Winelight

Winelight
Studio album by
Grover Washington Jr.
ReleasedOctober 24, 1980
RecordedJune & July 1980
StudiosRosebud Recording Studio, New York City
Genres
Length39:01
LabelElektra
ProducersGrover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald
Grover Washington Jr. chronology
Skylarkin'
(1980)		 Winelight
(1980)		 Come Morning
(1981)

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
The Penguin Guide to Jazz RecordingsStarStarStar
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record GuideStarStarHalf star

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

  1. "Winelight" (William Eaton) – 7:32
  2. "Let It Flow (For "Dr. J")" (Grover Washington Jr.) – 5:52
  3. "In the Name of Love" (William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 5:26

Side Two

  1. "Take Me There" (Washington) – 6:16
  2. "Just the Two of Us" (Bill Withers, William Salter, Ralph MacDonald) – 7:23
  3. "Make Me a Memory (Sad Samba)" (Washington) – 6:32

Personnel

Production

Charts

Album

Singles

Year Single Chart positions
US
Pop		 US
R&B		 US
AC		 UK
1981 "Just the Two of Us" 2 3 2 34

Certifications

Certifications for Winelight
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria) Gold 25,000*
Spain (Promusicae) Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA) 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Micucci, Matt (June 17, 2020). "Song of the Day: Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers, "Just the Two of Us"". JAZZIZ Magazine. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Hunt, Charlie (May 20, 2025). "Grover Washington Jr. - Winelight". In Graff, Gary (ed.). 501 Essential Albums of the 80s. Beverly: Motorbooks. p. 56. ISBN 9780760393369. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Yanow, Scott. Grover Washington Jr.: Winelight > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  4. ↑ Elsworth, Catherine (August 10, 2006). "Still a lovely day". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
  5. ↑ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1468. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  6. ↑ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 203. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 333. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs. Volume 35, Issue 1 (1981-06-13)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "Charts.nz – Grover Washington, Jr. – Winelight". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Grover Washington, Jr. – Winelight". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 "Grover Washington Jr. US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  12. ↑ "GROVER WASHINGTON JR | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista (fizikai hanghordozók) – 2025. 28. hét". MAHASZ. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Jazz-Charts – September 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 7, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs. Volume 35, Issue 22 (1981-12-26)". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1981". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Grover Washington Jr. US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Groover Washington – Winelight" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  19. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (2005). Sólo éxitos. Año a año. 1959–2002 (in Spanish). Madrid, Spain: Iberautor Promociones Culturales. p. 962. ISBN 9788480486392.
  20. ↑ "British album certifications – Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 31, 2022. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Winelight Grover Washington Jr. in the "Search:" field.
  21. ↑ "American album certifications – Grover Washington Jr. – Winelight". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 31, 2022.