Search - Traffic :: On the Road

Would the REAL Traffic please stand up!

bigmacinspain | Málaga, Spain | 01/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have bought 'On The Road' at least three times in vinyl, and again now on CD. Since I first heard it back in 1973 to this day, it never fails to move me. The emotion and passion in '(Sometimes I feel so)Uninspired', which peaks with Winwood's great vocals and guitar work, underpinned by a kick-ass rhythym section, says it all for me...whenever I feel a little sorry for myself, that track puts it all back together.I liked this music so much, I sold my first hi-fi set up, hired a car, and drove down to Glasgow from Aberdeen, just to see Traffic play in 1974. Winwood was magnificent, playing keyboards, with a guitar on his lap, supplying pedal bass and singing all at the same time!This is a live album; unlike most bands, Traffic actually play better live. It's as if they have re-worked and moulded all the songs through constant practice until the improvised, live versions sound far more mature and natural than the at times over-controlled studio versions. The Muscle Shoals session men are classy and professional, and must really have gotten a kick out of touring live, showcasing and blending in with such a greatly musically talented band. All in all, listening to the crowd cheering and whistling, and being given such a great show of live musicianship and raw emotion, makes me wish I had become a roadie and seen it all live for myself! Does anybody have a video of any of this tour? If you like live albums, this is one of the great exponents of the genre - live and alive with some truly magical musical moments!"

Soulful, jazzy Winwood -- Traffic's best

Gavin Wilson | 11/30/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's simply not fair! How can one person write such great songs, play piano, sing with such a soulful voice and play such a mean lead guitar? Steve Winwood was an exceptionally talented musician of the 60s, 70s and 80s -- almost a Mozart of his genre -- and he provided the keyboards on the extended 'Voodoo Chile' on Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland'.This album showcases his voice and guitar-playing at their best. (His voice has a higher, less mellow pitch on the earlier studio versions of some of these songs.) There are some great extended versions here, particularly 'Low Spark'.The recording quality is variable. The drums and tom-toms, for instance, are miked up very differently on 'Low Spark' compared to 'Glad', where they are much further down in the mix. Such are the vagaries of the live tour.There ought to be a video of this German concert tour. I certainly remember seeing a video of 'Light Up' on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' when this album was released back in 73."

Traffic JAMS

Gavin Wilson | 12/05/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It seems like there was an endless supply of good to great live albums in the 70s (Stones-Get your Ya Yas, J. Giels-Full House, Allman Bros Live at the Filmore, Who-Live at Leeds, ELP-Welcome Back etc. etc.) this is another good one. Kind of sloppy (in a good way) jazzy jams (Chris Wood was a really easy listen as a saxaphonist) from Traffic's matured phase (Low Spark, John Barleycorn, Shoot Out). Start with the studio stuff and if you like those, this is a great addition."