“Arc Of A Diver” by Steve Winwood - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1980 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1980s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

The fourth album from the 32-year-old singer-songwriter (the second solely credited to himself) arrived in December, 1980 to great critical acclaim, giving him a #13 hit in the UK and a huge #3 hit in the U.S. Impressively, the entire set was recorded at his home in Gloucestershire, and he played and produced the entire thing all by himself, using acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass, drums, percussion, drum machines, pianos, synthesizers and organ. Even did his own backing vocals. Preventing him from being labelled a superhuman freak of nature, he enlisted the help of others to write lyrics, most notably Will Jennings, introduced to him through Van Morrison. The hummable opener “While You See A Chance” was huge for him, ascending to #7 in the US, whilst the follow-up “Arc Of A Diver” (featuring the lyrics of head-Bonzo Viv Stanshall) peaked at #48. I offer a passmark to “Spanish Dancer” at the beginning of side two as it has some interesting synthesizer bubble and twinkle to it, but by and large the sterile and ho-hum sound elsewhere on the set leaves me thoroughly cold.

The Jukebox Rebel
15–Oct–2016

Tracklist

A1	[05:12] Steve Winwood - While You See A Chance (Steve Winwood, Will Jennings) Pop
A2	[05:28] Steve Winwood - Arc Of A Diver (Steve Winwood, Vivian Stanshall) Pop
A3	[03:41] Steve Winwood - Second-Hand Woman (Steve Winwood, George Fleming) Pop
A4	[05:27] Steve Winwood - Slowdown Sundown (Steve Winwood, Will Jennings) Pop Ballad
B1	[05:58] Steve Winwood - Spanish Dancer (Steve Winwood, Will Jennings) Cerebral Pop
B2	[07:51] Steve Winwood - Night Train (Steve Winwood, Will Jennings) Soft Rock / A.O.R.
B3	[06:20] Steve Winwood - Dust (Steve Winwood, George Fleming) Pop

ratings by TJR