Traffic (Traffic album)

Untitled

Traffic was the eponymous rock album by the English rock band Traffic, ranging in style from psychedelic rock to acid jazz. It was their second release, in October 1968; it reached number 9 in the UK album charts on 26th October 1968, and reached number 17 in the Billboard charts in the United States.

Overview

After their debut album, Mr. Fantasy, Traffic planned a more mainstream album, possibly with fewer drug references and psychedelic influences. Before they began recording, they decided to reinstate Dave Mason. Mason ended up writing and singing roughly half of the album, making almost no contribution to the other half.

Chris Wood's flute playing on the album was compared to that of Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, who is often thought of as the most famous rock flautist of all time.

Following the release of Traffic, the band embarked upon a tour of the United States but shortly thereafter fired bassist Mason. At the conclusion of the tour, at the beginning of 1969, Winwood announced the breakup of Traffic. Winwood joined supergroup Blind Faith while the remaining members of Traffic (including Mason) worked on a project called Wooden Frog which never recorded an album. In 1970, Winwood reunited with Capaldi and Wood to release John Barleycorn Must Die.

Track listing

1. "You Can All Join In" (Mason) – 3:34
2. "Pearly Queen" (Capaldi/Winwood) – 4:20
3. "Don't Be Sad" (Mason) – 3:24
4. "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" (Capaldi/Winwood/Wood) – 3:11
5. "Feelin' Alright" (Mason) – 4:16
6. "Vagabond Virgin" (Capaldi/Mason) – 5:21
7. "Forty Thousand Headmen" (Capaldi/Winwood) – 3:15
8. "Cryin' to Be Heard" (Mason) – 5:14
9. "No Time to Live" (Capaldi/Winwood) – 5:10
10. "Means to an End" (Capaldi/Winwood) – 2:39

    Bonus tracks from UK 2000 CD release:

11. "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush" (Capaldi/Mason/Winwood/Wood) – 2:45
12. "Am I What I Was or Am I What I Am" (Capaldi/Winwood/Wood) – 2:36
13. "Withering Tree" (Capaldi/Winwood) – 2:57
14. "Medicated Goo" (Miller/Winwood) – 3:39
15. "Shanghai Noodle Factory" (Capaldi/Fallon/Miller/Winwood/Wood) – 5:03

Other versions

The bonus tracks on the new U.S. remastered version differ from the U.K. re-issue. The U.S. bonus tracks are Withering Tree (stereo), and rare mono single mixes of You Can All Join In and Feelin' Alright. The 2000 re-masters were assisted by Jim Capaldi.

Personnel

• Jim Capaldi - drums, percussion, backing vocals, album design
• Dave Mason - guitar, bass guitar, sitar, organ, vocals
• Steve Winwood - Keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals
• Chris Wood - flute, saxophone, percussion
• Jimmy Miller - producer
• Terry Brown, Eddie Kramer, Glyn Johns, Brian Humphries - engineers
• Richard Polak - photography

External links

• Traffic's Traffic at allmusic.com
• Traffic at JimCapaldi.com
• Traffic at Music.com