Roll with It (Steve Winwood song) explained

Roll with It
Cover:	Steve Winwood Roll with It single.jpg
Caption:	Artwork for UK releases
Type:	single
Artist:	Steve Winwood
Album:	Roll with It
B-Side:	The Morning Side
Released:	May 1988^[1]
Genre:	Funk^[2]
Length:	4:30 (single/video edit) 5:20 (album version)
Label:	Virgin
Producer:	Steve Winwood, Tom Lord-Alge
Prev Title:	Talking Back to the Night (remix)
Prev Year:	1988
Next Title:	Put on Your Dancing Shoes
Next Year:	1988

"Roll with It" is a song recorded by Steve Winwood for his album of the same name, released on Virgin Records. It was written by Winwood and songwriter Will Jennings. Publishing rights organization BMI later had Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland credited with co-writing the song due to its resemblance to the Junior Walker hit "(I'm a) Roadrunner".

The song was the last #1 hit of Casey Kasem's 18-year run as the original host of American Top 40 (he would return to host the program 10 years later), as well as being the first #1 song of Shadoe Stevens' hosting tenure. The 1990 movie Nuns on the Run also made use of the song, as well as the movie Short Time released that same year.

Release and reception

The single spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the summer of 1988.^[3] It topped the Billboard adult contemporary chart for two weeks, and also spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard mainstream rock chart. In addition, the song reached No. 30 on the R&B chart.^[4] In the United Kingdom, the song reached No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Roll with It" was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1989, Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal performance. The album Roll with It was also nominated as Album of the Year.

Music video

The music video, directed by David Fincher and filmed in sepia-tone, depicts Winwood performing the song in a bar.

Track listing

7": Virgin / VS 1085 United Kingdom

1. "Roll With It" - 4:30
2. "The Morning Side" - 3:57

7": Virgin / 7-99326 United States

1. "Roll With It" - 4:30
2. "The Morning Side" - 5:12

12" and CD Single: Virgin / VST 1085, VSCD 1085 United Kingdom

1. "Roll With It" (12" Remix) - 9:56
2. "The Morning Side" - 3:57
3. "Roll With It" (7" Remix) - 4:30

• Track 1 remixed by Bruce Forest and Frank Heller

12": Virgin / 7 96648-0 United States

1. "Roll With It" (12" Remix) - 9:53
2. "Roll With It" (Steve Testifies Dub) - 6:44
3. "The Morning Side" (7" Version) - 3:57

Personnel

• Steve Winwood – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, Hammond organ, Fairlight CMI, bass, drums
• Mike Lawler – keyboards
• The Memphis Horns
  • Wayne Jackson – trombone and trumpet
  • Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
• Tessa Niles – backing vocals
• Mark Williamson – backing vocals

Charts

Chart (1988)	Peak position
Canadian RPM Top Singles^[5]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)^[6]	9

All-time charts

External links

• Single release info at discogs.com

Notes and References

1. Book: Bacon . Tony . Singles . Backbeat UK . 2006 . 232 . 978-1-871547-73-3.
2. Book: Evans, Paul. Steve Winwood. . 2004 . . 4th . Brackett . Nathan . Hoard . Christian . 0-7432-0169-8 . 882-883.
3. [Fred Bronson|Bronson, Fred]
4. Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 336.
5. Web site: Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada . Bac-lac.gc.ca . 2016-10-11.
6. Web site: Tipparade-lijst van week 29, 1988. dutch. Dutch Top 40. March 16, 2023.
7. December 24, 1988 . 1988 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles . Y-20 . Billboard . 100 . 52 .
8. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1988. October 3, 2016.
9. Web site: Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart. Billboard. 10 December 2018.