Traffic

Traffic | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000001FTX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #525,945 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. You Can All Join In

2. Pearly Queen

3. Don't Be Sad

4. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring

5. Feelin' Alright

6. Vagabond Virgin

7. Forty Thousand Headmen

8. Cryin' To Be Heard

9. No Time To Live

10. Means To An End

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Thirty years of rock radio have cast Traffic largely in the context of its later years as songwriter, singer, and keyboard player Steve Winwood's platform for jazz-inflected progressive rock, but their second, self-titled 1968 album reflects the equal weight of guitarist Dave Mason's voice, guitar, and songs. Together with drummer and third vocalist Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood's evocative sax and flute, this is Traffic at its most earthy, most concise, and arguably most coherent--even when the bulk of the songs are set as fevered dreams, surreal ballads, or outright nightmares. Winwood showcases like "Pearly Queen" and "Forty Thousand Headmen" are matched by Mason's classic "Feelin' Alright" and Beatle-browed "You Can All Join In," while the playing and arrangements are spirited and tight. --Sam Sutherland

Product Description

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic album from the British Rock band led by Steve Winwood, originally released in 1968. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes fhree bonus tracks. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Traffic's vision fully-realized this once on 2nd outing -, January 26, 2000

By 

Thomas M. Blumenthal "Tom From Pennsylvania" (Greater Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traffic (Audio CD)

If Dave Mason could have stuck around and worked things out, who knows where they could have gone with this and hereafter?

This is what Traffic could have been, and was, for an all-too brief moment, a very dynamic, creatively tense and peculiar balance between the divergent talents of Mason and Steve Winwood. This is an important album, even with Mason's ownership of half the credits for this dark masterpiece, for those following the artistic development and history of Stevie Winwood, too; particularly on the soul-stunning "No Time To Live", thankfully not over- compiled in the retrospect too much. So thus avoid the the chopped up compilations and buy the original albums like this one first. I only wish the future re-emerged Traffic (which had broken up after this recording) had been as consistent in quality as this, but sometimes fearless leader had his "So Uninspired" moments. But this is a great moment in music. In this work, thus a "House For Everyone", even more than the first outing, a quickly matured act. Even though with the pessimism this one predicts it ends up a bit dated in that respect, musically still, it holds up. A must for fans of the late '60's counter-culture scene, as well as rock musical possibilities.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Albums of the '60s, July 24, 2002

By 

Steven R. Seim "Steve Seim" (Beaver Dam, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Traffic (Audio CD)

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.

Their sophomore album, "Traffic," perfected the band's sound, and stands as one of the best albums in British rock. Psychedelic influences were still evident, but gone was the silly "Sgt. Pepper"-style trippiness of "Mr. Fantasy." Instead, Winwood and Capaldi perfected their jazzy take on psychedelic-soul, while Dave Mason turned in by far his best contributions with the group. Mason's "You Can All Join In" and "Feelin' Alright" (later popularized by Joe Cocker) are folk-rock gems, while Winwood's genius shines through on the whimsical but very funky "Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" and the swampy jungle-rock epic "40,000 Headmen." Furthermore, in contrast with the cut-n-paste nature of Traffic's other LPs with Dave Mason, here there is real collaboration, as when a Mason folk-rocker climaxes with Winwood's soulful wailing on the refrain or the bridge ("Don't Be Sad," "Cryin' To Be Heard"). The overall result is a delicious paradox: a recording that is wildly eclectic, yet artistically cohesive.

If you haven't heard "Traffic," all I can say is, you don't know what you're missing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars their best, December 17, 1999

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traffic (Audio CD)

Though I'm also partial to John Barleycorn, this gets the nod as my favorite Traffic album. The added dimension Dave Mason brings with his songwriting, vocals and guitar just gives this album more diversity, though Barleycorn is a close second. Brilliantly written, played and produced