Freedom Overspill


"Freedom Overspill" is a 1986 song by Steve Winwood that reached number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. It was the second single released from his fourth solo album, Back in the High Life. It was produced by Russ Titelman and Winwood. James Hooker, Winwood's touring keyboard player and a former member of the Amazing Rhythm Aces, was credited with co-writing the song with Winwood and George Fleming.
It appeared in the 1987 Ridley Scott film Someone to Watch Over Me, as well as the 1987 film Big Shots.

Critical reception

Number One magazine said that "Freedom Overspill" was a "harmless enough song" and felt that it could have benefited from "slightly less perfect production". Cashbox opined that the song was less overtly commercial than the previous single on the album, "Higher Love", but believed that it would still perform well on various radio formats, particularly on contemporary hit radio. Billboard thought that the song evoked some of Winwood's "Stax/Volt influences that animated the Spencer Davis Group in his early performing days".

Track listing

7": Island / IS 294 United Kingdom
  1. "Freedom Overspill" - 4:09
  2. "Spanish Dancer" - 3:07
7": Island / 7-28595 United States
  1. "Freedom Overspill" - 4:09
  2. "Help Me Angel" - 5:06
12": Island / 12 IS 294 United Kingdom
  1. "Freedom Overspill" - 8:30
  2. "Freedom Overspill" - 5:33
  3. "Spanish Dancer" 5:56
12": Island / 0-20537 United States
  1. "Freedom Overspill" - 7:30
  2. "Freedom Overspill" - 6:00
  3. "Higher Love" 7:45
  4. "Help Me Angel" - 5:06