The Songs - Back in the High Life Again

This is another entry in my ongoing “songs that visited me and decided they wanted to stay” series. I hope you like these enough to become a paid subscriber, because I really need you to keep this project going.

Back in the High Life Again - Steve Winwood

Best use of the mandolin in a non-Steve Earle song until REM released Losing My Religion 5 years later. Change my mind.

Plus, one of the greatest voices in the history of the world grabs one of the other greatest voices in the history of the world to sing background vocals. Being asked to sing with Steve Winwood is kinda like being asked to drive Richard Petty to the store, but James Taylor nails his parts, and his final solo “back in the hiiiiiigh life” is just so fine.

This is pure pop candy, coming from the former hippie in Traffic and Blind Faith, and the little 14 year old kid who sounded like Ray Charles. He was so obviously underage that he was forced to play with his back to the audience, lest somebody decide to throw him out of the pub. He co-wrote “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man”, and sang each like there was a hellhound on his trail….while he was still in grammar school. He’s surely one of the most precocious figures rock and roll has ever produced.