Traffic Corner - and a green light for About Time

[A Lark Ascending]

Traffic

One of those bands that were about in my rock and roll years but I never paid much attention to. I recall hearing a live BBC broadcast around 1970 and not being much impressed. I had a wonderful Island label sampler called 'Bumpers' which opened with 'Every Mother's Son' from 'John Barleycorn' which I enjoyed. I had 'On the Road' in the mid-70s but got rid of it for some reason. Traffic didn't really impact on me and Winwood's synth journey in the later 70s and 80s had no interest for me at all.

And then, for some reason, in the 80s I bought 'Best of Traffic'...and enjoyed it. So I bought 'John Barleycorn' (curious about the title track, knowing it from folky sources) and loved it. In the 90s I acquired 'Mr Fantasy' and 'Traffic' and 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys' and really enjoyed them.

And then I finally got round to 'Blind Faith' when that got its deluxe reissue.

A few months back a number of people got enthusiastic about Winwood's 'About Time Album' so I acquired that one and was floored by it. Great playing on proper instruments (sorry, my prejudices at work there!). Excellent, excellent songs. Probably my favourire rock record of the year!

Which led me last weekend to pick up 'Welcome to the Canteen' which is marvellous...and order 'On the Road' to see why I was so uninterested first time round (for some reason the remaster of this has not had a UK release).

Now I'm interested in responses from anyone who enjoyed/enjoys Traffic. In the UK they made a splash with their early records and then, 'after the break', never really re-established themselves in the major league. That was the time I was a rock fan. I recall them playing ten miles from where I was at university but me and my mates decided it wasn't worth the effort to travel. Whereas I believe their success was much more long lasting in the States.

One last observation. There are some great sounding latin tracks on the new Winwood CD. Wouldn't it be great if Winwood and his trio were to link up with Carlos Santana? Now that would be a real comeback. No overproduction, poppy guests or whatever. Just excellent musicians doing what they do best.

I can dream.

[jazzbo]

That is a nice idea about Winwood and Santana.

I was a Traffic fan in Swaziland, first heard them on the BBC and Radio Lorenco Marques and I kept on being a Traffic fan up through "When the Eagle Flies" with varying degrees of enthusiasm. I really like Winwood: he always seemed able to project a sincerity about the music and make some emotional connection. I get the feeling he's a nice bloke, and he's quite a musician. I love his organ sound: I can identify it, he really has a distinctive sound. He also plays good piano, again with a style his own. And he can play guitar too, he really can (saw him recently on Austin City Limits and he KILLED on guitar on Dear Mr. Fantasy).

I liked the band with Mason in it, there was another voice, another composer, another musician. Welcome to the Canteen I've dug out a few times recently and like it; good ole Rebop Kwaku Bah. . . it's interesting to play Canteen and follow it up with the Randy Weston lp that he appears on! (That Weston is very percussive!) In a way John Barleycorn (which started off as a Winwood solo project) is the very best. . . it just works from start to finish. . .

Will be interesting to see how many other Traffic fans are out there. In the last year I bought some cheap copies of John Barleycorn, Welcome to the Canteen and Last Exit. . . . Was fun to hear them again.

[danasgoodstuff]

pRETTY MUCH A FAN, UP TO A POINT AT LEAST. (sorry didn't mean to go all aric on you!) But without Mason, it pretty much was the Winwood show. He's a talented guy, and certainly looks/sounds like he took better care of himself than some (he is a little younger than many of his peers). But after Mason left and Woods died, what's the difference between a Winwood solo record that Cipaldi (sp?) plays on and a Traffic album anymore? More talent than he quite knew what to do with is the bottom line for me I guess...

Edited August 10, 2004 by danasgoodstuff

[tonym]

Well I went about this backside first.

In my teens I was a huge Steve Winwood fan --- also a fan of the overproduced sound, the polished sheen of 'Back In The High Life', 'Arc Of A Diver' etc. Much of this was due to his tunes accompanying a documentary about a certain British racing cyclist, a hero of mine at the time.

Then I had no idea what a star Winwood was earlier in his career. A friend told me he had seen Winwood live in the early seventies on the same bill as Joe Cocker and raved how he sounded "blacker than most" white soul boys. I bought a best of Winwood album and that was enough to delve deeper.

I thought the Blind Faith project would be worth a listen. I still think this on a weekly basis now!!!

Having listened to Mr Fantasy recently I realised how much Capaldi held this band together; given the 'unusual' instrumentation this band could have easily been just another 60's folk/pop/rock hybrid. Capaldi livens up the sound with his relatively 'jazzy' drumming style.

The time seems right for a Traffic revival.

BTW the same friend saw Winwood again earlier this year at the Barbican in York (I think?) and he said he was fantastic. How he seemed fresh and keen, not just content to churn out the old hits.

[Shawn]

Hmmm, this thread has me thinking. I've loved the Blind Faith record for years, one of my faves...but I've never owned any Traffic albums. Might be a good time to rethink that and try some out.

[PHILLYQ]

Hmmm, this thread has me thinking. I've loved the Blind Faith record for years, one of my faves...but I've never owned any Traffic albums. Might be a good time to rethink that and try some out.

If you don't have any Traffic, GET JOHN BARLEYCORN! IMHO, a great disc with strong cuts all the way. The disc is only a trio of Winwood,Capaldi & Woods, with Winwood overdubbing keys, bass & guitar. IT ROCKS!

[Jim R]

I was a fan back in the day, but haven't heard the music in ages. I think it was my older brother who gave me a copy of an LP (a twofer?) simply called "Winwood". As I remember, it contained some of his early work, with the Spencer Davis Group etc. Anyway, I bought JOHN BARLEYCORN and LOW SPARK when they came out (as did several of my high school buddies). LOW SPARK was very popular around here at the time, and I've run across a lot of used copies of that one over the years.

I didn't follow Winwood's career beyond LOW SPARK, but that had more to do with my interest in blues, and then jazz. I hardly heard his name mentioned at all until recently when he released About Time. Saw him on Letterman last year, and he still sounds great.

[Guy Berger]

I was a fan back in the day, but haven't heard the music in ages. I think it was my older brother who gave me a copy of an LP (a twofer?) simply called "Winwood". As I remember, it contained some of his early work, with the Spencer Davis Group etc. Anyway, I bought JOHN BARLEYCORN and LOW SPARK when they came out (as did several of my high school buddies). LOW SPARK was very popular around here at the time, and I've run across a lot of used copies of that one over the years.

I didn't follow Winwood's career beyond LOW SPARK, but that had more to do with my interest in blues, and then jazz. I hardly heard his name mentioned at all until recently when he released About Time. Saw him on Letterman last year, and he still sounds great.

I like John Barleycorn a lot, but I think Traffic's 1st two albums are the best ones. So many great tunes.

I remember walking on the library walk at UCSD when I was studying there and hearing some guy blasting a classic rock tune with an absolutely killer guitar solo. Somewhat stupidly I asked him, "Is this Hendrix?" He said, no, this is "Dear Mr. Fantasy" by Traffic.

Guy

[Guest ariceffron]

POINT 1:

THE OCTOBER '04 TRAFFIC REUNION IS OFF AND NO ONE IS MORE UPSET THAN THE F-RON. JIM CAPALDI HAS STOMACH CANCER OR SOMETHING SO THE TOUR IS OFF.

POINT 2:

ALTHOUGH 'BACK IN THE HIGH LIFE' IS A 'PRODUCED' ALBUM AS YOU SAY, IT IS INDEED THE BEST ALBUM OF THE 80'S ALONG WITH 90125 (YES).

POINT 3:

ANY OF YOU ENJOY THE GROUP WIDESPREAD PANIC, A VERY TRAFFIC INFLUENCED ROCK BAND?

[Guest ariceffron]

OH AND POINT 4:

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT SOMEONE WAS 'BLASTING' DEAR MR. FANTASY IN THE UCSD LIBRARY ANYTIME BETWEEN 1977 AND 2004.

[Guy Berger]

OH AND POINT 4:

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT SOMEONE WAS 'BLASTING' DEAR MR. FANTASY IN THE UCSD LIBRARY ANYTIME BETWEEN 1977 AND 2004.

LIBRARY WALK MY FRIEND, NOT LIBRARY. GOD I MISS SAN DIEGO

[BFrank]

Speaking of Hendrix, Winwood does play on Electric Ladyland. He also shows up on a rather obscure King Crimson offshoot project called "McDonald & Giles".

Then again, there's always Stomu Yamashta's "Go" with Winwood & Michael Shrieve (there's your Santana connection!)

[Jim R]

Here's that Winwood LP I had:

Released on UA in 1971, it contained:

Keep On Running

Somebody Help Me

Goodbye Stevie

Cross Roads

Gimme Some Lovin'

I'm A Man

Can't Get Enough Of It

Stevie's Blues

Paper Sun

Heaven Is In Your Mind

Coloured Rain

Dear Mr. Fantasy

Smiling Phases

Dealer

Medicated Goo

Forty Thousand Headmen

Vagabond Virgin

Sea Of Joy

Empty Pages

Stranger To Himself

Freedom Rider

Anybody else ever see/own that?

[Guest ariceffron]

dude library walk is like an asian meat market. i swear to god. the day i saw it there was like 200 asians-- all at tables lined up along the walk. some were selling food. others i think were some sort of asian games of chance. it was out of conrtol.

[A Lark Ascending]

Winwood did a lot of sideman appearances in the 70s. He's on a couple of John Martyn albums.

How do you feel about Chris Wood? I've always thought his flute brought an essential part of the overall sound - '40 000 Headmen' remains my favourite track of all. It's interesting that when Capaldi and Winwood came together as Traffic again in the 90s the brought in some flute to get that sound. By contrast I've always found Wood's sax playing uninvolving.

Coming to Traffic late the comings and goings of Mason have never really worried me. Much as I've never had any great nostalgia for the first Pink Floyd - my picture of them centres on the 1970-71 period. I appreciate how this sound different if you were in at the start - a vital flavour dropping out of the picture.

Edited August 11, 2004 by Bev Stapleton

[jazzbo]

I like Wood's fluteplaying quite a bit, his tenor I had to be in the mood for. I actually have quite a bit, maybe fifty minutes of OTHER material of Jimi with Steve and/or Chris on "boots". . . a nice combination; Jimi is recorded as saying something to the effect that he would love to have Steve Winwood in his band at any time!

Steve now has a flute and reed player in his band who is pretty darned good.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Was Winwood something like 17 when they recorded the first SDG hits? One helluva garage band!

[A Lark Ascending]

Was Winwood something like 17 when they recorded the first SDG hits? One helluva garage band!

I was listening to the SDG 'best of' compilation on my walkman whilst fighting with my garden (well, area of mud!) this morning. As you say, amazing music for such a young band.

Even more amazing to think it came out of Birmingham, UK! If you've ever been to Birmingham you'll know what I mean.

Having said that Birmingham also produced The Move, Led Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, Black Sabbath, part of Fairport Convention and Dave Holland (and I'd imagine much more - it's actually got a very strong jazz scene currently). Maybe the horror of Birmingham inspires people to make another (musical) world for themselves!

Apologies to any Brummies! Birmingham is much nicer than it used to be!

[Man with the Golden Arm]

I have not thought much of this stuff since the late seventies but "Low Spark" was one of those tunes an older buddy and vietnam vet turned me on to (& certainly not just that lp ).

Well since all my vinyl is at rest with nothing to play them on I loaded up the cut from iTunes - 11:44 for $.99!!! - and am listening now. What a great great piece.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to download something that might enhance the mood as was done in the old days.

[Guy Berger]

How do you feel about Chris Wood? I've always thought his flute brought an essential part of the overall sound - '40 000 Headmen' remains my favourite track of all. It's interesting that when Capaldi and Winwood came together as Traffic again in the 90s the brought in some flute to get that sound. By contrast I've always found Wood's sax playing uninvolving.

Wood is one of the worst saxophonists I've heard on record. His flute playing, while not especially interesting, has a nice atmospheric quality.

Guy

[A Lark Ascending]

How do you feel about Chris Wood? I've always thought his flute brought an essential part of the overall sound - '40 000 Headmen' remains my favourite track of all. It's interesting that when Capaldi and Winwood came together as Traffic again in the 90s the brought in some flute to get that sound. By contrast I've always found Wood's sax playing uninvolving.

Wood is one of the worst saxophonists I've heard on record. His flute playing, while not especially interesting, has a nice atmospheric quality.

Guy

Not being a musician I'm in no position to comment on Wood's skills on sax or flute.

But what you say rings very true with the way I hear him on these records.

I have a suspicion it's Wood on the sax that prevented me from really enjoying 'On the Road' - with whole side versions of tunes there was lots of opportunity for him to play for a long time!!! Anyway, it'll be interesting to hear how it sounds over 20 years later!

[Guest ariceffron]

i saw spencer davis and his group w/ alan white on drums 2 weeks ago and it was awesome

[Quincy]

Here's that Winwood LP I had:

Anybody else ever see/own that?

<Raises hand.>

I do I do! On United Artists. A nice selection and a good layout for vinyl.

[A Lark Ascending]

POSTSCRIPT: Re: my suggestion for a Winwood/Santana get together.

The September Jazzwise carries a review of a Carlos concert at Montreux where he played with McLaughlin, Wayne Shorter, Ravi Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and...wait for it...a vocal appearance by one Steve Winwood!

Very enthusiastic review - one set of Marley, Lennon, Gaye, Mayfield etc covers (the reviewer calls the material 'inspirational' for the players!); a second set of tunes in the 'Love, Devotion and Surrender' vein. Shorter was on fine form according to the reviewer.

Well, that's one step nearer. Maybe we'll get a CD!

Edited August 21, 2004 by Bev Stapleton

[Guy Berger]

Up.

Not sure why, but I got a serious itch to listen to Traffic today and put Heaven Is in Your Mind (the US version of Dear Mr. Fantasy) on my ipod. DAMN, IT'S GOOD. Especially the title tune(s).

Like Bev, I don't completely understand the fascination with Dave Mason. He had a few good songs, but he wrote some really goofy stuff on the debut.

Are the Traffic albums post-Low Spark good? I really like 4 of the songs on that album, but two of them ("Rock and Roll Stew", "Light Up and Leave Me Alone") kinda suck.

Now I'm chilling out to John Barleycorn Must Die -- another great one. Not a bad song on it. Nobody ever seems to mention "Every Mother's Son" -- I love that tune.

Are live Traffic recordings from the site which must not be named worth checking out? I get the feeling that despite their jazzy dabblings they might have been boring live.

If you're joining this thread late, be sure to go back to page one for some truly classic posts from chewy chew chew.

Guy