Search - Traffic :: When the Eagle Flies

A fitting Swansong

Daniel A. Cooper | New York, NY USA | 03/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like others who have reviewed this album, I owned a cassette copy many years ago, but an annoying series of skips and tape hiss marred this beautiful record. This CD version eliminates both of those problems and gives this gorgeous music the proper sonic treatment it deserves. If you are a fan of Low Spark of High Healed Boys, you will love the extended jams on this album. Chris Wood never sounded better, and Steve Winwood's lyrics are poignant. This is a terrific album!"

After all these years...

martianshoes@yahoo.com | Rossville, GA | 01/01/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It was a long wait; finding this recording on CD. After owning LP, cassette, and Japanese LP editions of WTEF; I find the CD to be the most satisfying of all.
Of course the Japanese disc offered slightly better dynamics...but also amplified hiss and made Capaldi's highhat sound like someone going "pssst!".
The low threshold of background noise was just made for songs like "Walking in the Wind"...allowing the song's heart to beat, and the intensity to ebb forward as Winwood and Co. intended...until some miracle of technology totally trumps the CD...this fine old record has a new home in my collection."

A Beautiful but Sad Farewell

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 05/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tragedy befell this band in spades, and as the life expectancy of this group wound down, they somehow found what it took to create a beautiful, if sad farewell. The eagle that flew had a certain life force for them, and when you think how soon after this Chris Wood was gone, it is a bit heartbreaking.
But Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood were in absolutely brilliant form for this. "Dream Gerrard" and the title track are songs for the ages. By this time, Winwood and Capaldi were really becoming adept in the studio, and you'll find a load of sonic gems throughout this remastered disc. This is nearly essential if you are a Winwood fan, and absolutely so if Traffic inspired you. This was their Abbey Road."