As a solo artist, Steve Winwood is primarily associated with the highly polished blue-eyed soul-pop that made him a star in the '80s. Yet his turn as a slick, upscale mainstay of adult contemporary radio was simply the latest phase of a long and varied career, one that's seen the former teenage R&B shouter move through jazz, psychedelia, blues-rock, and progressive rock. Possessed of a powerful, utterly distinctive voice, Winwood was also an excellent keyboardist who remained an in-demand session musician for most of his career, even while busy with high-profile projects. That background wasn't necessarily apparent on his solo records, which established a viable commercial formula that was tremendously effective as long as it was executed with commitment.
Few artists have the back catalogue to merit a truly exhaustive box set, but Steve Winwood is certainly one of them. Indeed, the singer/songwriter/keyboardist has had so many phases over his career that it takes a box of four discs just to provide a proper overview. The first disc is evenly split between the blues-rock of the Spencer Davis Group and the folkish psychedelia of Traffic's original incarnation. After half a disc's worth of Blind Faith tracks (including two live tunes and revelatory alternate take of the band's pinnacle, "Can't Find My Way Home"), the second and third discs cover the jazz-prog of the reunited Traffic. (This version of the band combined folk, jazz, and progressive rock, while mostly steering clear of aimless noodling.) Finally, the fourth disc is an excellent summary of the well-crafted, mature pop songs that have marked Winwood' Rolling Stone - "...Given the breadth of his career, the surprising thing about Steve Winwood's The Finer Things is its consistency....Some very fine things indeed..."
Tracklist:
DISC 1:
01. Dimples
02. I Can't Stand It
03. Every Little Bit Hurts
04. Strong Love
05. Keep on Running
06. Somebody Help Me
07. When I Come Home
08. I Want to Know
09. Crossroads
10. Gimme Some Lovin'
11. I'm a Man
12. Paper Sun
13. Dealer
14. Coloured Rain
15. No Name, No Number No Face
16. Heaven Is in Your Mind
17. Smiling Phases
18. Dear Mr. Fantasy
19. Pearly Queen
20. Forty Thousand Headmen
21. No Time to Live
22. Shanghai Noodle Factory
23. Medicated Goo
24. Withering Tree
DISC 2:
01. Had to Cry Today
02. electric version) Can't Find My Way Home - (previously unreleased
03. Sea of Joy
04. Sleeping in the Ground - (previously unreleased)
05. Under My Thumb - (previously unreleased)
06. Stranger to Himself
07. John Barleycorn
08. Glad
09. Freedom Rider
10. Empty Pages
11. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
12. Rainmaker
DISC 3:
01. Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory
02. (Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired
03. Happy Vibes - (African Languages)
04. Something New
05. Dream Gerrard
06. Walking in the Wind
07. When the Eagle Flies
08. Winner/Loser
09. Crossing the Line
10. Hold On
11. Time Is Running Out
12. Vacant Chair
DISC 4:
01. While You See a Chance
02. Arc of a Diver
03. Spanish Dancer
04. Night Train
05. Dust
06. Valerie
07. Talking Back to the Night
08. Your Silence Is Your Song
09. Higher Love
10. Freedom Overspill
11. Back in the High Life Again
12. The Finer Things
13. Roll with It
14. Don't You Know What the Night Can Do?
15. One and Only Man
Media Info:
Bitrate: 320 kbps
Channels: joint stereo
Samplerate: 44100
Encoder: LAME 3.99
MPEG-1 layer 3
MUCH Peace n luv to all my friends at 1337x and blazinseedboxes
ENJOY!!
**tyvm and all due respect to zh and all those who care enough to share
