FINAL EXIT

 Even though I favor the West Coast bands and music, I will still throw in a set or two of other musicians from everywhere in this time frame of mid to late 60's and early 70's, I have decided to continue with my Mirrorcreator site ( to be able to review my postings and downloads) but I will only use the Zippyshare uploader for a while. I do not like the issues presented with other upload sites and have spent too much time cleaning up what they allow to attach to your computer. I will also place info and artwork files in the download file with each post..Please let me know of problems and such and thanks again for the great feedback on the site. So without further ado let's get back to the music,,,,,,,,here is one of my own favorite English Hippie bands  Traffic in their final incarnation.

 Traffic .... September 26, 1994
("End Of The Road" - last ever show)
Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England

Steve Winwood - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Jim Capaldi - Percussion, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals
Rosko Gee - bass
Randall Bramblett - flute, saxophone
Michael McEvoy - keyboards, guitar, viola, harmonica
Walfredo Reyes Jr. - drums, percussion


Set List:

Disc One (9 tracks = 59:29 minutes):
01 - Pearly Queen
02 - Medicated Goo
03 - Riding High
04 - Some Kinda Woman
05 - 40,000 Headmen
06 - Mozambique
07 - Rock'n Roll Stew
08 - Empty Pages
09 - Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys

Disc Two (7 tracks = 59:56 minutes):
01 - Glad> Freedom Rider
02 - Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
03 - (between tracks speak, introductions)
04 - Dear Mr. Fantasy
05 - John Barleycorn Must Die
06 - Holy Ground
07 - Gimme Some Lovin'

LAST CHANCE FOR GAS

The history behind the symbol that graces the covers of all the Traffic albums and the early Island pink labels is that it was designed by Carol Ruskin, with an input from Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, being based on the Celtic Fiery Wheel of Fortune, which is similar to the Celtic signs for the spirit and family. Also part of the Circles of Creation, or the Hebrew wheel of light. Additionally, based on the ancient fire-wheel of luck. The four segments were representative of each member of the group.

Here is a very nice audience recording from one of Traffic's final efforts before disbanding until the 90's reunion tour and LP. Nice nice reditions of Traffic's music from the final three LPs

Traffic - Tarrant County Convention Center, Fort Worth, Texas, October 12th 1974

Disc One :

1. Instrumental Jam >
2. Shootout At The Fantasy Factory
3. Empty Pages >
4. Graveyard People
5. Pearly Queen
6. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
7. Walking In The Wind

Disc Two :

1. John Barleycorn
2. 40,000 Headmen
3. Love
4. Something New
5. When The Eagle Flies
6. Dream Gerrard
7. Heaven Is In Your Mind
8. Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

Steve Winwood – Vocals, Organ, Guitar, Piano, Mellotron
Chris Wood – Flute, Saxophone
Jim Capaldi – Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
Rosko Gee – Bass

TRAFFIC ON THE BBC

I had a request for some Traffic with Mason. Here is a bootleg from the BBC and other sources.
A generous number of tracks but a rather uneven disc. There are some gems but there are also several disappointments. Tracks 2-11 and 16-20 were recorded live on BBC Radio, 1967-68; Tracks 1, 12-15 & 21 are studio recordings from summer, 1967. The "alternate tracks" from the "Mr. Fantasy" album are only alternate in the loosest sense. These are definitely the same basic tracks (that is, keyboard, bass, drums and rhythm guitar tracks) as on the first album, some with different overdubs - for instance the guitar solo on the first "Mr. Fantasy" alternate. Others are rough mixes, which usually means some instruments or vocals are missing. The second "Mr. Fantasy" is the same track as on the first album. The BBC Radio sessions are much more interesting. These were not from a live concert but were live recordings that many artists did of their current repertoire in the BBC studios. The sound ranges from barely acceptable to very good. "Paper Sun" and "No Face, No Name, No Number" are exceptional, and the performances and arrangements on "40,000 Headmen" and "Smiling Phases" are excellent. It's interesting to note that on a number of the early Dave Mason tunes, the group is simply singing live over the album tracks ("Hole In My Shoe," "A House For Everyone"). On the later ones, the band is playing live. And of particular interest: Mason sings and plays guitar on "Pearly Queen," which is good but falls short of Winwood's interpretations. The disc, with its flaws, is recommended and appears to be quite available.

Traffic: The Perfumed Garden (Essential Studio Sessions & BBC) 1967-1968

Dave Mason - guitar, bass,
Chris Wood - saxophone,
Jim Capaldi - drums
Steve Winwood - Guitar, Organ. Vocals

01 - Dear Mr. Fantasy
02 - Radio Introduction
03 - Hole In My Shoe
04 - Paper Sun
05 - A House For Everyone
06 - No Face, No Name, No Number
07 - Hope They Never Find Me Here
08 - 40,000 Headmen
09 - Dear Mr. Fantasy
10 - You Can All Join In
11 - Feelin' Alright
12 - Heaven Is In Your Mind
13 - Dealer
14 - Utterly Simple
15 - Coloured Rain
16 - Smiling Phases
17 - Heaven Is In Your Mind
18 - Pearly Queen
19 - Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
20 - Coloured Rain
21 - Dear Mr. Fantasy

TRAFFIC REPORT

Traffic started out with Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood after Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group. From their beginning, in 1967, they were quite popular in their native England, though success elsewhere was slower in coming. Their first three albums combined psychedelic rock and soul with elements of British folk music, giving them a unique, groundbreaking sound. Their most popular single was Dear Mr. Fantasy, from the album of the same name.

Traffic reached a much wider audience when, on the dissolution of Cream, two thirds of that band, one third being Eric Clapton, joined Steve Winwood (during a temporary Traffic disbanding) to form Blind Faith, which also included future Traffic member and sometime Family man, Ric Grech.

In 1970, after the disbanding of Blind Faith, Winwood set about recording a solo album. After Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi became involved, the decision was taken to release this album (eventually what would become John Barleycorn Must Die) under the Traffic name, despite the absence of Dave Mason.

Around 1971, Mason left for good (having been in and out of the band from the beginning), and the the band experienced a variety of personnel changes. The resulting band added some jazzy elements to their style, pioneering the jazz-rock genre, and the compositions tended to stretch out over longer lengths. With their albums The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971) and Shootout at the Fantasy Factory (1973) their popularity in the US grew. After two more albums, personnel problems resulted in the band calling it quits (but for a brief reunion in 1994 without Wood, who had died in 1983). Winwood, Mason, Capaldi, and Wood all pursued solo careers, with Winwood garnering the most success.

Traffic
November 18, 1970
Fillmore East - New York City

Superb recording.

Setlist:

01. Introduction by Bill Graham
02. Medicated Goo
03. Pearly Queen
04. Empty Pages
05. Heaven Is In Your Mind
06. Forty Thousand Headmen
07. John Barleycorn Must Die
08. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
09. Every Mother's Son
10. Glad/>Freedom Rider*
11. Means To The End
12. Dear Mr. Fantasy

* - some minor glitches from master reel


Steve Winwood (guitar, organ, vocals)
Jim Capaldi (drums)
Chris Wood (piano, sax, flute)
Ric Grech (bass)