Synopsis
Set inside a smoky, sepia-toned bar, the video presents Steve Winwood performing "Roll With It" with his band. The intimate club atmosphere is filled with movement as patrons dance closely around the musicians, giving the performance a loose, sensual, late-night energy. Rather than following a narrative, the clip focuses on the connection between the live-sounding soul arrangement, Winwood's animated delivery, and the bar's lively crowd. Its warm, grainy visual style evokes an idealized Southern juke joint.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was released in 1988 to promote the title track from Winwood's fifth solo album, also called "Roll With It."
- Its sepia-toned look and barroom setting deliberately give the performance an old-fashioned soul and rhythm-and-blues atmosphere, contrasting with the polished pop production of the period.
- The clip was featured in MTV's "Top 100 Videos of the 80s" in 1989.
- The song became Winwood's second and final US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single.
- "Roll With It" was originally credited to Steve Winwood and lyricist Will Jennings. Holland-Dozier-Holland were later added to the songwriting credits because of the song's resemblance to Junior Walker & the All Stars' 1966 recording "(I'm a) Road Runner."
- The single/video edit runs approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds, while the album version is roughly 5 minutes and 20 seconds.