"The miracle of Steve Winwood's voice in the Sixties, on his churning R&B hits with the Spencer Davis Group and in the bucolic psychedelia of the first Traffic records, was that a white English teenager could sound so black and adult," wrote Rolling Stone's David Frick. "The wonder of ... his new album, is that Winwood, almost 60, sings the fighting words with the ecstatic force of his youth. His voice is a deeper, huskier shade of British blues, but it's consistent in its strength and optimism all over Nine Lives."

Winwood was superb on Hammond organ and guitar and was backed by what must be the best band he’s played with. And, as always, his voice lifts your heart.

Traffic classics such as Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys and Empty Pages were stunningly revamped. There were also thumping versions of I’m A Man and Gimme Some Lovin’.