Arc of a Diver

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Arc of a Diver is the second solo studio album by singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood. Released in 1980, Winwood played all of the instruments on the album.

Featuring his first solo hit, "While You See a Chance" (which peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States), this was Winwood's breakthrough album as a solo artist. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart, establishing him as a commercially viable act.

The cover artwork for the album is by Tony Wright. He took inspiration from Jazz by Henri Matisse, notably VIII: Icarus.

Recording

The album was recorded at Winwood's Netherturkdonic Studios, built at his farm in Gloucestershire;[1] he played all the instruments, wrote all the music, producing and engineering it himself.[2]

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Reviewing for The Village Voice in June 1981, Robert Christgau credited Winwood for overdubbing all his self-performed instruments, but still found his brand of "British-international groove" more atmospheric than song-oriented and ultimately "lulling".[3] Robert Palmer was more enthusiastic in The New York Times, saying that Winwood has transformed himself into a "rock traditionalist" with the album. While highlighting "Dust" and the album's title track as "first-rate lyrics", Palmer said that "Winwood's impressive playing and arranging and utterly distinctive vocals make several of his collaborations with Will Jennings, especially the brooding 'Night Train,' almost as memorable."[4] In a retrospective review for AllMusic, William Ruhlmann wrote of the album, "Utterly unencumbered by the baggage of his long years in the music business, Winwood reinvents himself as a completely contemporary artist on this outstanding album, leading off with his best solo song, 'While You See a Chance'."[5]

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die,[6] and was voted number 455 in the third edition (2000) of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings except where noted.

Original release

Side one

  1. "While You See a Chance" – 5:12
  2. "Arc of a Diver" (Winwood, Vivian Stanshall) – 5:28
  3. "Second-Hand Woman" (Winwood, George Fleming) – 3:41
  4. "Slowdown Sundown" – 5:27

Side two

  1. "Spanish Dancer" – 5:58
  2. "Night Train" – 7:51
  3. "Dust" (Winwood, Fleming) – 6:20

2012 Deluxe reissue

Tracks 1–7 on disc one, per the 1980 release, with disc two containing bonus tracks.

  1. "Arc of a Diver" [edited US single version] (Winwood, Stanshall) – 4:16
  2. "Night Train" [instrumental version] – 6:44
  3. "Spanish Dancer" [2010 version] – 6:13
  4. "Arc of a Diver: The Steve Winwood Story" [originally aired on BBC Radio 2] – 56:33

Personnel

  • John "Nobby" Clarke – additional engineer
  • John Dent – mastering at The Sound Clinic (London, UK)
  • Tony Wright – artwork
  • Fin Costello – photography

Charts

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Sales and certifications

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References

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External links

Template:Steve Winwood

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