This Island compilation was released before Winwood escaped to Virgin and recorded the 'Roll With It' and 'Refugees of the Heart' CDs. But for me, it has most, if not all, of Winwood's catchiest pop songs: 'While You See a Chance', 'Valerie' and 'Vacant Chair' in particular. 'Wake Me Up on Judgement Day' is also a classic track. As another reviewer notes, there's perhaps too much of the 80s-genre crashing drum sound which fell from grace in the 90s. But despite that, there are some superb songs here.


In, Out, Possibly Back To High Life w/Winwood' s Greatest   May 2, 2000
Anthony G Pizza (FL)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

When "Chronicles," was released in 1987, Steve Winwood was enjoying crossover success much like Carlos Santana enjoys today: Grammys, #1 hits, sexy videos, commercial endorsements, public and critical acclaim. After 20 years' hard work, Britain's most soulful voice and bluesiest organist was finally back in the high life.

"Chronicles" explains and justifies that success, but leaves clues to its eventual, inevitable end. The music is delightful and immaculately crafted, melodically twisting and turning where least expected (most notably "Higher Love," "Arc of A Diver," "Valerie," slightly remixed here). Production was state-of-the-art and featured tasteful, fitting roles by stellar guests (James Taylor, James Ingram, Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan). Winwood ruled a new strain of AC rock that included many of his contemporaries (Clapton, Stewart, American Billy Joel, etc.).

But Winwood's sound (jazzy synth lines, big drums) fell from favor as aggressive, guitar oriented rock shouted British R&B rockers (Winwood, Joe Cocker, the younger Paul Young) off the charts). Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton sustained with "Unplugged" sets; Winwood's studio craftsmanship made that impractical. Thus, Steve Winwood has not charted a hit single in 10 years.

Here's hoping a new generation of musicians appreciates Winwood's influence enough to join him in creating a megahit album like Santana's "Supernatural." That, and an update of this set, would successfully update Steve Winwood's legendary, if dormant, rock career. Nonetheless, a recommended set.


Good introduction to one of Britain's rock legends   August 7, 2001
Pete Walker (Church Stretton, Shropshire, England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This compilation from Steve Winwood's first four solo albums on Island Records was issued in 1987 to capitalise on his success the previous year with 'Back in the high life'. It includes the memorable 'Vacant chair', from his first solo album (in 1977) and three tracks from each of the subsequent albums before he changed record labels after hitting the big time with 'High life'. Winwood's urgent, soulful vocals are instantly recognisable, and the songs chosen here are all excellent examples of his style. His distinctive organ and synthesizer soloing is also well in evidence. Interestingly, the three selections from the 'Talking back to the night' album have been specially remixed by Tom Lord-Alge, who mixed the immensely successful 'High life' album, and as a result they have a more powerful, commercial sound than the original versions.

The album runs to 55 minutes and only 10 (albeit long) tracks, and it's a pity that more songs were not included. It can't be described as a 'Greatest hits' because there are only really three hit singles on it ('While you see a chance', 'Higher love' and 'Valerie') so this would have been an ideal opportunity to include perhaps an extra track from each of the four albums. However, it gives a good overview of the first 10 years of solo recording by one of Britain's most respected R&B vocalists.


Just a tease   June 10, 2005
C. Caresani (Greenfield, PA United States)
10 out of 13 found this review helpful


This release only covers Winwood's work on Island. It is missing most of the key tracks from his solo career. An all encompassing retrospective is needed. In fact, I've saved Steve the time and picked the songs

Talking Back to the Night
While You See a Chance
Don't You Know What the Night can do
Valerie
Finer Things
Freedom Overspill
Roll With it
Why Don't we Live Together
Higher Love
Back in the High Life
One and Only Man
Lord of the Streets
Holding On
Vacant Chair

You can see by the songs listed here and missing from Chronicles, that this cd is merely a sampler and not a true "Chroncile" If you are looking for a "greatest hits" you could probably buy Roll With It, Back in the Highlife, and Arc of a Diver.

This cd is ok, but nowhere near what it needs to be.


A decent sampler but scratches the surface.   March 3, 2005
Distant Voyageur (Io)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is a wonderfully diverse sample of Winwoods 20 years of music making (at the time of this release) and all of the tracks are great. "Higher Love" was a well-deserved hit and "My Loves Leavin" is pure ecstacy. Yet there are far more lesser known songs on here that are also enjoyable like "Vacant Chair" and "Wake Me Up ON Judgement Day". The tracks from his 1982 "Talking Back" album are redone with a 1987 production and are great but I would've liked to hear them in their original versions. oVERALL this is a very good CD but there are a lot more great songs that are completely overlooked on this collection. It is however a great purchase to start off with or to introduce a newcomer to Steve's music!