Winelight is a 1980 studio album by jazz musician Grover Washington Jr. The record received the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance in 1982. The album was released by Elektra Records. It includes the Grammy Award-winning hit "Just the Two of Us" sung by Bill Withers. The track "In the Name of Love" from the album was also released in rearranged form, without Washington's saxophone track, under the name of Ralph MacDonald and Bill Withers (on vocals).
Reception
The album, propelled by "Just the Two of Us", is often credited for leading to the 1980s smooth jazz explosion.
Scott Yanow of AllMusic describe the album as "a memorable set of high-quality and danceable soul-jazz".
Track listing Side One "Winelight" (William Eaton) – 7:32 "Let It Flow (For "Dr. J")" (Grover Washington Jr.) – 5:52 "In the Name of Love" (William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 5:26
Side Two "Take Me There" (Washington) – 6:16 "Just the Two of Us" (Bill Withers, William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 7:23 "Make Me a Memory (Sad Samba)" (Washington) – 6:32
Personnel Grover Washington Jr. – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes (1, 3, 5, 6) Ray Chew – clavinet (1) Paul Griffin – clavinet (1), Fender Rhodes (2, 4) Ed Walsh – Oberheim Eight Voice (1–4, 6) Bill Eaton – Oberheim Eight Voice (5), arrangements and conductor Eric Gale – guitars Marcus Miller – bass Steve Gadd – drums Ralph MacDonald – congas, percussion, Syndrums Robert Greenidge – steel drums Hilda Harris – backing vocals Yvonne Lewis – backing vocals Ullanda McCullough – backing vocals Bill Withers – lead vocals (5)
Production Grover Washington Jr. – producer Ralph MacDonald – producer Richard Alderson – engineer Ed Heath – assistant engineer Vlado Meller – mastering at CBS Studios (New York City). Paul Silverthorn – production coordinator Ron Coro – art direction, design Jim Shea – cover photography Don Hunstein – inner sleeve photography
Charts Album
Weekly charts Chart (1980–81) PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report) 35 US Billboard Pop Albums5 US Billboard Top Jazz Albums1 US Billboard Top Soul Albums2UK Official Charts34
Chart (2025) Peakposition Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ) 12
Monthly charts Chart (2026) Peakposition German Jazz Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 15
Year-end charts Chart (1981) Position US Billboard 20013
Singles Year Single Chart positions USPop USR&B USACUK 1981 "Just the Two of Us" 2 3 234
Certifications
References
External links Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight at Discogs