2, 3)
Arif Mardin – synth string arrangements (8)
Lewis Del Gatto – baritone and tenor saxophones (2, 3)
Bob Mintzer – tenor saxophone (2, 3)
George Young – alto saxophone (2, 3)
Tom Malone – trombone (2, 3)
Randy Brecker – trumpet (2, 3)
Chaka Khan – backing vocals (1)
James Taylor – backing vocals (4)
James Ingram – backing vocals (5)
Dan Hartman – backing vocals (5)
Jocelyn Brown – backing vocals (6, 7)
Connie Harvey – backing vocals (6, 7)
Mark Stevens – backing vocals (6, 7)

Friday 1/7/22 3pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1981 (by title) A to Z – Part 4

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1981 A2Z.

We continue with letter D. We feature music from: Frankie Smith, Men At Work, Robbie Paton, Phil Collins, Bill Squier, Little River Band, Replacements, Cars, Steve Winwood, Depeche Mode, Kim Carnes, Humble Pie and many more. . .

3pm to 6pm ET

Friday 12/10/21 9pm ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Arc of A Diver (1981)

Arc of a Diver is the second solo studio album by singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood. Released December 31, 1980, Winwood played all of the instruments on the album.

Featuring his first solo hit, “While You See a Chance” (which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States), this was Winwood’s breakthrough album as a solo artist. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart, establishing him as a commercially viable act.

The cover artwork for the album is by Tony Wright. He took inspiration from Jazz by Henri Matisse, notably VIII: Icarus.

“While You See a Chance” – 5:12
“Arc of a Diver” – 5:28
“Second-Hand Woman” – 3:41
“Slowdown Sundown” – 5:27
“Spanish Dancer” – 5:58
“Night Train” – 7:51
“Dust” – 6:20

Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, pianos, synthesizers, organ, acoustic guitar, electric guitars, mandolin, bass, drums, percussion, drum machine, production, engineering, mixing

Monday 6/21/21 12am ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Revolutions (2010)

Revolutions – The Very Best of Steve Winwood is the sixth compilation album by Steve Winwood. The album includes music from Winwood’s solo career, as well as groups with which he has performed, including the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, and Blind Faith. The CD was released as a box set and a single disc. As of October 2014, the box set is out of print (but can be purchased digitally), while the single disc is still available. The songs “The Finer Things” and “Roll With It” are exclusive to the single disc version and cannot be found on the box set.

In addition the version of “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” on both versions of this compilation is a different mix where various solos not on the original album version are heard. There is no indication of this on the album, but like other songs on the compilation, it is clearly different.

The Spencer Davis Group – “Gimme Some Lovin” 2:57
The Spencer Davis Group – “I’m a Man” 2:57
Traffic – “40,000 Headmen” 3:16
Traffic – “No Face No Name, No Number” 3:32
Traffic – “Dear Mr. Fantasy” 5:37
Traffic – “The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” [Edit] 11:31
Traffic – “Glad” 7:01
Blind Faith – “Can’t Find My Way Home” 3:17
Steve Winwood – “While You See a Chance” [Edit] 4:10
Steve Winwood – “Valerie” 4:07
Steve Winwood – “Spanish Dancer 2010” [Radio Edit] 3:30
Steve Winwood – “The Finer Things” [Edit] (Jennings, Winwood) 4:11
Steve Winwood – “Higher Love” 5:48
Steve Winwood – “Back in the High Life Again” 4:23
Steve Winwood – “Roll with It” [Edit] (Jennings, Winwood) 4:29
Steve Winwood – “Dirty City” (Featuring Eric Clapton) 4:03
Steve Winwood – “Don’t You Know What The Night Can Do?” [Edit] 4:29

Monday 5/17/21 1:15am ET: Feature LP: Traffic – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is the fifth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in November 1971. It was their first studio album to feature percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, and the only studio appearance of drummer Jim Gordon and bassist Ric Grech. Grech had previously worked with Traffic singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood in the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith while Gordon had played with another former Blind Faith member, Eric Clapton, in the similarly short-lived Derek and the Dominos. Drums on the track ‘Rainmaker’ are played by Only Ones drummer Mike Kellie.

As with other Traffic albums, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys featured varied influences, including jazz, folk music and Classical. The name of the album’s title track was suggested by the actor Michael J. Pollard.

The album features the minor hit “Rock & Roll Stew” and the title track, which received heavy FM airplay. This is the only Traffic album to feature two lead vocals by Jim Capaldi (“Light Up or Leave Me Alone” and “Rock & Roll Stew”). His only other lead vocal on a Traffic album was “Dealer” from Mr. Fantasy (1967).

The LP’s front cover is notable for its top right and bottom left corners being clipped, giving the illusion of a three-dimensional cube. On original pressings of the UK and some European versions, the title of both the album and song are shown as ‘The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys’ (with a hyphen) on the record labels.

The album was certified gold less than a year after its release in the United States, and eventually certified platinum in 1996. It was remastered and reissued with one bonus track on March 19, 2002, included in this presenttion.

It was voted number 625 in Colin Larkin’s All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000).

1. “Hidden Treasure” 4:11
2. “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” 11:41
3. “Rock & Roll Stew” 4:23
4. “Many a Mile to Freedom” 7:16
5. “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” 4:48
6. “Rainmaker” 7:52
7. “Rock & Roll Stew Parts 1 & 2” 6:07

Steve Winwood – lead vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6), guitar, piano, organ
Jim Capaldi – lead vocals (tracks 3, 5), percussion, backing vocals (track 6)
Chris Wood – saxophone, flute
Ric Grech – bass, violin
Jim Gordon – drums
Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion
Mike Kellie – drums (track 6)

Saturday 7/11/2020 12am ET: Feature LP: Steve Winwood – Roll With It (1988)

Roll with It is the fifth solo studio album by English blue-eyed soul artist Steve Winwood, released on June 21, 1988. It topped the album charts in the United States, and has sold over three million copies. The title cut topped the pop and rock singles charts. The success led the subsequent songs to serve as singles, “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do?” and “Holding On”. “Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do?” had been written by Winwood to be featured in an ad campaign for Michelob which began running on American television on the day of the Roll with It album’s US release. Two other tracks from Roll with It: “Hearts on Fire” and “Put on Your Dancing Shoes”, also achieved radio airplay.

“Roll with It” – 5:20
“Holding On” – 6:15
“The Morning Side” – 5:14
“Put on Your Dancing Shoes” – 5:11
“Don’t You Know What the Night Can Do?” – 6:54
“Hearts on Fire” – 5:15
“One More Morning” – 4:58
“Shining Song” – 5:28
“Roll With It” (Extended) – 9:41

Tuesday 2pm ET: Feature Artist – Steve Winwood

Stephen Lawrence Winwood (born May 12, 1948) is an English singer, songwriter and musician whose genres include progressive rock, blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock, pop rock, and jazz. Though primarily a vocalist and keyboard player, Winwood also plays a wide variety of other instruments; on several of his solo albums he has played all instrumentation, including drums, mandolin, guitars, bass and saxophone.

Winwood was a key member of The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith and Go. He also had a successful solo career with hits including “While You See a Chance”, “Valerie”, “Back in the High Life Again” and two US Billboard Hot 100 number ones, “Higher Love” and “Roll with It” charting 20 years after the start of his recording career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic in 2004.

In 2005 Winwood was honored as a BMI Icon at the annual BMI London Awards for his “enduring influence on generations of music makers”. In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Winwood No. 33 in its 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Winwood has won two Grammy Awards. He was nominated twice for a Brit Award for Best British Male Artist: 1988 and 1989. In 2011 he received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Song Collection.

Between 1978 and 1986, Winwood was married to Nicole Weir (d. 2005), who had contributed background vocals to some of his early solo work. The two married at Cheltenham Register Office.

Winwood’s primary residence is a 300-year-old manor house in the Cotswolds, England, where he also has a recording studio. Winwood also has a home in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Eugenia Crafton, a native of Trenton, Tennessee whom he married in 1987. They have four children. Both were Patrons of the Cheltenham Festivals of music and literature between 2007 and 2015.

His daughter Lilly Winwood is a singer; she was featured with him performing a duet of his song “Higher Love” in a Hershey commercial. Lilly Winwood is the opening act and sings backup on multiple songs during Steve Winwood’s 2018 Greatest Hits Live tour.