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 "Valerie" became a top 10 hit, while the remix of "Talking Back to the Night" hit the Billboard Hot 100, but failed to crack the Top 40. 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	2 August 1982
Recorded	November 1981 – June 1982
Studio	Netherturkdonic Studios, Gloucestershire, England
Genre	Electropop synthpop
Length	40:32
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)
Singles from Talking Back to the Night
"Valerie" Released: October 1982 "Still in the Game" Released: 1982

Winwood played all of the instruments on the album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

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

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

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"	3:08
5.	"Still in the Game"	4:49

All tracks are written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings.

Side two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"It Was Happiness"	4:59
7.	"Help Me Angel"	5:05
8.	"Talking Back to the Night"	5:43
9.	"There's a River"	4:40
Total length:		40:32

Personnel

• Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, Prophet-5, Multimoog (also used for fretless bass), Hammond B3 organ, Linn LM-1 programming
• Nicole Winwood – backing vocals (tracks 2 and 5)

Production

• Steve Winwood – producer, engineer, mixing
• John "Nobby" Clarke – assistant engineer
• Lynn Goldsmith – photography
• Tony Wright – artwork

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1982) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[4] 21 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 12 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 6 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[7] 9 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[8] 66 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[9] 19 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[10] 7 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[11] 17 UK Albums (OCC)[12] 6 US Billboard 200[13] 28

Year-end charts Chart (1982) Position Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[14] 59

Certifications

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Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[15]	Gold	50,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.