Talking Back to the Night

Talking Back to the Night is the third solo studio album by English recording artist Steve Winwood. Released less than two years after the top 3 hit Arc of a Diver, it failed to see as much success as its predecessor, reaching #28 on the Billboard 200. "Valerie" was a minor hit in 1982, but when it and the title track were remixed and re-released in 1987 for Chronicles, the newer version of the songs became top 10 hits. The track "Help Me Angel" was also remixed for Chronicles, and was then released for the first time as a single.

Talking Back to the Night
Studio album by Steve Winwood
Released	August 2, 1982
Recorded	November 1981 — June 1982
Studio	Netherturkdonic Studios, Gloucestershire, England
Genre	Electropop easy listening
Length	40:38
Label	Island
Producer	Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood chronology
Arc of a Diver (1980) Talking Back to the Night (1982) Back in the High Life (1986)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s	C[2]
Rolling Stone	[3]

Winwood performed all of the instruments on this album.

Critical reception

Reviewing for Rolling Stone in 1982, Parke Puterbaugh said the album is "for the most part a bland, easy-listening electropop rut".[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings.

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Valerie"	4:05
2.	"Big Girls Walk Away"	3:51
3.	"And I Go"	4:12
4.	"While There's a Candle Burning"	3:11
5.	"Still in the Game"	4:51

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"It Was Happiness"	4:58
7.	"Help Me Angel"	5:06
8.	"Talking Back to the Night"	5:44
9.	"There's a River"	4:40
Total length:		40:38

Personnel

• Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, keyboards, organ, drum machines, guitars, producer, composer, engineer
• Nicole Winwood – additional backing vocals (tracks 2, 5)
• John "Nobby" Clarke – assistant engineer
• Lynn Goldstein – photography
• Tony Wright – cover design

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1981) Position Canadian RPM Albums Chart[4] 12 Dutch Mega Albums Chart[5] 9 New Zealand Albums Chart[6] 19 Norwegian Albums Chart[7] 7 Swedish Albums Chart[8] 17 UK Albums Chart[9] 6 United States Billboard 200[10] 28 West German Media Control Albums Chart[11] 9

Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position Canadian Albums Chart[12] 59 Certifications } Region Certification Canada (Music Canada)[13] Gold

References

1. Ruhlmann, William (2011). "Talking Back to the Night - Steve Winwood | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
2. Christgau, Robert (1990). "W". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Puterbaugh, Parke (2011). "Steve Winwood: Talking Back To The Night : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
4. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 37, No. 7". RPM. 2 October 1982. Archived from the original (PHP) on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
5. "dutchcharts.nl Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night" (ASP). dutchcharts.nl. MegaCharts. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
6. "charts.nz Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night" (ASP). Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
7. "norwegiancharts.com Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night" (ASP). Retrieved 10 October 2013.
8. "swedishcharts.com Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night" (ASP). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
9. "Steve Winwood > Artists > Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
10. "allmusic ((( Talking Back to the Night > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.com. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
11. "Album Search: Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night" (ASP) (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
12. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1982". RPM. 25 December 1982. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
13. "Canadian album certifications – Steve Winwood – Talking Back to the Night". Music Canada. Retrieved 10 October 2013.