"Why Can't We Stop Playing This Song?"

"Why can't we live together?"
"Because you sing crap songs in a crap voice, buster"

Did Bill give this song a 6 year sabatical? The comments went from Sep 16, 2004 straight to Mar 12, 2010.

Gotta agree with crockydile, still no good.  4.

"I know it's a rhetorical question, but the reason we can't live together is that people have different opinions about how other people should behave."

Still not a good reason.

I like a lot of Steve's other stuff more but this is pretty good.  I've never heard the original.  First time I ever heard this song was by Sade.

 WonderLizard wrote: 
Among my acquaintances is the talented Jennifer Creadick, a luthier of long standing in the East Coast music scene. I was admiring a '58 Gibson Les Paul in her shop one afternoon and asked her if all the '58s were as good as the fan boys claimed.

"Well, it's like this. If it was a good instrument it was taken care of and like all things made of wood and glue, it got sweeter with age. If it was a dog with bad intonation, wonky pickups, loose markers, it was probably destroyed years ago. Bad guitars get given to teenagers who never buy a case for it, or they get sold to pawn shops who sell them overseas, never to be seen again. Some instruments have a higher incidence of good work so there are more of them around after a few decades. And '58 Les Pauls are like that."

And as for B3s, the restoration expert Bob Doran of Memphis says that one of the reason so many old Hammonds are still around is that they were made to be repaired. Their primary market was churches and other organizations that couldn't afford a new organ if the old one broke. So Hammonds were solidly-made to take the abuse of assistant choir directors and child learners, and getting parts was a breeze.

Plus they do have a sweet sound. 

I know it's a rhetorical question, but the reason we can't live together is that people have different opinions about how other people should behave.

 jmsmy wrote: 

I was listening to the Timmy Thomas original last night at 3 am—hard to beat, and a good antidote to the couple fighting next door (loudly). 

 lmic wrote: 
Similar to, if not the same as, the "cults"—odd word that—that follow the Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster and Precision Bass, the Gibson Les Paul Standard, Rickenbacker 12-string, Gretsch Country Gentleman, Fender Rhodes, Yamaha DX-7 and so many more. For a musician, they, including the Hammond B3, are pinnacles of a sort, the heights to which instrument creation can soar. If you don't play, you're not gonna know. Danny Federici on the Hammond B3 was in a way Sunday goin' to meetin'.

Just sayin'...

 ziakut wrote: 
I couldn't disagree more.  This has us dancin' cha-cha-cha across the floor (and we're still at work!)  More, please!

B  O  R  I  N  G ....reliably Steve Winwood. Mix down those damn congas...and woodblock. Geeez.

A great song - check out the original by Timmy Thomas (1972 made it to #3 ) and play it very very loud.

  I'm a sucker for the funky organ.

What is it with the cult of the Hammond B3? Just askin'...

Winwood—shades of "Gimme Some Lovin'"—has the perfect voice for this song. Goes without saying that he's got the keyboard chops.

Not an improvement.

Not a huge fan of latter day Steve Winwood and this particular song has reinforced that opinion. I have to agree that the single note played over and over again is moderately annoying. He is such a better keyboard player - why not use his skills?

Strange, this is the only song I don't like on About Time. Now Sylvia is more what I like to hear from Mr. Winwood. Heard it on Austin City Limits last fall and it blew me away, along with Pearly Queen and Mr. Fantasy from the old Traffic days. Great band he's put together.

I like Timmy Thomas' version a little better. He had some serious Lazer organs going too! 8)

because SOME people actually like licorice! (tongue is firmly inserted in cheek, for those of you with no sense of humour)

PattonFever wrote: Pretty sure the Beastie Boys sampled this on a song... but I can't think of which one. Sounds of Science?

NotApplicable wrote: buaahhahahahahha (LOL)

Music arrangement was ok... but the lyricist was sure going through an uncreative phase I guess... Overall rating: Crap

Because you're married, and I'm not gay, that's why. ;)

Any use of a Hammond B3 organ gets an extra point added to my rating. :)

Not as good as the original but pretty damn good.

dmax wrote: What you said.

Well, I up'd the TT version and it was accepted by the powers that be, so you know I macked out on the the SW redux too. Relax & Enjoy.

Sorry, I don't wanna live with you Steve :-& I don't know what it is, he just bugs me.

That's my man. He's so tasteful on his new album . It's really and truly about time.

bHoby wrote: please don't get me wrong. it's not a bad song, i just HATE the annoying lazer noise. heh. if there was a version out there without it, i'd give it an 8 easily.

I haven't heard a lot Winwood that I've cared much for ... Until now. I dig it!

Nice groove. I can dig it. Based on recent comments some folks just need to leave paradise.

You learn something every day by listening to RP....I always thought this originated with Sade. Having been initiated with her version though, I can't say Stevie improves on it.

Why can't we live together? Because then I'd have to hear later day Steve Winwood all the time. Then someone or something would have to die.

MAKE THE NOISES STOP!!!!!!!!!!!

Platypus wrote: Best stuff since his Traffic days, I think. Well, his '81 album "Arc of the Diver" was OK, but yes, these new tunes restore some faith in Winwood's abilities and inspiration.

AliGator wrote:Timmy Thomas came first in 1974. a one-hit wonder! All Music's listing

This song, like many played on Radio Paradise evokes very strong feeling in listener. Both love and hate. Me? I love this. Nice groove. Nice to hear Winwood again.

Wait...which came first, Winwood or Sade? Or did someone sing this before Sade? Help?

I'm seriously diggin the new Steve Windwood that I've heard on RP so far. glad to hear him get back to some quality stuff after that 80s schlock.

I always liked this song and this incarnation is pretty good...

I prefer Sade's version, which isn't saying a whole lot. :?

Kind of lame for winwood

Thought this was some Emergency Broadcast signal. I suppose that there's only one key on that keyboard, or he only knows how to hit that one note over and over and over...

this song would be fine without the annoying high pitched lazer noise. it just doesn't fit.

Brad_Eleven wrote: Ditto. Saw him perform this live during the summer at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA and it was amazing.

Wow, a Timmy Thomas cover! Immediate recognition for that organ riff. I remember this one from the early 70s. I don't know the Hammond B3 well enough to compare their playing, but Stevie sounds ten times more passionate when he asks that question. I love Mr. Winwood's peppy pop hits, but when he get serious, he's got my undivided attention.

Sounds like Stevie is making up the lyrics as he goes along. Music deserves better.

Nice cover of an old favorite.