Back in the High Life is the fourth solo album by English singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood, released on 30 June 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.
Chaka Khan sang background vocals on "Higher Love"
For the title track of the album, multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood incorporated mandolin (pictured) along with piano, synth bass and a synth solo
Joe Walsh co-wrote "Split Decision" with Winwood
Jimmy Cliff opened for Winwood's tour
Stephen Lawrence Winwood is an English musician and songwriter whose genres include blue-eyed soul, rhythm and blues, blues rock and pop rock. Though primarily a guitarist, keyboard player and vocalist, prominent for his distinctive soulful high tenor voice, Winwood plays other instruments proficiently, including drums, mandolin, bass and saxophone.
Winwood in 2009
Winwood on organ with Spencer Davis Group (Amsterdam, 1966)
Winwood with Blind Faith (1969)
Winwood on stage with Traffic (1973)