Could Steve Winwood be the most underappreciated guitarist of the rock era? I know he's in the Rock'n'roll H of F but still. I was a fan of the Spencer Davis Group and a huge fan of Traffic. However, back then, I thought Winwood sang and played organ and Dave Mason handled the guitar work. Then in 1969 I was lucky enough to see Blind Faith in concert. To my astonishment, Winwood played circles around Clapton that night. Who knew he even played guitar?
This is great stuff. A reformed Traffic minus Wood and Mason with a few new members at Woodstock '94. There's supposedly a live album from this tour, opening for the Dead. I have to track it down. The Clapton/Winwood live album from a few years ago is brilliant, as well. You know, if fine guitar playing moves you. :cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0tf8FIPZsw
Also makes me wonder about other musicians who are known for one instrument but who are really good at another (or many others). Paul McCartney, for instance, is an incredible electric guitar player. Years ago, at our local Blues Festival, the late Jeff Healey played and, instead of guitar, he played trumpet all night. Go figure!
I have his Nine Lives album and found him an incredible musician. Higher Love is also worth listening. Hopefully, we would find good musicians like him in future with a good sense of playing instruments.
Yeah, Steve can play... just a musician from his head to his toes. Has a great touch with acoustic too. Here's a link where he "revisits" Can't Find My Way Home, barebones and beautiful...
Can't Find My Way Home (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI)
One more instrument I didn't know he played. This is pretty good and very a propos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ollyGgvGkU
Yeah, always liked Winwood, even as you say, back in the Spencer Davis Group days.
Lots of great music. KeshaFlansburg mentions Higher Love. :thumb:
One of my (Traffic) favorites:
The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys (https://youtu.be/UUrtAGu_8GQ)
Quote from: Queequeg on April 14, 2020, 12:07:01 PM
Yeah, always liked Winwood, even as you say, back in the Spencer Davis Group days.
Lots of great music. KeshaFlansburg mentions Higher Love. :thumb:
One of my (Traffic) favorites:
The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys (https://youtu.be/UUrtAGu_8GQ)
I love Traffic. Especially the second album. :thumb
Love Steve Winwood - in every band he's played in! Agree that on the Clapton / Winwood live concert (CD), he gives Clapton a run for his money playing tasty guitar (I've also always enjoyed J.J. Cale's unique style and tasty playing - someone else who travels [traveled, RIP] a different path than Clapton!).
That mandolin clip is great.
Another tidbit: in a Vintage Guitar article about Steve a few years ago, he mentioned that when he's home, he also sings in his local church choir - another way to use his incredible vocal gift...without having to be in the spotlight.
:+1:
A pretty obscure Steve Winwood effort was GO - a mid-70's collaboration with Stomu Yamashta and Michael Shrieve. I've lost my album liner, but Winner/Loser was written, composed and arranged by Steve Winwood. I did a YouTube search and found a live in Paris version, but it's not as good as the studio version. There was also a GO II, but I cannot find that album -it must have gotten lost in the shuffle :crying:
Chas
Quote from: Chasjax on April 21, 2020, 08:05:08 PM
A pretty obscure Steve Winwood effort was GO - a mid-70's collaboration with Stomu Yamashta and Michael Shrieve. I've lost my album liner, but Winner/Loser was written, composed and arranged by Steve Winwood. I did a YouTube search and found a live in Paris version, but it's not as good as the studio version. There was also a GO II, but I cannot find that album -it must have gotten lost in the shuffle :crying:
Chas
I have that around here somewhere. Sort of Traffic-like IIRC and not bad at all. :thumb
Eric Johnson, known for soaring melodic leads on electric also plays piano. A few years ago he was the headliner for one of the nights at the excellent Guitar Town festival held at Copper Mountain, CO each summer. He played piano😞
Loved that version of Back In The High Life with Steve playing mandolin, thanks for sharing!
More Winwood goodness - this is a nice, hopeful tune for the times we're in right now:
Steve Winwood - Now the Green Blade Riseth (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpU01KQIUJM)
Here are the lyrics (bonus - it's easy to play on guitar; just watch Steve!):
Now the Green Blade Riseth
1. Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain,
Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
2. In the grave they laid Him, Love who had been slain,
Thinking that He never would awake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
3. Forth He came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
4. When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
A little more info: If you recognize the tune, it's probably because it's an old French Carol that is also sung as "Sing We Now of Christmas".
A few years ago there was a Vintage Guitar Magazine interview with Winwood. He mentioned that when he's home in England, he sings with his local church choir. Some of that "faith tradition" is certainly coming through the above tune.
That's nice. I've been watching his solo (fireside) version of Can't Find My Way Home. The one pasted above, in fact. It's basically a tutorial. I think I've got it down. It's in drop C, by the way. Tune all down a step and then drop the low E string, now D, to C. Voila.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI
Quote from: ducktrapper on August 27, 2020, 06:49:59 PM
That's nice. I've been watching his solo (fireside) version of Can't Find My Way Home. The one pasted above, in fact. It's basically a tutorial. I think I've got it down. It's in drop C, by the way. Tune all down a step and then drop the low E string, now D, to C. Voila.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI
Very nice, have watched it several times.
I'm trying to decide which of my acoustics to keep tuned down a whole step (mostly to put some songs in a better vocal range for my "old fart"/Leo Kottke sorta voice). Then drop C would be even easier.
Quote from: Mikeymac on September 09, 2020, 10:04:37 AM
Very nice, have watched it several times.
I'm trying to decide which of my acoustics to keep tuned down a whole step (mostly to put some songs in a better vocal range for my "old fart"/Leo Kottke sorta voice). Then drop C would be even easier.
My D-35 is usually tuned down a whole step. Sounds awesome. Plus I can sing Wichita Lineman.