With the success of “While You See A Chance” and the smooth, mildly synthesized blue-eyed soul of his second solo album, Arc of a Diver, Steve Winwood positioned himself as a commercial presence for the ‘80s. Talking Back to the Night lacks its predecessor’s element of surprise and doesn’t quite have the full-out panache of its follow-up, Winwood’s mega-successful Back In the High Life, but there are still many tuneful moments to consider, even if old-school Traffic fans might find themselves wondering what happened to the master of the jam. These are pop songs, folks. “Valerie” weighs in with a synthetic bounce reminiscent of his previous “Chance” hit. “Big Girls Walk Away” features a tight harmony arrangement with a stuttering dance groove that allows his voice to soar for the verses. “And I Go“ and “While There’s a Candle Burning” surf a smooth, glossy wave. In the end, this recast Winwood would prove surprisingly resilient for the rest of the decade, channeling his experimentalism into the subtle textures of these carefully framed pop songs.