153. John JR Robinson Discusses Steve Winwood, Back in the High Life

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Legendary drummer John JR Robinson visits YMAAA to talk about a favorite album of his—and it happens to be one he also played on. JR talks about why he is so fond of Steve Winwood’s 1986 smash Back in the High Life, and why he thinks the album represented the end of an era. He breaks down several of his performances, including those on the No. 1 hit “Higher Love” and the adult contemporary chart-toppers “The Finer Things” and “Back in the High Life Again.”

There wasn’t time to discuss JR’s experience with performing on USA for Africa’s “We Are The World,” but he recently shared some thoughts about the recent documentary, The Greatest Night in Pop, on his Instagram account. Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3BUqAjR85b/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

As JR mentioned on the show, he has a lot of projects in the works, and you can keep up with all of them at his website, https://www.johnjrrobinson.com/.

Also, be sure to follow JR on Instagram at @johnjrrobinson1.

Al is on Bluesky at @almelchior.bsky.social. This show has accounts on Instagram and Threads at @youmealbum. Subscribe for free to You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter! https://youmealbum.substack.com/

1:20 JR joins the show

2:05 Al summarizes a small part of JR’s discography

2:55 JR explains how he got involved with the recording of Back in the High Life

6:26 JR talks about putting the drum part together for “Higher Love”

7:13 JR showed up to the studio not knowing he was going to be asked to play on the album

9:00 JR explains how he got the sound of the opening pattern for “Higher Love”

15:39 Back in the High Life was unusual for a pop album

16:54 JR and Al compare Back in the High Life with Roll With It

19:59 JR talks about what’s different about today’s pop music

21:58 JR comment on the cinematic quality of “The Finer Things”

24:37 JR explains why he didn’t play on every track on the album

26:07 JR talks about Tom Lord-Alge’s work on Back in the High Life

27:17 JR discusses his playing on “Split Decision”

30:36 Should “Wake Me Up on Judgment Day” have been a radio hit?

32:24 JR talks about his approach to playing on “Back in the High Life Again”

35:45 Al asks JR about an earlier version of “Back in the High Life Again”

38:08 JR calls Back in the High Life an end of an era

46:00 JR recalls his impressions of “Wake Me Up on Judgment Day”

49:28 A great combination of musicians made “Higher Love”

50:43 JR comments on the tracks he didn’t play on

52:49 On what media did Al listen to the album?

55:02 JR explains why he thinks “Back in the High Life Again” was made the title track

58:55 JR’s final thoughts about the album

1:02:01 JR talks about his current plans, including his upcoming autobiography, King of the Groove: The John ‘JR’ Robinson Story

Outro is from “Back in the High Life Again” by Steve Winwood.

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