Search - Traffic :: John Barleycorn Must Die

WHAT A GREAT TRAFFIC JAM!!

Patrick Earley | Edmond, Oklahoma USA | 02/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Man, was this a departure for Traffic from their previous albums. When I first picked up this album and saw Dave Mason wasn't on it, I was disappointed. Afterall, Mason was the guitar player for the band, and he wrote half their music. I really liked that folk pop sound on their previous self-titled album. And I felt Mason was the one primarily responsible for that sound. But it was obvious Winwood didn't want to go that way, and he and Mason had a fallen out. So that takes us to this album. This was orignally supposed to be a solo album for Winwood. But at the last minute he decided to bring on his old bandmates Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, minus Mason. From the moment I first put the needle to the vinyl, and GLAD came on, well I was hooked big time. This was different than anything I had ever heard before. A band without a true guitar player who could jam and improvise like a jazz band, but still maintain a rock sound. What a way to start the 70's. Glad still remains one of the best instrumental songs I've heard.But the extended jams don't stop there. FREEDOM RIDER comes next with some fantastic creative sax and flute playing by Chris Wood. And then EMPTY PAGES with the most memorable elecric piano solo by Winwood that I've ever heard. Side 2 of the original vinyl did feature guitar. But it was Winwood handling the duties this time. This album was clearly a Winwood vehicle. He also produced most of this album. But he did bring in Guy Stevens, who was one of the best rock producers ever, to produce on STRANGER TO HIMSELF, and EVERY MOTHER'S SON, which has some George Harrison sounding guitar playing along with an extended organ and piano solo going on at the same time. Definitly the Guy Stevens touch, and a good way to close the album. A lot of people don't consider this their best album. But of all the Traffic albums I have, and I've got about all of em, I seem to reach for this one the most."

It Rose From Mad Shadows

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 10/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was begun as a Solo record for Steve Winwood to be Named: "Mad Shadows". Steve had completed Two Tracks: "Stranger To Himself" & "Every Mother's Son". All the instruments {Including Drums}were Played by Steve. There is more than one story, but, my favorite is that Steve just Missed working with Jim & Chris, and after Producer, Guy Stevens departed after the First Sessions (Back to working with: "Mott The Hoople"), Traffic was Alive once more.



Steve Winwood, Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi had grown as musicians since the Break-Up of Traffic in Early 1969 and this Record in it's Maturity shows how different their Music now was from the 67-69 Edition of this great Group.



"Glad", starts it all going in an Jazz/Funk Groove that no doubt developed from a Jam. But it is Polished & Refined BUT not overdone (As was Commom for Music of 1970) Steve's, Organ and Piano just sparkle on this Track and the Flutes & Saxophones really make this Something Special."Freedom Rider" also benefits from Fine Sax by Chris (His Phasing and that certain Note that he "Bends"). "Empty Pages" closed the First Side of the Record, and it's the closest thing here to Classic Traffic, on this Record, a big number that was the most played track on the FM Stations at this Time. A Bonus Track comes Next called: "I Just Want To Know", The Track is almost a "Throwaway" and it should not Placed in the Middle of the original Record as it Messes with the Flow of The Music. This should have been tacked on at the End of the CD.



Side Two begins with; "Stranger To Himself", and this is a Strong Rock Number with some Fine Guitar Work by Steve. "Stranger" would have made a great addition to "Blind Faith" but it's Nice here as well. The Title Track is the Reason this Record was tagged with this being Traffic's Folk-Rock Album, but I find Traffic's Arangement of this Traditional Number more Modern than The Versions Done by Fairport Convention and/or Jethro Tull. The Closer of the Original Record was: "Every Mother's Son" and it's another Fine Rocker with a Great Guitar Solo by Steve on the Fade-Out.



This Deluxe Edition has More Bonus Tracks on the end of the Disc. "Sittin' Here Thinking of my Love" is a Studio Track that missed inclusion on The Record, it's O.K. but because os Time Limitations back in the LP Days it has remained in it's Tape Tin until now. But, that's not all...At the End we get a taste of what was to been released as: "Traffic, Live November 1970" with a live: "Glad","Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" and my Favorite New Track: "Backstage & Introduction"...Whilst Bill Graham is Introducing the Band and The Light Show, They are standing in the Wings having a VERY INTERESTING Conversation, this because Someone was carrying a Tape Recorder and Captured this Moment in Time. It is a Good Little Peak into the Rock World of 1970 and Quite a Find!



I'll wager that "John Barleycorn" will see it's Next Re-Issue as a Deluxe 2 Cd Set as was done with the "Blind Faith" Record with more of The Filmore East Tapes included. I've only been waiting 36 Years for that One!"