All four of those are outstanding, actually. When did John Lennon call them twaddle? It certainly sounds like something he might say. Though he too produced a bit of twaddle in his career.
Only two albums after Low Spark. For ... Fantasy Factory they got way jazzier and white soul-y, which is cool when Steve Winwood is doing the crooning, though the songs aren't particularly memorable. I could never even find When the Eagle Flies when I was listening a lot. Only a few years ago I found it and discarded it after one listen. I don't remember much. If anyone actually digs it, tell me why and I'll try again.
I have only recently become a Traffic fan. I didn't really know much about them, and only knew a couple of tracks. Steve Winwood is a legend, and in exploring some of his stuff I came across Traffic and bought a couple of albums. I ended up getting them all .... I don't think they are all fantastic, but the majority are. The extended version of Mr Fantasy is wonderful John Barleycorn, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys and Shoot Out At The Fantasy factory are a fantastic trilogy of album, and I love them. The live album On The Road is truly a wonderful and seemingly overlooked live album. For me, certainly not twaddle, quite a wonderful band
I’ve bought around six copies of "When The Eagle Flies". I think it’s great because not only is it well-recorded, the melodies and playing are terrific - a great example is "Dream Gerrard" co-written by the late, great Viv Stanshall. That said, one need look no further than Side Two , Track 1 "Walking In The Wind" - the LP is worth it for that alone.
Terrific. A group with all four original members presenting their own expansive talents, not to mention a leader who was a musical child prodigy? C'mon, man! Keep in mind that John Barleycorn Must Die was originally intended to be a Winwood solo album.
The group, in its prime, from 1967-1973, I would rate as terrific. I started as a Traffic listener in 1973 with "Low Spark" and then went backwards from there in the next few years. "Shoot Out At the Fantasy Factory" was a disappointment when I purchased it back in 1973 when I was in high school, my friends felt the same way. I still remember the delight I felt on discovering songs like "Hole In My Shoe", "40 Thousand Headmen" ,"Paper Sun", and many others. Great band!
Fantastic band.....Barleycorn and Low Spark are the highlights of their discography in my opinion. I just wished they would have recorded more music.
They are a great band, but only started making great albums starting with Barleycorn, in my opinion. The early albums have some great songs but not much else. So my collection is Barleycorn, Low Spark, Eagle Flies, and The Best Of Traffic LP for all the important early songs. Never heard Shoot Out but I’ve heard it’s a disappointment after the great Low Spark album.
Traffic = t'riffic. Cannot fault the first four (apart from the live 2nd side of Last Exit). And imho Winwood's perfect vocal on 'No Time To Live' is one of the greatest male vocals by anyone's standards.
Yeah, i can appreciate that. They were not a jam band first and foremost. They were good songwriters.
Love them. Mr. Fantasy album (and all it's various mixes/versions and singles), John Barleycorn and Low Spark. All essential listening in my book
