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Friday, September 22, 2023

Mojo Presents: Various - Paint It Black - Journey to the Dark Heart of '60s Pop 2016

 

There are some interesting songs on this collection, which is a "journey to the dark heart of '60s pop".


The Mickey Finn's "Garden of My Mind" is typical heavy-ish psychedelia. "Dark White", a track recorded but unreleased in the sixties by The Bonniwell Music Machine, features some impassioned lyrics.
                       

The 13th Floor Elevators' "Reverberation" is pure psychedelia. Bizarrely The Spencer Davis Group

manage to sound like early Traffic on "Morning Sun" even after Steve Winnwood had left the former to join the latter. The earliest track here is The Yardbirds' "Still I'm Sad" from '65, which sounds pretty unlike their usual work mainly because of the pseudo-Gregorian chant vocals running through it.
                                 

The Pretty Things' "The Sun" is a charming, sentimental, almost mournful ballad. "Leaving Here", a

song written by Holland-Dozier-Holland warning that all the girls are leaving, is given an energetic interpretation by The Rationals. Hat and Tie experiment with a fuzz sound on "Finding it Tough", while Mountain Men's "Too Many People Around" could have served as an anthem for the Vote Leave Brexit referendum campaign.
                            

The Lloyd Alexander Real Estate (who thinks up these names?) present a catchy, brass-infused tune in

"Whatcha Gonna Do (When Your Baby Leaves You)". "Devil's Grip" was The Crazy World of Arthur Brown's first single - not quite as way out as second single "Fire". The Red Crayola's "Hurricane Fighter Plane" is totally weird ("On the shelf I have six buckets and they're all for you, They're full of little things that we can do...").
                               

So says Mick Jagger, talking to MOJO this month on the subject of Aftermath, the Rolling Stones'

fourth studio album released in April 1966. While their precending album, Out Of Our Heads, had included a number of R&B covers, Aftermath was the first Stones LP to consist soley of jagger/Richards compositions. It was also an album where the lyrical themes were darker and meaner, with the music sounding both tougher as well as more expansive.
                  

In many respects, Aftermath - wich followed in the wake of the Beatles' Revolver, released five months

earlier - reflected a shift in sensibilities. Why play rhe pop game when you could play by your own rules? This change in attitude affected musicians the world over who began to make music designed to challenge rather than entertain.
                        

It was music that reflected the world as they truly saw it, boasting lyrical themes that expressed

frustation, anger, desire, dissatisfaction and internalisation in equal measure. The release of the Stones' Paint It Black single that gives its name to this bespoke MOJO collection featuring 15 tracks that chronicle a period of time when pop took a left turn inti altogether more dangerous territory...

Various – Paint It Black
Label: Mojo Magazine – May 2016
Format: CD, Compilation, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: Mar 22, 2016
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Beat, Psychedelic Rock

TRAXS
          

01. The Mickey Finn – Garden Of My Mind
Written-By – Alan Mark, Bernard Jory, Mickey Waller
02. The Bonniwell Music Machine – Dark White
Written-By – Sean Bonniwell
03. The Silence – Down Down
Written-By – Andy Ellison
04. The 13th Floor Elevators – Reverberation (Doubt)
Written-By – Erickson, Sutherland, Hall
05. The Spencer Davis Group – Morning Sun
Written-By – Hardin, Duncan, James, Spencer Davis
06. The Seeds – Sad And Alone
Written-By – Daryl Hooper, Sky Saxon
07. The Yardbirds – Still I'm Sad
Written-By – McCarty, Samwell-Smith
08. The Pretty Things – The Sun
Written-By – Phil May, Wally Waller
09. Chris Farlowe – Paint It Black (Soundtrack Version)
Written-By – Jagger / Richards
10. The Rationals – Leaving Here
Written-By – Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
11. Hat And Tie – Finding It Rough
Written-By – Chris Thomas, Patrick Campbell Lyons
12. Mountain Men – Too Many People Around
Written-By – Mountain Men
13. The Lloyd Alexander Real Estate – Whatcha Gonna Do (When Your Baby Leaves You)
Written-By – Chuck Willis
14. The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Devil's Grip
Written-By – Arthur Brown
15. The Red Crayola – Hurricane Fighter Plane
Written-By – Barthelme, Thompson*, Cunningham

NOTES

                         


Tracks taken from/available on:


01. The Mickey Finn - Garden Of My Mind The Complete Recordings 1964 - 1967'
02. The Music Machine - The Bonniwell Music Machine'
03. Various - Rare Mod (A Collection Of 60s' Underground Rhythm'N'Blues, Psych & Soul)'
04. 13th Floor Elevators - Reverberation (Doubt)'
05. The Spencer Davis Group - With Their New Face On'
06. The Seeds - Future'
07. The Yardbirds - Having A Rave Up With The Yardbirds'
08. The Pretty Things - Emotions'
09. Various - Tonite Let's All Make Love In London'
10. The Rationals - Think Rational!'
11. Various - Sometimes I Wonder (The Psychedelic Pop Sound Of President)'
12. Various - Rare Mod Volume 4'
13. Various - Looking Back (80 Mod, Freakbeat & Swinging London Nuggets)'
14. The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown - Devil's Grip / Give Him A Flower'
15. Red Krayola With The Familiar Ugly - The Parable Of Arable Land'

MP3 @ 320 Size: 114 MB
Flac  Size: 226 MB

Thursday, September 21, 2023

The Spencer Davis Group: Discography 1965 - 1974

       

The Spencer Davis Group were a British band formed in Birmingham in 1963 by Spencer Davis (guitar), brothers Steve Winwood (vocals, keyboards) and Muff Winwood (bass guitar), and Pete York


(drums). Their best known songs include the UK No. 1 hits "Keep on Running" and "Somebody Help Me" and the UK and US Top 10 hits "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man". They were One of the most exciting and influential groups to come out of Birmingham in the early 1960s, the Spencer Davis Group is recognized for their classic and ground-breaking recordings as well as for launching Steve Winwood's music career.
                     

Steve Winwood left in 1967 to form rock band Traffic. After releasing a few more singles, the band ceased to be active in 1969. Davis revived the group on two more occasions, without the involvement of the Winwood brothers, first in 1973–1974 for two more albums, and again from 2006, since when

they had primarily been a touring act. Davis died on 19 October 2020, effectively ending the band. The Quartette had first attracted the attention of the Decca Records label for which the group went to London for a try-out recording session. Decca offered a contract but Blackwell promised them a better deal with the Phillips owned Fontana label as distributor so they signed with Fontana along with a publishing deal at Island Records. The partnership at Island Records was an informal one based on little more than a handshake but this indiscretion would come back to haunt them years later.
                    

It was Muff Winwood who came up with the name "Spencer Davis Group" on the pretext that the articulate Davis could do the interviews while the others stayed in bed. The first single release by the group in April 1964 was a cover of the John Lee Hooker song 'Dimples' as it was considered one of the

strongest numbers they performed in their set at the time. Driven by Steve Winwood's Hammond organ along with Muff's powerful bass riff, the high-energy 'Gimme Some Lovin' became an instant classic - reaching Number 2 in the British charts and going on to make Top Ten in America. To this day it remains a staple of many party compilations and is probably the most instantly recognizable song by the group. Jimmy Miller later re-mixed the record to include extra percussion, piano and vocal backing before it was issued as a single in the USA.
                 

An excellent Spencer Davis Group single titled 'I'm A Man' (chart position 9), composed by Steve Winwood and producer Jimmy Miller, was issued in early 1967. It was the final record with Steve and

Muff Winwood who had accepted a job offer from Chris Blackwell to work at the Island Records office. By this time, Steve Winwood had been rehearsing for a few months at the "Elbow Room" club in Birmingham with Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. Their new group to be named "Traffic" would shortly be signed to Island Records by Chris Blackwell (see Traffic for more about Steve Winwood).
                     

During the summer of 1967, Spencer Davis put together a new Spencer Davis Group line-up. Following extensive auditions and much consideration, keyboard whiz kid Eddie Hardin and guitarist Phil Sawyer

were selected. With the departure of Steve Winwood the magic seemed to have gone. Another Spencer Davis Group single issued in March 1968 and composed by Ray Fenwick titled 'After Tea' sounded like an attempt to duplicate Traffic's sound but it failed to chart. Spencer Davis continued to record and play music in the 1970s and 80s which included a short-lived Spencer Davis Group reunion (without the Winwood brothers) in 1973. He relocated to the American west coast and has performed and toured with various line-ups of The Spencer Davis Group in both the USA and Europe. He passed away on October 19, 2020 while under treatment for pneumonia at age 81.

ALBUMS IN THIS POST
      


1. Their First LP (1965)
2. The Second Album (1966)
3. Autumn '66 (1966)
4. Mulberry Bush (1967)
5. With Their New face On (1968)
6. Funky (recorded 1969,[17] released 1997)[18]
7. Gluggo (1973)
8. Living in a Back Street (1974)


LINE - UP
                                       

Spencer Davis (Davies) guitar, harmonica, vocal
Steve Winwood lead vocal, piano, organ, guitar (left 1967)
Mervyn "Muff" Winwood bass guitar, vocal (left 1967)
Pete York drums
Eddie Hardin organ, vocal (joined 1967)
Phil Sawyer lead guitar (joined 1967 - left 1968)
Ray Fenwick lead guitar, vocal (joined 1968)
Dee (David) Murray bass guitar, vocal (joined 1968)
Nigel Olsson drums, vocal (joined 1968)

1. THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP - THEIR FIRST LP 1965

                 


The group's first album is basically a reflection of their early repertoire and very heavy on the

R&B/soul standards. Dominated by covers of Ike & Tina Turner, the Coasters, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Brenda Holloway, and others, only three of the tunes are original. Two of these are written by Stevie Winwood, the other by Spencer Davis; Winwood's mid-tempo soul number "It Hurts Me So" is easily the best of them. Winwood is in fine voice and the group is energetic, but this is neither as good as their best work nor nearly as good as the best British R&B albums of the era by competitors like Them and the Rolling Stones. Includes their first two British singles, "Dimples" and "I Can't Stand It."

The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP + 9 Bonus
Label: Universal Music Japan - UICY-93173
Format: CD, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Japan
Released: 2006

TRACKS


01. My Babe    
02. Dimples    
03. Searchin'    
04. Every Little Bit Hurts    
05. I'm Blue (Gong Gong Song)    
06. Sittin' And Thinkin'    
07. She Put The Hurt On Me (Bonus Track)    
08. I'll Drown In My Own Tears (Bonus Track)    
09. I Can't Stand It    
10. Here Right Now    
11. Jump Back    
12. It's Gonna Work Out Fine    
13. Midnight Train    
14. It Hurts Me So    
15. Stevie's Blues (Bonus Track)    
16. I'm Getting Better (Bonus Track)    
17. Goodbye Stevie (Bonus Track)    
18. My Babe (US version)    
19. Searchin' (US version)    
20. Midnight Train (US version)    
21. Incense (as The Anglos)

Flac Size: 398 MB

2. THE SECOND ALBUM 1966

                


The Second Album is the second album by the British band the Spencer Davis Group, released in 1966.

Many of the songs were a slightly experimental blend of beat, folk, jazz and blues. The album included Jackie Edwards' "Keep on Running", which gave the group their first U.K. number 1 single, and the R&B standard "Georgia on My Mind". The album spent eighteen weeks on the U.K. album chart, peaking at number 3. While the album was not released in the US, the single "Keep on Running" was released in February, 1966, and spent four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart peaking at number 74 on March 12. Other tracks from this album were later released in the U.S. on various compilations of the band.

The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album + 8 Bonus
Label: Fontana / Universal Music Japan - UICY-93174
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Japan
Released: 2006

TRACKS


01. Look Away    
02. Keep On Running    
03. This Hammer    
04. Georgia On My Mind    
05. Please Do Something    
06. Let Me Down Easy    
07. Strong Love    
08. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water    
09. Since I Met You Baby    
10. You Must Believe Me    
11. Hey Darling    
12. Watch Your Step

BONUS TRACKS

13. Stevie's Blues
14. Trampoline
15. Back Into My Life Again
16. Kansas City   
17. Oh! Pretty Woman
18. Det War in Schoneberg
19. Stevie's Groove
20. Stevie's Blues (US Version)

Flac Size: 401 MB   

3. AUTUMN '66 1966

                     


At the peak of their popularity, the Spencer Davis Group's albums were considerably less impressive

than their hits and a bit thin on imagination, although they were never less than competent. This, their third LP, relies heavily on soul covers, as well as a few oft-covered blues standards ("Midnight Special," "Mean Woman Blues," "Dust My Blues"). Highlights are their second British number one hit "Somebody Help Me," the decent group original "High Time Baby," Winwood's organ-based instrumental "On the Green Light," and "When I Get Home," which (like "Somebody Help Me") was a hit in Britain, but not the U.S.

The Spencer Davis Group - Autumn '66 + 8 Bonus
Label: Fontana / Universal Music Japan - UICY-93175
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: Japan
Released: 2006

TRACKS


01. Together 'Til The End Of Time    
02. Take This Hurt Off Me    
03. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out    
04. Midnight Special    
05. When A Man Loves A Woman    
06. When I Come Home    
07. Mean Woman Blues    
08. Dust My Blues    
09. On The Green Light    
10. Neighbour, Neighbour    
11. High Time Baby    
12. Somebody Help Me

BONUS TRACKS

13. Gimme Some Lovin'
14. Blues in F
15. I'm A Man
16. I Can't Get Enough Of It
17. Waltz For Lumumba
18. Somebody Help Me (US Version)
19. Gimme Some Lovin' (US Version)
20. I'm A Man (Stereo Mix)

Flac Size: 401 MB

4. MULBERRY BUSH 1967

                 


With this 16-track disc, RPM has assembled the album that the Spencer Davis Group might have put

out in late 1967. As it was, just two singles appeared from the April-December 1967 lineup (Davis, drummer Pete York, Eddie Hardin on keyboards, and Phil Sawyer on vocals), although some material would come out on the soundtrack to Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and the 1968 With Their New Face On album. To make matters more confusing, some of the songs released by the group in 1967 and 1968 were re-recorded or remixed for subsequent releases, sometimes replacing or overdubbing the vocals on the first versions.

The Spencer Davis Group – Mulberry Bush
Label: RPM Records – RPM 188
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: UK
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock, Blues
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS


01. Time Seller (Original Single Version)    [0:02:51.19]
02. Don't Want You No More (Original Single Version)    [0:03:03.03]
03. Mr Second Class    [0:03:15.08]
04. Sanity Inspector    [0:03:01.21]
05. Taking Out Time (Original Version)    [0:02:10.65]
06. Every Little Thing    [0:02:50.17]
07. Virginals Dream    [0:02:04.60]
08. Looking Back    [0:03:47.48]
09. Picture Of Her    [0:02:59.59]
10. Just Like Me    [0:01:42.03]
11. Possession    [0:02:02.08]
12. Morning Sun (Original Version)    [0:03:23.28]
13. Feel Your Way (Original Version)    [0:02:54.30]

BONUS TRACKS

14. Picture Of Her (Alternate Version)    [0:02:55.43]
15. Just Like Me (Alternate Version)    [0:01:44.00]
16. Possession (Alternate Version)    [0:02:13.46]

Flac Size: 268 MB

5. WITH THEIR NEW FACE ON 1968

                


With Their New Face On is the fourth studio album by the Spencer Davis Group, the first to be released

after the departure of Steve Winwood (to form the group Traffic), and his brother Muff Winwood. The album was released in 1968 in both the UK and the U.S. on the United Artists label. The new lineup of the band included existing members Davis and drummer Pete York, plus Eddie Hardin on vocals and keyboards and singer/guitarist Phil Sawyer. Hardin had been part of a band called A Wild Uncertainty. Sawyer had played in The Fleur de Lys and Shotgun Express.

The Spencer Davis Group - With Their New Face On
Label: OOO - SDGRCD-1968
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Unofficial Release
Released: 2000
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS


01. With His New Face On    
02. Mr. Second Class    
03. Alec In Transitland    
04. Sanity Inspector    
05. Feel Your Way    
06. Morning Sun    
07. Moonshine    
08. Don't Want You No More    
09. Time Seller    
10. Stop Me, I'm Falling
    
BONUS TRACKS

11. After Tea     3:19
12. Aquarius Der Wassermann     2:48
13. Let The Sunshine In     2:04
14. Feel Your Way     2:56
15. I'm Lost     2:56
16. Pools Winner     4:00
17. Morning Sun     3:21
18. Spencer Davis Radio Interview     5:42


Flac Size: 321 MB

6. FUNKY 1968

             


In 1969 The Spencer Davis Group went into the studio to record a new album for Date Records. The

album was finished, and Date Records pressed up the finished album and was ready to puy it into the stores when it was discovered that Spencer had never actually signed the contract. Even trough the album never reached the record stores in 1969, in 1971 some of the pressed up albums made the deletion bins in the U.S. The cover of this CD is the original album cover used for "FUNKY".

The Spencer Davis Group - Funky
Label: One Way Records - OW 34529
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock

TRACKS


01. I Met A Woman    
02. Letter From Edith    
03. Raintree River    
04. What A Way To Die    
05. Funky    
06. Magical Day    
07. I Guess I'm Wasting My Time    
08. Poor Missguided Woman    
09. And The Gods Came Down    
10. New Jersey Turnpike    
11. With Their New Face On (Radio Session)    
12. Time Seller (Radio Session)    
13. Feel Your Way (Radio Session)    
14. Taking Out Time (Radio Ression)    
15. Mr Second Class (Radio Session)    
16. After Tea (TV Session)    
17. Groove Extra (Studio Jam Session Backing Track)    
18. Moonshine (Radio Session)    
19. The Girls Song    
20. Anquarius / Let The Sunshine In (German Single Demo)    
21. Dust My Blues (Live)

NOTES    


Tracks 1 - 10 were originally planned to be released as 'Letters From Edith' on CBS, but it never happened due to contractual reasons.

Flac Size: 465 MB

7. GLUGGO

                  


The Spencer Davis Group re-formed in 1973 after a couple of years off during which Spencer Davis cut

some solo albums and Eddie Hardin recorded the masterful solo record Home Is Where You Find It (with the help of fellow SDGers Pete York and Ray Fenwick). Gluggo is the result of their reunion and while it isn't terrible by any means, it is a letdown to anyone who was looking for classic Spencer Davis sounds or a reprise of Hardin's solo album. Too many of the songs are tune-free, the vocals sound like first takes, the playing isn't particularly interesting, and the whole record is weighed down by an attempt on the band's part to be heavy.

The Spencer Davis Group - Gluggo 1973
Label: Repertoire Records - REP 4683-WY
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: Germany
Released: 1997
Genre: Funk / Soul, Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Rhythm & Blues

TRACKS


01. Catch You On The Rebop     3:15
02. Don't You Let It Bring You Down     3:55
03. Living In A Backstreet     3:24
04. Today Gluggo, Tomorrow The World     3:43
05. Feeling Rude     3:17
06. Mr. Operator     3:37
07. The Edge     2:21
08. The Screw     3:45
09. Tumble Down Tenement Row     3:09

BONUS TRACKS


10. Alone     4:18
11. Legal Eagle Shuffle     2:17
12. Trouble In Mind     4:33
13. Touching Cloth     2:53
14. Mr. Operator (Rough Mix)     3:35
15. Touching Cloth (Rough Mix)     2:53

Flac Size: 359 MB

8. LIVING IN THE BACK STREET 1974

                


The 1974 album "Living in the Back Street" is a solid album with some good songs and fine vocals

from Eddie Hardin. Hardin has remixed the songs as bonus-tracks for this release.
The title song is great, as well as the ballad "No Reason", and "Sure Need a Helping Hand". My favorite track though is the last "I Can Only Stay a While" - great tune.

The Spencer Davis Group – Living In A Back Street
Label: Repertoire Records – REP 4682-WY
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Country: Germany
Released:   
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock

TRACKS


01. Living In A Back Street     3:26
02. One Night     3:16
03. Hanging Around     3:36
04. No Reason     2:30
05. Fastest Thing On Four Wheels     4:33
06. Back Street Boys     3:22
07. Another Day     3:10
08. Sure Need A Helping Hand     4:04
09. We Can Give It A Try     4:12
10. Let's Have A Party     3:35

Bonus Tracks & Alternative Mixes

11. We Can Give It A Try     2:49
12. Living In A Back Street     3:21
13. Fastest Thing On Four Wheels     4:27
14. Sure Need A Helping Hand     3:58
15. Hanging Around     3:29
16. One Night     3:15
17. Back Street Boys     3:18
18. Another Day     3:09
19. Let's Have A Party     3:26
20. We Can Give It A Try     4:11
21. No Reason     2:30
22. I Can Only Stay A While / We Can Give It A Try     3:46

Flac Size: 514 MB

This Post is dedicated to the 2 English musicians that I met on my vacation and who, talking about music, told me that they love The Spencer Davis Group. As I promised them, I uploaded all their albums that I have.

 

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Traffic: 1967 - 1974


I'm Baaaaaaaaaack.

 Traffic were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim


Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. They began as a psychedelic rock group and diversified their sound through the use of instruments such as keyboards (such as the Mellotron and harpsichord), sitar, and various reed instruments, and by incorporating jazz and improvisational techniques in their music.
                      

The four musicians would get together for improvised jamming on stage at a hip club called "The

Elbow Room" on Aston High Street next door to the old Hippodrome theatre in Birmingham. It was there where the idea for Traffic was formed. Steve Winwood recalled; "We all used to go to this drinking/gambling club where Jim used to play, and like we used to get up and play with him and jam. And we just got together."
                       

With Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi eager to form a new band with Steve Winwood, Chris Wood also agreed to join the partnership. Dave Mason later admitted; "Everyone realized that we were going to get

a certain amount of success because Steve was in the band." The new line-up was named "Traffic", an action that prompted an obscure south London band called "Traffic Jam" to re-name themselves "Status Quo". Reportedly, it was Jim Capaldi who came up with the name Traffic after an evening watching cars clog the street following a show at the movie theatre. The band was given full financial backing by Island Records boss Chris Blackwell who intended to promote them to help the launch of Island Records as a major act label.
                          

Traffic's live shows at this time included a lot of on-stage jamming and extended solos by the individual members - something quite unusual in Britain for a pop group in those days and an indication of things

to come. Jim Capaldi would later describe their performances as "organized chaos".
December of 1967 saw the release of Traffic's acclaimed first album entitled "Mr Fantasy" that showcased the individual talents of the members and proved that Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood were more than just a backing band for Steve Winwood. The album's title track composed by Winwood and Capaldi became a standard covered by countless other bands to this day.
                   

Traffic then recorded another successful self-titled album, to which Dave Mason contributed the classic song 'Feelin' Alright', a composition that was to become much covered by other artists. Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, and Chris Wood also participated in the recording of the influential Jimi Hendrix

Experience album "Electric Ladyland" in addition to playing on former Deep Feeling guitarist Gordon Jackson's ill-fated solo album. Meanwhile, Steve Winwood re-energized following a few months break, teamed up with legendary guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker (of the recently disbanded "Cream") and along with bass player Ric Grech (of "Family"), formed the much publicized and short lived "supergroup" Blind Faith.
                   

In January 1970, Steve Winwood started work on a long-awaited solo album and was later joined in the recording studio by Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. The resulting sessions were so successful that Traffic
                   
was re-formed minus Dave Mason and the album produced from the recordings entitled "John Barleycorn Must Die" was issued as a group effort. The title track was their own arrangement of a traditional English folk song introduced to the band by Chris Wood. The album was critically acclaimed and became a big seller.
                     
                             
Further Traffic albums were recorded in the 1970s ("The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"; "Shoot Out

at The Fantasy Factory"; "When The Eagle Flies") and were big sellers, particularly in America where the group had a large following. Ric Grech and Jim Gordon left to be replaced by the famous American "Muscle Shoals" rhythm section of Roger Hawkins (drums) and David Hood (bass). An excellent high-quality video exists of this Traffic line-up performing at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1972.
                  

Despite a successful Traffic world tour and live album, Hawkins, Hood, and Kwaku Baah left the line-

up and Rosko Gee joined on bass guitar. During more touring of the USA in 1974, Steve Winwood became ill resulting in cancellation of further shows and the band decided to take an extended break to work on solo projects. It was the last time Steve, Jim, and Chris played together as a group.
                              

Steve Winwood worked with other well known musicians throughout the 1970s including another

supergroup called "GO" (with Stomu Yamashta, Michael Shrieve, and Al Di Meola)
before embarking on a predictably successful solo career. His 1986 album titled "Back In The High Life" received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in the USA while hit singles such as 'While You See A Chance' along with 'Valerie' and 'Higher Love' have scored high chart placings in many countries.
                 

ALBUMS IN THIS POST

Mr. Fantasy – 1967
Traffic – 1968
Last Exit – 1969
John Barleycorn Must Die – 1970
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys – 1971
Welcome To The Canteen - 1971
Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory – 1973
When the Eagle Flies – 1974


LINE - UP
                   


Jim Capaldi: drums, percussion, vocals
Dave Mason: guitar, bass, sitar, mellotron, harmonica, vocals (left 1968)
Steve Winwood: keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals
Chris Wood: flute, saxophone, keyboards, vocals
Ric Grech: bass guitar (joined 1970, left 1972)
Jim Gordon: drums (joined 1971, left 1972)
Rebop Kwaku Baah: percussion (joined 1971)
Roger Hawkins: drums (joined 1972)
David Hood: bass guitar (joined 1972)

TRAFFIC - 5 CLASSIC ALBUMS 2017
                    

Traffic – 5 Classic Albums
Label: Spectrum Music – 5374164, UMC – 00600753741641
Series: 5 Classic Albums
Format: Box Set, Compilation, CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Country: UK
Released: 2017
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Blues Rock, Jazz-Rock
                 

DISC 1.    TRAFFIC - MR. FANTASY 1967

                        


Mr. Fantasy is the debut album by English rock band Traffic, released in December 1967. The

recording included group members Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason; Mason temporarily left the band shortly after the album was released. The album reached the number 16 position in the UK Albums Chart, and number 88 on the Billboard Top LPs chart in the United States.

TRACKS

    
01. Heaven Is In Your Mind   4:22
Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood
02. Berkshire Poppies   2:59
Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood
03. House For Everyone   2:06
Written-By – D. Mason
04. No Face, No Name, No Number   3:37
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
05. Dear Mr. Fantasy   5:37
Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood
06. Dealer   3:16
Written-By – J. Capaldi
07. Utterly Simple   3:23
Written-By – D. Mason
08. Coloured Rain   2:47
Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood
09. Hope I Never Find Me There   2:13
Written-By – D. Mason
10. Giving To You   4:19
Written-By – Wood, Mason, Cpaldi, Winwood

M4A   Size: 102 MB
Flac  Size: 218 MB
    
DISC 2.    TRAFFIC - TRAFFIC 1968



Traffic is the second studio album by the English rock band of the same name, released in 1968 on

Island Records in the United Kingdom as ILPS 9081T (stereo), and United Artists in the United States, as UAS 6676 (stereo). The album peaked at number 9 in the UK Albums Chart and at number 17 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. It was the last album recorded by the group before their initial breakup.

 

 

 

TRACKS


01. You Can All Join In   3:39
Written-By – Mason
02. Pearly Queen   4:20
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
03. Don't Be Sad   3:23
Written-By – Mason
04. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring   3:13
Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood
05. Feelin' Alright?   4:19
Written-By – Mason
06. Vagabond Virgin   5:22
Written-By – Mason, Capaldi
07. Forty Thousand Headmen   3:14
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
08. Cryin' To Be Heard   5:33
Written-By – Mason
09. No Time To Live   5:02
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
10. Means To An End   2:42
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood

M4A   Size: 121 MB
Flac  Size: 264 MB

DISC 3.    TRAFFIC - JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE 1970

                    


John Barleycorn Must Die is the fourth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in 1970 as

Island ILPS 9116 in the United Kingdom, United Artists UAS 5504 in the United States, and as Polydor 2334 013 in Canada. It marked the band's comeback after a brief disbandment, and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, making it their highest-charting album in the US, and has been certified a gold record by the RIAA. In addition, the single "Empty Pages" spent eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 74. The album was marginally less successful in the UK, reaching number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.

TRACKS

    
01. Glad   7:00
Written-By – Winwood
02. Freedom Rider   5:29
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
03. Empty Pages    4:37
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
04. Stranger To Himself   3:56
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
05. John Barleycorn   6:27
Arranged By – Winwood/Written-By – Traditional
06. Every Mother's Son   7:07
Written By – Winwood/Written-By – Capaldi

You can find it HERE

DISC 4.    TRAFFIC - THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS 1971

                 


The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is the fifth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in

1971. The album was Traffic's most successful in the United States, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and becoming their only platinum-certified album there, indicating sales in excess of one million. However, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. The album features the minor hit "Rock & Roll Stew" and the title track, which received heavy FM airplay.

TRACKS

    
01. Hidden Treasure   4:16

Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
02. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys   12:10
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
03. Rock 'N' Roll Stew   4:29
Written By – Gordon/Written-By – Grech
04. Many A Mile To Freedom   7:30
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
05. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone   5:00
Written-By – Capaldi
06. Rainmaker   7:39
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood

M4A   Size: 133 MB
Flac  Size: 251 MB

DISC 5.    TRAFFIC - SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY 1973

          

                 

Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory is the sixth studio album by English rock band Traffic released in

1973. It followed their 1971 album The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and contained five songs. Shoot Out, while achieving poorer reviews than its predecessor, did reach number six on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, one space higher than Low Spark had peaked in 1972. Like its predecessor, the original jacket for the Shoot Out LP had its top right and bottom left corners clipped.

 

 

TRACKS

    
01. Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory   6:09

Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
02. Roll Right Stones   11:47
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
03. Evening Blue   5:22
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood
04. Tragic Magic   6:44
Written-By – Wood
05. (Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired   7:23
Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood

M4A   Size: 112 MB
Flac  Size: 234 MB
 
TRAFFIC - LAST EXIT 1969

                   


Last Exit is the third album release by English rock band Traffic. Released in May 1969, it is a

collection of odds and ends packaged by Island Records after the initial breakup of the band. The first half of the album consists predominately of previously released A-sides and B-sides, while the second half were recordings taken from a March 1968 concert at the Fillmore Auditorium. The album reached number 19 in the American Billboard Top LPs chart.
 

 

 

Traffic – Last Exit
Label: Island Records – 842 787-2
Series: Island Masters – IMCD 41
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: France
Released:   
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Prog Rock

TRACKS


01. Just For You    2:24
02. Shanghai Noodle Factory    5:04
03. Something's Got A Hold Of My Toe    2:14
04. Withering Tree    3:10
05. Medicated Goo    3:36
Recorded Live At The Filllmore West   
06. Feelin' Good  (Written-By – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse)   10:50
07. Blind Man  (Written-By – Deadric Malone, J. Scott)   7:10
 

M4A   Size: 90 MB
Flac  Size: 214 MB

TRAFFIC - WELCOME TO THE CANTEEN 1971

                     


Following the success of John Barleycorn Must Die, Traffic planned a concert album for the fall of 1970, and it got as far as a test pressing before being canceled. A recording was necessary to satisfy the

terms of British label Island records' licensing deal with American label United Artists, which had provided for five albums, of which four had been delivered. With Island starting to release its own albums in the U.S., the UA contract had to be completed, and hopefully not with the potentially lucrative studio follow-up to John Barleycorn Must Die. Traffic tried again to come up with a live album by recording shows on a British tour in July 1971. Joining for six dates of the tour was twice-dismissed Traffic singer/guitarist Dave Mason, who had subsequently scored a solo success with his Alone Together album.

Traffic – Welcome To The Canteen
Label: Island Records – IMCD 39
Series: Island Masters – IMCD 39
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: Oct 1989
Genre: Rock, Blues
Style: Classic Rock, Blues Rock

TRACKS


01. Medicated Goo  (Written-By – Miller, Winwood)   3:34
02. Sad And Deep As You  (Written-By – Mason)   3:48
03. 40,000 Headmen  (Written-By – Capaldi, Winwood)   6:21
04. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave (Written-By – Mason)  5:39
05. Dear Mr. Fantasy  (Written-By – Wood, Capaldi, Winwood)   10:57
06. Gimme Some Lovin'  (Written-By – Davis, Winwood)   9:02

M4A   Size: 111 MB
Flac  Size: 269 MB

TRAFFIC - WHEN THE EAGLE FLIES 1974

               


When the Eagle Flies is the seventh studio album released by English rock band Traffic, in 1974. The

album featured Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood, with Rosko Gee on bass guitar. Percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah was fired prior to the album's completion, but two tracks feature his playing. Winwood plays a broader variety of keyboard instruments than most previous Traffic albums, adding Moog to their repertoire. This was the last Traffic album for 20 years, when Winwood and Capaldi reunited for Far from Home in 1994.

 

Traffic – When The Eagle Flies
Label: Island Records – CID 9273
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: Rock
Style: Jazz-Rock, Pop Rock, Prog Rock

TRACKS


01. Something New    3:15
02. Dream Gerrard    11:03
03. Graveyard People    6:05
04. Walking In The Wind    6:48
05. Memories Of A Rock N' Rolla    4:50
06. Love    3:20
07. When The Eagle Flies    4:24


M4A   Size: 108 MB
Flac  Size: 254 MB 

Steve Winwood: The Finer Things on Urban Aspirines HERE

Stomu Yamashta - Steve Winwood - Michael Shrieve: GO on Urban Aspirines HERE