Paul says:"I'm posting this unreleased Steve Winwood concert because it's unique. It doesn't have fantastic sound, though it's definitely listenable, and the performance is a bit rough. But Winwood began his solo career in 1977 with the album simply titled "Steve Winwood," yet this was his only solo concert until 1983.
I don't know much about this concert. But I think it was for a charity connected to Nicole Tacot, a woman he married later that same year. Given that personal connection, it's understandable that he made this one exception to otherwise not during this time period. The location was out in the countryside, only a few miles from Winwood's house. No doubt, that location made it even more difficult for him to not take part.
I also am not totally sure, but I believe the concert was broadcast on the radio. That's why it sounds better than a typical audience bootleg. However, the sound quality could be better. I think I helped a bit by boosting the lead vocals on the songs where they were low in the mix.
Winwood played five out of the six songs on his 1977 album. Of those, "Let Me Make Something in Your Life," "Midland Maniac," and "Time Is Running Out" was only ever played in public in this concert. "Hold On" was only ever played one other time, and "Vacant Chair" was only additionally played a handful of times on his 1983 tour. Additionally, "Two-Way Stretch" is a Winwood original that only ever showed up as a B-side in 1981, and this was the only public performance of it. Plus, he ended the concert with a cover of the 1950s classic "Hound Dog," the only time he did that in concert. Also, he sang "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" in some other contexts, but this was the only time he did it in one of his solo concerts. Finally, remember Nicole Tacot, who I said he married later that year? She sang lead vocals on another cover, "Then He Kissed Me." Winwood never did that one in concert again either. She also sang backing vocals on the other songs.
So, like I said, this was a very unique concert. As if that isn't enough, some of the songs were done very differently than their studio versions, especially "Hold On" and "Vacant Chair.”"
This album is an hour and 28 minutes long.
01 I'm a Man (Steve Winwood)
02 Midland Maniac (Steve Winwood)
03 Hold On (Steve Winwood)
04 The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Steve Winwood)
05 Walking in the Wind (Steve Winwood)
06 Let Me Make Something in Your Life (Steve Winwood)
07 Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out (Steve Winwood)
08 talk (Steve Winwood)
09 Then He Kissed Me (Steve Winwood & Nicole Tacot)
10 Two-Way Stretch (Steve Winwood)
11 Vacant Chair (Steve Winwood)
12 Time Is Running Out (Steve Winwood)
13 Gimme Some Lovin' (Steve Winwood)
14 talk (Steve Winwood)
15 Hound Dog (Steve Winwood)
N.B. UPDATE! While Paul mentions he thinks this is a radio FM (sic) recording I have to say I disagree and apart from it being amongst the very first if not the ACTUAL first solo Winwood gig it is very POOR quality and sounds like a poor attempt at a balanced audience recording at best, if it’s from a soundboard it is not FM quality at all IMHO. The only reason it is staying put is that it is a unique song selection and includes the wonderful Vacant Chair (co-written with Viv Stanshall no less!) Still go download it anyway and pay your respects to Paul at ATSE and make your own mind up!
To make up for it thus comes one of my favourite Winwood songs of all time beloved of my wife and I. We followed Stevie from the earliest days and, his sojourns with Clapton not withstanding, have always enjoyed that experience and pretty much have every album I reckon . . . .
VACANT CHAIR [remastered 2010] - Steve Winwood
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