About Time is the eighth solo studio album by Steve Winwood, released in 2003. It was his first album since 1997 and it featured a return to a musical style more in line with his earlier work with Traffic. That style is emphasized in the three piece band lineup: Hammond B-3 organ, guitar and drums, occasionally joined by saxophone, flute, conga drums and miscellaneous percussion characteristic of the Traffic sound from 1971-1974.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote of the album "Winwood's voice is now a little rough (which comes as a surprise), it nevertheless fits the scaled-down, relaxed atmosphere. And if individual songs are not necessarily memorable, they don't necessarily need to be -- the feel is the thing here, and while it isn't first-rate Steve Winwood, it does feel like a welcome update from an old friend, which, after several years of waiting and several uneven records, is enough." Dan Aquilante of the New York Post praised About Time as a "very good" fusion of rock, funk, Latin and world-beat influences, highlighting its Hammond organ-driven arrangements, soulful vocals, musical experimentation and the funk-infused "Bully" as a standout.
Track listing
"Different Light" (Steve Winwood) – 6:35 "Cigano (For the Gypsies)" (S. Winwood, José Neto) – 6:20 "Take It to the Final Hour" (S. Winwood, Anthony Crawford) – 5:36 "Why Can't We Live Together" (Timmy Thomas) – 6:39 "Domingo Morning" (S. Winwood, Neto) – 5:06 "Now That You're Alive" (S. Winwood, Eugenia Winwood) – 5:29 "Bully" (S. Winwood, E. Winwood) – 5:40 "Phoenix Rising" (S. Winwood, William Topley) – 7:26 "Horizon" (S. Winwood, E. Winwood) – 4:31 "Walking On" (S. Winwood, Crawford) – 4:54 "Silvia (Who Is She?)" (S. Winwood, Neto) – 11:25
Bonus disc, 2004 Expanded Edition "Dear Mr. Fantasy" (live) (S. Winwood, J.Capaldi, C.Wood) – 8:17 "Why Can't We Live Together" (live) (Timmy Thomas) – 6:31 "Voodoo Chile" (Jimi Hendrix) – 14:49
Personnel Steve Winwood – vocals, Hammond B3 organ José Pires de Almeida Neto – guitars Walfredo Reyes Jr. – drums, additional percussion (2, 4) Karl Vanden Bossche – congas (2, 4, 6–8, 10) Richard Bailey – timbales (2, 4, 6–8, 10) Karl Denson – saxophone (1, 6), flute (8, 10)
Production Producer – Steve Winwood Associate Producer – Johnson Somerset Engineer – George Shilling Mixing and Assistant Engineer – James Towler Recorded and Mixed at Wincraft Studios Mastered by Tony Cousins at Metropolis Mastering (London, UK). Bonus Tracks mastered by Bunt Stafford-Clark at Townhouse Studios (London, UK). Artwork – Michael Rios Photography – Gordon Jackson CD Booklet – Andy Dutlinger and Mark Berger/Madison House Design Artist Management – Mick Newton at Atomic (London, UK); Madison House Inc. (Boulder, CO). Business Management – Brighton Jeffrey James (London, UK) and Charles Sussman (Nashville, TN).
Charts Chart (2003) PeakpositionJapanese Albums (Oricon) 174
References
External links Review at allaboutjazz.com