TRAFFIC
 Steve
Winwood was known for his blue-eyed soul with the Spencer Davis Group.
Songs such as "Gimme Some Lovin’" and "I’m A
Man" were the last in a string of hits from the R&B inspired
group. In 1967, Winwood was solo, and recruited some friends from
Birmingham for Traffic.
They retired to the proverbial "cottage in the country" and
created the first of two records that, along with the Pink Floyd and
Jimi Hendrix, would best characterize Britain’s answer to America’s
acid rock - psychedelic rock. The album took the Beatles approach of
great pop songs and adorned it with a palette straight from the era:
Mellotron, sitar, lots of acoustic guitar, children’s voices, etc. But
into all of that, they infused every possible influence.
Whether the raucous honky-tonk of
"Berkshire Poppies" or the bluesy jazz
of "Giving It To You", Traffic was
highly original and above all, rock and roll. Yet Winwood never lost
sight of his R&B roots; just witness "coloured Rain" or
"Smiling Phases". The title track is perhaps the highlight, a
preview of what the band could (and eventually would) deliver.
Drummer Jim Capaldi and flautist/ saxophonist
Chris Wood provided ample support, however, Dave Mason would prove to be
a foil to the progressive experiments. The album made the UK Top 10, as
did the singles "Paper Sun" and "Hole In My Shoe"
earlier in London's summer of love. The following year saw the whole
trip repeated with their self-titled second album. It too would reach
the UK Top 10 and also breach the US Top 20. But by 1969, Winwood
disbanded Traffic to join the super group Blind Faith.
DISCOGRAPHY
Albums
Mr. Fantasy (first US pressing issued with title Heaven Is In Your
Mind) – 1967 US #88 Traffic – 1968 US #17 Last Exit (side 2 live at
The Fillmore West) – 1969 US #19 John Barleycorn Must Die – 1970 US
#5 The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys – 1971 US #7 Shoot Out at the
Fantasy Factory – 1973 US #6 When the Eagle Flies – 1974 US #9 Far
from Home (Winwood/Capaldi) – 1994 US #33
Singles
Paper Sun b/w Giving To You (May 1967) UK #5 Hole In My Shoe b/w
Smiling Phases (August 1967) UK #2 Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
b/w Coloured Rain (November 1967) UK #8 No Face, No Name, No Number b/w
(Roamin' Through The Gloamin' With) 40,000 Headmen (February 1968) UK
#40 Feelin' Alright b/w Withering Tree (September 1968) Medicated Goo
b/w Shanghai Noodle Factory (December 1968) Walking In The Wind b/w
Walking In The Wind [instrumental version] (October 1974) Here Comes A
Man b/w Glad [live version] (1994)
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