It’s 1986. You’re flipping through radio stations, and suddenly, those gated-reverb drums kick in, followed by a synth line that feels like a sunrise. Then comes that voice—soulful, soaring, and slightly raspy. You know the one. When we talk about Steve Winwood songs Higher Love is usually the first thing that comes to mind, and for good reason. It wasn’t just a chart-topper; it was a career-defining pivot for a guy who had already been a legend twice over by the time he hit thirty.
Winwood wasn't some new kid on the block. He had already fronted the Spencer Davis Group as a teenager, co-founded Traffic, and joined the first-ever "supergroup" in Blind Faith with Eric Clapton. But "Higher Love" changed the trajectory of his legacy. It shifted him from a 60s blues-rock wunderkind to a sophisticated 80s pop icon. Honestly, it’s one of those rare tracks where every single element—the production, the guest vocals, the lyrics—aligned perfectly to create something that feels timeless despite being very much a product of its era.
The Secret Sauce: Chaka Khan and the Power of Collaboration
Most people don't realize how much of a team effort this song actually was. You can't mention Steve Winwood songs Higher Love without talking about the powerhouse that is Chaka Khan. Her backing vocals aren't just "background." They are the soul of the track. When she starts riffing against Winwood’s lead in the final third of the song, it elevates the entire production into something almost spiritual.
It wasn't just Chaka, though. The track featured a "who's who" of elite musicians. You had Nile Rodgers on guitar (though his contribution is subtle), and the legendary Will Lee on bass. The lyrics were penned by Will Jennings, the man who would later go on to write "My Heart Will Go On." Jennings had a knack for taking big, abstract concepts—like the search for a divine or universal love—and making them feel accessible for a Top 40 audience.
Interestingly, the recording process for the album Back in the High Life was notoriously meticulous. Winwood and producer Russ Titelman spent months in New York City crafting the sound. They weren't just looking for a hit; they were looking for a specific kind of "expensive" sound that defined the mid-80s. They found it. The song eventually won Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 29th Grammy Awards, beating out heavy hitters like Peter Gabriel’s "Sledgehammer" and Paul Simon’s "You Can Call Me Al."
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Why "Higher Love" Resonates Across Generations
There is a specific yearning in the lyrics. "Bring me a higher love / Where is that higher love I keep thinking of?" It’s not a standard love song about a guy wanting a girl. It’s broader. It’s about a search for meaning. In the mid-80s, amidst the "Greed is Good" era, this song felt like a necessary exhale.
Musically, it’s a masterclass in tension and release. The way the drums drop out and then slam back in creates this irrepressible energy. It’s why you still hear it at weddings, in grocery stores, and in heavy rotation on classic hits stations. It has that "blue-eyed soul" DNA that Winwood mastered decades earlier, but polished with a high-gloss finish.
Let’s talk about the 2019 Kygo remix. Usually, when an EDM producer touches a classic, it’s a disaster. But Kygo’s version, featuring Whitney Houston’s vocals (originally recorded as a cover in 1990), became a massive global hit. This brought the song to a whole new generation. It proved that the bones of the song—the melody and that desperate, hopeful hook—are indestructible. Whether it’s Winwood’s organic 80s production or a tropical house beat, the song works because the core sentiment is universal.
The Evolution of Steve Winwood’s Sound
To understand why "Higher Love" was such a big deal, you have to look at where Winwood came from. He was the "Boy Wonder" of the British Invasion. When he sang "Gimme Some Lovin'" at age 17, he sounded like a 40-year-old man who had lived through three heartbreaks and a drought.
In Traffic, he went experimental and psychedelic. With "Higher Love," he proved he could master the pop machine without losing his soul. It was a calculated risk. If he had failed, he might have been relegated to the "nostalgia" circuit. Instead, he became a contemporary of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel—legacy artists who successfully navigated the digital synthesizers of the 1980s.
Back in the High Life was an album of incredible depth, featuring other hits like "The Finer Things" and "Freedom Overspill," but nothing ever quite reached the cultural saturation of "Higher Love." It remains his signature solo achievement.
Behind the Music: Facts and Misconceptions
People often assume the song is purely about romantic love. Will Jennings has clarified in various interviews over the years that it was more about a spiritual aspiration. It was about reaching for something better within yourself and the world.
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There’s also a common misconception that Winwood was a "one-man band" on this record. While he is a multi-instrumentalist who famously played almost everything on his previous album Arc of a Diver, for Back in the High Life, he intentionally brought in outside session players. He wanted that New York session-player "swing" that you just can't get by multi-tracking yourself in a home studio in Gloucestershire.
The music video also played a massive role. Directed by Peter Kagan, it was a staple on MTV. It featured a sleek, minimalist aesthetic—lots of shadows, silhouettes, and a very stylish Winwood. In 1986, if you didn't have a cool video, you didn't have a hit. The video helped cement his image as a sophisticated, adult-contemporary star.
Technical Brilliance: The Gated Reverb and Synth Layers
From a technical standpoint, the song is a peak example of 80s engineering. The drum sound is the first thing you notice. It uses a technique called gated reverb, which was popularized by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham. It gives the drums a massive, "room-filling" sound that cuts off abruptly.
The synthesizers are layered perfectly. You have the Fairlight CMI—the legendary digital sampler—providing some of the textures, mixed with more traditional analog synths. This blend of the "new" digital world and "old" soulful performance is exactly why the song hasn't aged as poorly as some other 80s tracks that leaned too hard into cheesy presets.
How to Appreciate Winwood’s Discography Today
If you're coming to Steve Winwood through "Higher Love," you're only seeing one facet of a very complex diamond. To truly get him, you need to branch out.
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- Start with Spencer Davis Group: Listen to "Keep On Running." It’s raw, 1960s R&B. It’s hard to believe a teenager is making those sounds.
- Dive into Traffic: The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is a masterpiece of prog-rock and jazz-fusion. It’s the polar opposite of a three-minute pop song.
- The Solo Transition: Check out Arc of a Diver. It’s a DIY masterpiece. "While You See a Chance" is the bridge between his 70s rock roots and the 80s pop success of "Higher Love."
Winwood’s career is a lesson in adaptation. He never got stuck. He didn't try to rewrite "Higher Love" for the rest of his life, although he certainly could have tried. Instead, he eventually moved back toward a more organic, organ-driven sound in his later years, circling back to his blues and jazz influences.
Real-World Actionable Insights for Music Fans
If you’re looking to dig deeper into the world of Steve Winwood songs Higher Love and the 80s production era, here is how to actually experience the music with fresh ears:
- A/B the Originals: Listen to the original 1986 version of "Higher Love" on a high-quality pair of headphones, then immediately listen to the Kygo/Whitney Houston remix. Pay attention to the vocal phrasing. You’ll notice how Houston’s powerhouse delivery changes the "gravity" of the song compared to Winwood’s more ethereal, searching vocal.
- Explore the Credits: Look up the liner notes for Back in the High Life. Seeing the list of contributors—from James Taylor to Joe Walsh—gives you a sense of how much respect Winwood commanded in the industry.
- Watch the 1987 Grammy Performance: You can find clips of this online. It shows Winwood at his peak, proving that he could deliver those difficult, high-register notes live just as well as he did in the studio.
- Analyze the Lyrics: Read Will Jennings' lyrics without the music. You’ll find they read more like poetry or a modern psalm than a standard pop lyric. It helps explain why the song feels "weightier" than typical dance-pop.
- Listen to "Valerie": If you like the synth-pop vibe of "Higher Love," check out the 1987 remix of Winwood's "Valerie." It occupies the same sonic universe and shows his mastery of the catchy, synthesizer-driven hook.
Steve Winwood remains one of the few artists from the 60s who managed to conquer the 80s without becoming a caricature of himself. "Higher Love" isn't just a nostalgic throwback; it's a high-water mark for what pop music can achieve when it aims for something a little bit higher.