Collection

Traffic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Musicrama/Koch
• ASIN: B0000DEO33
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,176,570 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

2. Hole in My Shoe

3. Dear Mr. Fantasy

4. You Can All Join In

5. John Barleycorn (Must Die)

6. Freedom Rider

7. No Face, No Name, No Number

8. Paper Sun

9. Coloured Rain

10. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring

11. Am I What I Was or Am I What I Am

12. Medicated Goo

13. Berkshire Poppies

14. Rock and Roll Stew

15. (Roamin' Through the Gloamin With) 40, 000 Headmen

16. Pearly Queen

17. Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

Editorial Reviews

Budget priced compilation for the British rock act that launched the career of Steve Winwood. While the cheapest U.S. hits compilation for Steve Winwood's legendary classic rock group, Island's 2000 retrospective 'Feelin' Alright-The Very Best Of Traffic', has a suggested list of $17.98, this British import-only collection sells for a mere $7.99 and contains three more tracks than the American discs! Listeners are treated to a total of 17 standout cuts from the group's heyday in the '60s and '70s, including 'The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys', 'Dear Mr. Fantasy', 'Paper Sun', 'Hole In My Shoe', 'Rock & Roll Stew' and 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush'. 2001 release. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Steve Winwood's groups, April 2, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Collection (Audio CD)

After Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group, he formed Traffic, a group that recorded several fine albums between 1967 and 1975 There was a brief disbandment, during which period Steve joined Blind Faith. The original Traffic albums generally sound more cohesive than any compilations, but everybody has to begin somewhere. A compilation allows you to identify which of the original albums is likely to appeal most to you.

Traffic had three top ten hits and one minor hit in the UK although they made little impact on the American singles charts. Their music is somewhat different from the Spencer Davis Group, which was a British R+B band. While R+B is one of the ingredients of Traffic's music, there is also some rock, jazz, psychedelia and traditional folk in the mix.

As far as the UK hits are concerned, Paper sun made the top five, Hole in my shoe made number two, Here we go round the mulberry bush (from the similarly-titled movie) made the top ten and their chart history ends with the minor hit, No face no name no number. Of these songs, a cover of Hole in my shoe (recorded for charity) made number two in the eighties, thus matching Traffic's original achievement.

Those hits are all here, together with some interesting album tracks, among them the title tracks to three of their albums (Dear Mr Fantasy, John Barleycorn must die, Low spark of high-heeled boys).

Buy this to get a feel for what Traffic is all about, but if you really enjoy at least some of the tracks, identify the albums which your favorite tracks originally appeared, then buy them. Their original albums were Mr Fantasy (1967), Traffic (1968), Last exit (1969 - recorded just before their temporary disbandment and it shows), John Barleycorn must die (1970), Welcome to the canteen (1971), Low spark of high-heeled boys (1971), Shoot out at the fantasy factory (1972), On the road (1973) and When the eagle flies (1974).

This compilation serves as a great introduction to Traffic's music but can't do them full justice. Only the original albums (except Last exit) can do that.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Import Collection, July 16, 2003

By 

J. R Sategna (Martinez, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Collection (Audio CD)

This 1 disc CD collection from Germany is great--contains excellent notes about the band's history--the selections range all thru Traffic's career-from the the 1st album to the last Traffic album--If you do not have any Traffic's albums and want just one-this is the one to get-- 17 cuts-some great cuts from early Traffic not available in domestic-the price is great-I got it new ... The only songs that should have been included are Feeling Alright and Shanghi Noodle Factory. Go for it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Winwood- Capaldi-Mason-Wood, July 15, 2003

By 

J. R Sategna (Martinez, California United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Collection (Audio CD)

If you want to only own one Traffic summary album-this is it-good sound- 17 cuts are from various albums in Traffic's file-great album notes inside-telling the history of Traffic-from beginning to end-I have all the Traffic albums-both domestic and import-but I wanted to get this one because of the song selection (excellent) but it should have had Feeling Alright And Shanghi Noodle Factory but everything else important is there--it's a German release and I got it at Tower for as low price --what a deal---GO FOR IT-if you can find it.