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Just wanted to add to all the positive comments here that in my opinion "40,000 Headmen" is one of the best rock recordings EVER. The lyrics are a lot more interesting than "Paper Sun" and "Feelin' All Right" (both of which I also like very much), and the music is haunting. The flute playing, so prominent in "40,000 Headmen," is what made Traffic a standout group back in the late 60s, and I do NOT agree with the above reviewer who seems to think that Traffic was some sort of transition and that the group members went on to bigger and better things individually--no matter their future efforts, Traffic was still the best thing any of them ever did.

There are only a few outstanding rock singers. Steve Winwood is one of the very best of the best. His voice sounds so distinctive that nobody has ever been able to create that soulful, sensuous, strident sound.

This album was my introduction to Traffic many years ago and it still sounds interesting after 35 years. The band uses interesting tone colours which, while they are individual, cannot help but make you remember those weird psychedelic bands of the late 60s. I love Chris Wood's creative sax and flute. The sitar in Paper Sun is so effective. Hole in My Shoe is so over-the-top and pretentious that I love it!

There is plenty of variety in the album: no two songs sound the same. A few have been splendidly recorded by other artists, including Feeling All Right [Joe Cocker] and Smiling Phases [Blood, Sweat and Tears], but, wonderful as these are, you can't beat the original versions.

Highly recommended.

Traffic had one of the most original (and interesting) sounds in British rock, and not only because of their eclectic musical influences, which embraced psychedelia, folk, jazz, soul, R&B, and even classical. Their unique sound was also the result of their unusual instrumentation. While the group went through a number of personnel changes, its constant core members were Steve Winwood (vocals, keyboards, guitars), Chris Wood (sax, flute, and organ), and Jim Capaldi (drums & percussion). With no regular bass player, Winwood often filled in with the bass pedals on his organ. And, while there is no lack of guitars on most Traffic recordings, the guitar is not emphasized or particularly important to the group's sound. Dave Mason came and went in their early years and, on other recordings, Steve Winwood would switch to guitar, with Chris Wood taking over organ duties. In short, Traffic was anything but your typical guitar-bass-drums rock outfit. And, with "white Ray Charles" prodigy Winwood at the helm, and with their willingness to experiment with virtually any sound or musical style, they cut some of the most distinctive and important records in British rock.

"The Best of Traffic" is an excellent LP-length sampler of their best work with Dave Mason. For the casual fan, this is a good place to start. However, the three albums covered by this release ("Mr. Fantasy," "Traffic," and "Last Exit") are essential in their own right. So, you may want to start here, but you certainly shouldn't stop here.

If you are looking at this album it probably means you want a best-of that contains Hole In My Shoe and this is the one. Loved by fans but left off collections (including the new 'Revolutions') this 2:52 slice of psychedelic whimsy was part of the soundtrack to the teenage years of many and this early best-of contains it and a good concise collection of Traffic's other primary work, including the magnificent Feelin' Alright, covered by many but never bested. Despite having most of the Traffic albums in either vinyl or cd form I return to this collection often because it gives me that short, sharp hit of Traffic brilliance that I crave so often.

if your a 60's fan, this is a record for you. though not all the songs are unbelievable,The first song (paper sun) is absolutely a master piece.Only for this work of art buying this record is a must.

Well folks, I am back. Yes. I admit the campaign trail is getting rougher and rougher day by day. No doubt you saw my Vice Presidential pick, Sarhill Palclint debate Biden Mytime last night. True. We all awaited how she would do, being in a national arena and all. Let me tell you,it really doesn't matter. Supporters of Metamorpho (your favorite Seer by now, and, if not, you haven't been paying attention), will certainly overlook the biased media towards Seers, and vote for me anyway.

As you can expect- the campaign trail really depletes energy. So, my advisor said to take a power nap while we were jetting to Florida for, yet, another rally. "Here", he said. "put these ipod headphones into your ears and listen to a classic late 60's band. You will be enlightened".

Of course, as all of you know, your favorite Seer of all time (me!) was quite suspicious. However, without hesitation, this selection revitalized me as I caught a quick sleep. Far away from the animated crowds. I have to say, that no matter who won the debate, I was glad to listen to this long gone music. Oh sure, when I arrived at my destination the marching band and the cheerleaders and the news cameras did their best to distract me. But to no avail. I was hopelessly back in the late sixties, groovin' to this music.

This is the "Best of Traffic" and, although the name is supposed to give you a total retrospect of this band's career, it doesn't quite live up to the whole story. I am sure they put this out after their (supposed) break up in the very late sixties. No matter. It really does what it's supposed to do except for the fact that they left off many other good tunes from this era.

The brain child behind all of this is Steve Winwood. Having achieved fame in the Spencer Davis Group, he decide to break away, with his English soulfull voice, and create a new group called Traffic. He was aware that the times were changing and adjusted his new group towards a musical psychedelic course. The results were amazing, and leagues ahead of what was available at the time. Just listen to the production here, and the erractic and manic phasing from speaker to speaker. It was a nod towards creative surprise, and it works very well.

Musically interesting and intriguing, Traffic travelled on highways unexplored. Winwood, who was a multi-instrumentalist, was known for his keyboard work as well as his guitar. The group would retreat to his countryside home and create the sounds you hear here. A vision, if you will. But, a considerable vision to say the least.

Most of these songs come from their premiere album "Mr. Fantasy". Seven out of eleven, as a matter of fact. Whether it be the sitar-influenced "Paper Sun" or the outerworldly "Hole in My Shoe" (with ascending pschedelic riffs - towards a young voice of innocence - back down to adulthood), the dream, after all, is the objective. Psychedelic music always was, or so I believe, a state of being towards the ideal, or Utopia, in musical terms. This is what Traffic tried to achieve. Some will debate their success in this, but really, who cares as long as you find it interesting and fun. People tend to forget ( but not your Metamorpho!) that life, after all, should be a search for fun and joy in your lives. If not, what is the point? Oh, I can see you all there, you know who you are! Anger and jealousy and every nuance of low human behaviour infiltrate your lives. I urge you to forget your concerns. Let's party instead! (And I will after I win the Presidency!).

What I should relate here is that this is a quick collection of very good tunes, but really, doesn't give you the whole picture of this group's considerable talent. There are a treasure trove of deserving songs that could have made it to this collection. And, in fact, some are more deserving than what they've included here. Be advised; this merely skims the surface and is a nice place to start to get acquainted with Traffic. But, as time has proved, their best days were ahead of them as Winwood regrouped after his stint in Blind Faith. (I feel this way too - with my best Presidential days ahead of me).

So, go ahead. Indulge in some ethereal, creative music. Just keep in mind that, after this mostly psychedelic offering, Traffic settled down to inticate jazz-rock that was cut from finer musical cloth. Mind you, there is nothing wrong with this collection. It's just that you have to readjust your mind a bit to get to the essence. And some don't want to work that hard. It's like me - hoping the Presidency will be bestowed on me. I never knew so much work would be involved. I should have stayed on my lecture circuit and advised on how to save the world. See what the thirst for power will do? I urge all to learn by their mistakes.

Despite my self recriminations, vote for me anyway. Who knows? I just may cure your ills and you will live a happy life (and I will still be struggling but, mind you, I do NOT ask for cheap sympathy!). No nevermind. Check Traffic out - it is not a rubbernecking freeway, I assure you.

Driving towards the Presidency (and preferable Sainthood) - Metamorpho ;)

As far as greatest hits packages go this one has alot more misses than "hits", stay with the original three albums of which this release is representitive of, Last Exit, Traffic and Dear Mr.Fantasy, also of interest might be John Barleycorn, Blind Faith and Welcome to the Canteen.

Paper Sun and the many other songs on this album are great to listen to. But Feelin' Alright is one of the finest songs ever performed. Dave Mason sings with such emotion, you can just feel his pain. It is a great example of suppressed emotions just transforming an normal individual into an insane one, driven to insanity by severe depression and desperation. In other words, buy this. If you get depressed, listen to this song.