Winelight | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 24, 1980 | |||
Recorded | June & July 1980 | |||
Studio | Rosebud Recording Studio, New York City | |||
Genre | Smooth jazz | |||
Length | 39:01 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Producer | Grover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald | |||
Grover Washington Jr. chronology | ||||
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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).
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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]
Side One
Side Two
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 |
Year | Single | Chart positions [9] | |||
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US Pop | US R&B | US AC | UK | ||
1981 | "Just the Two of Us" | 2 | 3 | 2 | 34 |
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. |
Grover Washington Jr. was an American jazz-funk and soul-jazz saxophonist and Grammy Award winner. Along with Wes Montgomery and George Benson, he is considered by many to be one of the founders and legends of the smooth jazz genre. He wrote some of his material and later became an arranger and producer.
Mister Magic is the fourth album by jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr., released in February 1975. The album topped both the soul and jazz albums chart and peaked at number ten on the pop chart.
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Ralph Anthony MacDonald was an American percussionist, steelpan virtuoso, songwriter, musical arranger, and record producer.
"Just the Two of Us" is a 1980 song written by Bill Withers, William Salter, and Ralph MacDonald, and recorded by Grover Washington Jr. with Withers on vocals. Elektra Records released it in Washington's 1980 album Winelight and as a February 1981 single.
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