Go on and listen to the Spencer Davis Group’s two big hits, “Gimme Some Love” and “I’m a Man.” That singer, Steve Winwood, isn’t yet 20 on those recordings. Although he sounds like a maniacal African American soul singer, Winwood’s remarkable talent was brought to prominence in England at an age when most future rock stars were just honing their craft.
In the late 60s hundreds of wildly talented and creative bands fought for the public’s attention. They all tried to carve out their own niche in the expanding world of rock and roll, but what became obvious was that most depended on the unit rather any individual performer. Led Zeppelin, The Who and the Rolling Stones each consisted of a set of individuals that naturally needed one another to propel their creativity.
That route never seemed to restrict or define Steve Winwood. While he’s been a member of hit-makers like the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith, we tend to view him as something completely separate — the most intriguing part of the whole. Whereas Jim Capaldi found his knack with Traffic, writing songs and penning lyrics, the band always felt like Winwood’s baby. That’s no slight toward Capaldi (who was also a highly inventive percussionist), but that’s just the presence Winwood had.
It was inevitable, really. Who knows if the industry types could sense it in 1967, but that organ player in the Spencer Davis Group, wailing with the gripping enthusiasm of Ray Charles, couldn’t help but make a mark on the music of his age.
Listening to those special Traffic albums is almost depressing – in a good way. Bands just don’t sound like this anymore, even when fronted by a musician with boundless ability and able backing. Traffic’s melodies curve and enwrap, and it’s a rare feat in music when a song pulls you into itself, withholding you from the rest of existence. Listen to “Coloured Rain,” “No Face, No Name and No Number,” “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” “Stranger to Himself” and “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys” to understand.
Winwood’s evolving exploits into the flexibility of music continues today, and it’s simply remarkable when considering the depth of his output. This is complex stuff, and always worth the listener’s effort.
The Quotable Winwood
“It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.”
“We released it on our own label, so it wasn’t really a wide distribution but for our own little humble operation, we were very happy with the results. But a lot of people have asked me what I’ve done lately. And I say I had an album out the last couple of years. They actually didn’t know that.”