Traffic - Welcome to the Canteen & Last Exit

Back when these came out I viewed them as a last ditch label effort to gain some dollars out of the band catalog. I also was not a big fan of recorded live music, much preferred going to the show and listening to studio recordings at home.

I am reassessing this view and was wondering what others think of the two albums and which CD version is worth buying if any. Last Exit split the album between studio tracks that hadn't been seen on a prior album with a couple of live tracks thrown on at the end, aka Creams "Wheels of Fire", while Canteen was trying to gain sales from folks who liked the less folky / jazzy Traffic of which John Barleycorn and Sparks were headed to. At least back in the late 60s / early 70s that was how I felt.

I am partial to the early traffic line up and songs but do love the folky tales on JB and the move towards a more jazz sound of LSoHHB, but stopped purchasing their albums with Sparks. I didn't think the follow up albums ever matched the genius of Sparks and that was a wonderful place to stop, it didn't get much better than this album, mature songs and well played. It highlighted a band that could transition away from the early psychedelic songs to a new range of material. They showed they had what it takes to mature and last without having to follow trends. They were the trend setter.

Now I am going back and trying to fill in the gaps in my collection and was thinking of starting with these two albums. Any info on the best recordings would be appreciated.

 

I bought Welcome To The Canteen by accident and have come to love it.

 

I just wish Welcome to the Canteen didn't sound so murky...

 

Big fan of Welcome To The Canteen.

 

I think Last Exit has some of the band's best songs, like Medicated Goo and Shanghai Noodle Factory.

 

Last Exit features a few great tracks ("Shanghai Noodle Factory", "Withering Tree", "Medicated Goo"), though a lot of these have been featured as bonus tracks elsewhere. I'm less impressed with the live side here, but I do love Welcome to the Canteen, a smoking live performance and a nice final bow for Dave Mason. I'm still wishing that they would release some kind of expanded edition of this one, but it's still a great document as is.

As for their later albums, Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory is a bit of a disappointment, though it still has some great moments. I've actually really come to enjoy When The Eagle Flies in recent years after overlooking it for a while. It has a really nice late night, laid back vibe.

 

It would be very hard to follow Low Spark. I think I will give "When The Eagle Flies" a shot, thanks for the recommendation. From what the census is at this time seems Canteen is worth the purchase, anyone recommend the better recording on CD to go after?

 

Big fan of both - Canteen has Mason back temporarily, and the excellent versions of his two songs top the (fine) versions on Alone Together.

Last Exit has two real classics, Noodle Factory and Medicated Goo and is entertaining throughout. The Cream reference point would be the Goodbye album rather than Wheels of Fire - both contract closers/farewell albums with a mix of studio and live material.

 

Good point about Goodbye, I just was referring to the fact that the first half was studio while the second was live.

 

^ This ^
My favorite crappy sounding album.
Somebody dig into the vaults and give us a Deluxe expanded remastered version!
(I've got a feeling it might have been badly recorded in the first past)

 

I've never completely warmed up to 'Welcome to the Canteen'. Not impressed by the sound, nor really by the performances much either. I have it and enjoy it..but to that limited degree.

I love Last Exit for the mentions above...mainly Medicated Goo and Shanghai Noodle Factory. Not so much the live, again, on it.

Matter of fact...as much as I love the studio Traffic...I haven't found a live show that impressed me much. I have that Fillmore show that eventually made it out legitimately as D2 of the deluxe John Barleycorn, and a show they did at the Santa Monica Civic Center and maybe a few other live tunes.

They were all about The Studio IMO.

 

From this I should understand that I am not going to get an "un-murky" version on CD no matter if it says "Newly Remastered". I should just go and buy it because it is so good and the price is right at $4.00.

 

This.

 

Well to be a completest concerning Traffic's early works I will probably purchase both since they sell in the four dollar range. If anyone has a copy on CD they feel sounds non-harsh nor too muddy please let me know what that master is so I go for that one. Although from what I am reading Canteen is going to be muddy no matter what, Thanks.

 

It may not knock your socks off on the first listen, but it's proven to be a nice grower for me.

 

They made a great single! I always saw it as a perfect Traffic mini LP.

 

Canteen I love. Medicated Goo all by itself is worth the price of admission. I feel the same about Last Exit pretty much. The studio side is A+ for me.

 

I would say Welcome to the Canteen is essential if your a Traffic fan. (I have the Pink Island vinyl so I can't comment on best CD version)

I would go with On The Road first before Last Exit. I love the live versions of Glad / Freedom Rider and Low Spark from On The Road.

I didn't really connect with the live stuff on Last Exit but I will give it a revisit this weekend.

 

I have the one disc version of On The Road ... Need to remedy that situation

 

Ooops....somehow I forgot about that one. Go figure !

It's the best of the lot IMO...and yes, I enjoy that one more than I alluded to about live Traffic before. Brainfart.

 

Cool, I have those all the time myself.

Give When The Eagle Flies a shot also. If you like the jazzy stuff from On The Road the track Dream Gerrard might work for you.

 

40,000 Headmen
Live.

Nothing not to like.

 

I have these 2 on my Smiling Phases set.....

Walking In The Wind and When The Eagle Flies. I like those.

 

Very interesting track. It was cool to hear a little mellotron mayhem there, as well as Vivian Stanshall's surreal wordplay.

 

The deluxe CD version of "John Barleycorn Must Die" has a second disc which has a 1970 Fillmore show as bonus tracks ... but you knew that.