Wikipedia

Winelight

Winelight is a 1980 studio album by jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. The record received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1982. The album was released by Elektra Records. It includes the Grammy Award-winning[1] hit "Just the Two of Us" sung by Bill Withers. The track "In the Name of Love" from the album was also released in rearranged form, without Washington's saxophone track, under the name of Ralph MacDonald and Bill Withers (on vocals).

Winelight
Studio album by
Grover Washington Jr.
ReleasedOctober 24, 1980
RecordedJune & July 1980
StudioRosebud Recording Studio, New York City
GenreSmooth jazz
Length39:01
LabelElektra
ProducerGrover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald
Grover Washington Jr. chronology
Skylarkin'
(1980) 		Winelight
(1980) 		Come Morning
(1981)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide     [3]

The album, propelled by "Just the Two of Us", is often credited for leading to the 1980s smooth jazz explosion.[5]

Scott Yanow of AllMusic wrote: "A memorable set of high-quality and danceable soul-jazz".[2]

Track listing

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Side One

  1. "Winelight" (William Eaton) – 7:32
  2. "Let It Flow (For "Dr. J")" (Grover Washington Jr.) – 5:52
  3. "In the Name of Love" (William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 5:26

Side Two

  1. "Take Me There" (Washington) – 6:16
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Bill Withers, William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 7:23
  3. "Make Me a Memory (Sad Samba)" (Washington) – 6:32

Personnel

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Production

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  • Grover Washington Jr. – producer
  • Ralph MacDonald – producer
  • Richard Alderson – engineer
  • Ed Heath – assistant engineer
  • Vlado Meller – mastering at CBS Studios (New York City).
  • Paul Silverthorn – production coordinator
  • Ron Coro – art direction, design
  • Jim Shea – cover photography
  • Don Hunstein – inner sleeve photography

Charts

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Album

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Chart (1980–81) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 35
US Billboard Pop Albums[7] 5
US Billboard Top Jazz Albums[7] 1
US Billboard Top Soul Albums[7] 2
UK Official Charts[8] 34

Singles

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Year Single Chart positions[9]
US
Pop 		US
R&B 		US
AC 		UK
1981 "Just the Two of Us" 2 3 2 34

Certifications

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Certifications for Winelight
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[10] Gold 25,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[11] Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[12] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[13] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Elsworth, Catherine (August 10, 2006). "Still a lovely day". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  2. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. Grover Washington Jr.: Winelight > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  3. ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 203. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  4. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1468. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  5. ^ Micucci, Matt (June 17, 2020). "Song of the Day: Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers, "Just the Two of Us"". JAZZIZ Magazine. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 333. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ a b c "Grover Washington Jr. US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  8. ^ "GROVER WASHINGTON JR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Grover Washington Jr. US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  10. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Groover Washington – Winelight" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  11. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos. Año a año. 1959–2002 (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Iberautor Promociones Culturales. p. 962. ISBN 9788480486392.
  12. ^ "British album certifications – Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  13. ^ "American album certifications – Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
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