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