Excellent, you found Traffic. Winwood was only 19 years old when he formed Traffic. Lots of hall of fame songs in Traffic's library. Ont he John Barleycorn Must Die album, there are tracks where Steve plays every instrument & vocals. Stevie Winwood was only 14 tears old when he was in the Spencer Davis Group. Amazing talent.
We used to always hang around different friends home's and listen to music on LP'S and check out the album covers. So many albums had great artwork back then.
Love Traffic! My personal favorites are Many a Mile to Freedom, John Barleycorn Must Die, Freedom Rider, and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. This band is very tight with multiple instruments for a full soundscape. Low spark...and John Barleycorn... are two of my all time best albums from the early seventies.
Daniel, whenever you get done with Traffic, depending on how far you want to go, then you gotta watch Traffic Live at Santa Monica 1972. A great concert film that is about 1 hour long and features about 8 songs including Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Light up or Leave Me Alone, Dear Mr. Fantasy, John Barleycorn Must Die, Glad, Freedom Rider and Rainmaker. It's uncut on youtube and the first 40 min. or so demonstrate why Steve Winwood is one of the most talented musicians of all time. His voice and acoustic, electric guitar, piano and organ playing are all featured. Chris Wood is great on flute and sax and Jim Capaldi sings mostly backup vocals. Roger Hawkins and David Hood provide a very good rhythm section and Rebop Kwaku Baah adds percussion. They play extended jam versions of their progressive jazz and folk numbers that they are famous for.
Steve Winwood’s first hit was “Gimme Some Lovin’”, when he with the Spencer Davis Group. He plays guitar, piano and Hammond organ. He is an absolute gem.
I once told my straight friends that if they ever wanted to know what it was like to be on acid (this was a LONG time ago) all they needed to do was to listen to this, and "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" and they would understand.
"Don't Be Sad" and "40,000 Headmen" from the self titled "Traffic" album, "Glad" (wonderful instrumental), "Freedom Rider" and "John Barleycorn" from "John Barleycorn Must Die" album, "Low Spark" "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock and Roll Stew" from the Low Spark album, have always worked for me. Quite a wonderful band, in my opinion!
Keyboardist Steve Winwood on guitar, flute and sax player Chris Wood on organ, guitarist Dave Mason on bass, and Jim Capaldi on drums. Not too shabby. Also, us old timers give you hell on our end, without realizing that you're so young. Sorry about that. We're all jaded because we all lived through it so long ago. Try Steppenwolf for the band we all loved.
Great band, criminally neglected by most music reactors. My favorite song is 'John Barleycorn Must Die'. Steve Winwood went on to form Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (both recently of Cream) who only made 1 studio album. Winwood had a lot of commercial success in the '80s with a string of pop hits.
FYI Steve Winwood sang on "I'm a Man" by the Spencer Davis Group when he was 16. I personally prefer the Chicago cover but thought you might enjoy the factoid.
Years later Steve Winwood put out a solo album ' Arc of a Diver '. He played all the instruments and vocals on the entire album then mixed it in the studio. This man is ultra talented.
Here is a real change of pace. The Jam, Down in The Tube Station at Midnight. Changed my direction of music at the time entering the 80's along with The Clash. The bass line is nuts and the 3 Brits. are very special. Hard to label their music except to say it is original and wonderful.
Steve actually started playing with His father and brother att age 8. Started playing THE piano age 4. Hidden behind THE piano att pubs. Way to Young. Spencer Davies groupage 16, Gimme some Lovin, instant hit! Blind Faith, with Clapton. Then Traffic! Low spark of high heeled boots!! Worth your while!! Live with Clapton: Little Wing ( Hendrix). Home concert him and accoustic guitar is Great! Multi instrumentalist! As Spencer Davies Said: Sang Ray Charles: Georgia, flawless age 16!
I love Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and you should react to it (when you have plenty of time - it's a longer one), but I think you should probably do a few others first just to get a bit more familiar with them. Glad, Freedom Rider, Stranger To Himself, and John Barleycorn ( all from the John Barleycorn Must Die album). Glad is instrumental so no lyrics to analyze. John Barleycorn will be fun when you get the meaning and it's a really great song. I'd do the one from the remastered album and then after you've heard it, find a version (on TH-cam) of Just Steve Winwood with his acoustic guitar doing it. He's so good. Rock 'N' Roll Stew off the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys album is great too. There are many more but that'll get you started.
Traffic was full of young talent. In addition to Stevie Winwood, another founding member was Dave Mason. He wrote “Feelin’ Alright” (another Traffic tune to check out) and I believe he also had writing credit on “The Low Spark...” that many have mentioned. If you want to check out Dave Mason’s solo work, my suggestions would be “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave”, “Headkeeper”, and “Only You Know and I Know”. Good stuff Daniel. Keep ‘em coming.
Lead singer Steve Winwood released his 2nd solo album in 1980, Arc of a Diver. To give you an idea of his talent and versatility, here is a listing of the personnel: Steve Winwood - lead and backing vocals, pianos, synthesizers, organ, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass, drums, percussion, drum machines, production, engineering, mixing
Steve Winwood weaved his way into different genres and styles of music since the 1960's for decades. First a teenage R&B singer/keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter with the Spencer Davis Group with several hits including "Gimme Some Lovin'. Next, became a psychedelic music star with this band Traffic. He also sang a folk-rock masterpiece with Traffic with the song, "John Barleycorn Must Die". Then there was Blind Faith with Eric Clapton with songs like "Can't Find My Way Home", before going solo with a more pop/R&B dance sound with songs like "Higher Love".
Daniel, this tune is what I like to think of as one of two bookends. There was a movie called 'Alice doesn't Live here Anymore" not a good movie for healthy young people. That having been said, this one here, is all about the music you listen to after having ingested chemicals that you do not get from your pharmacist at the local GNC. More importantly, there is a song by the same artist called "Can't find my way back home" sung and made popular by two artist on two different albums. This is Steve Winwood of Traffic fame, the other artist was Eric Clapton. The two versions are both incredible. They are friends, and they released both versions. This tune brings back things and behaviors that I'd just as soon never mention but never forget. A great song indeed but, you must buttress this one with the other one for balance. I don't want to bring your father into this conversation because this is your channel but, based on his musical collections heard thus far. he is well aware of which I speak. Your doing a great job, wisdom indicates that some doors should remain closed. Right Dad? Keep up the good work. I like the catalog and I like your fresh insights. Us Boomers made a lot of great music. You are like a musical spelunker, digging the depths of ancient musical ruins, picking up little gems as you go.
Steve Winwood in Traffic then, Blind faith with Eric Clapton, then his solo career! Great keyboard player and guitar plus very good on mandolin! Forgot Spencer Davis group when he was very Young!
You should check out the solo acoustic recordings that Steve Winwood did recently, Can't Find my Way Home and John Barleycorn Must Die are great. Lets you really hear how he wrote the songs.
TRAFFIC, "DEAR MR. FANTASY" ANOTHER AWESOME BRITISH BANDS. A VERY YOUNG STEVE WINWOOD LEAD SINGER.. YEP, "LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS", NEXT. REACTION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. FAR OUT...🤩✌
Awesome tune and winwood is great live performer even into old age. My next recommendations based off of some of the other "story" type songs with lyrical focus that i would check out are : "Monkey and Bear" by Joanna Newsome (a harpist, writer and lead vocalist). Bob dylan has many great songs but these 4 are great "boots of Spanish leather", "the lonesome death of hattie carol", "tamborine man" (full version not radio pop edit) and "subterranean home sick blues". All high end poetic songs.
John Barleycorn Must Die, Freedom Rider And Glad (instrumental) are faves, although I love this one and Low Spark, too. For this song, I always interpreted it more as how entertainers have to smile and perform even when they’re tired, sad or sick, the crowds don’t care.
They are in a house in Engalnd, they rented it as a band to jam and get to know each other. They smoked a lot of dope and then jammed for while, Steve Winwood said nothing really happened until they came out of the "purple haze of dope"! Then they got down to business of reshearsing and writing. I think the house was in Berkshire or some rural county like that. Did you know that Chris Wood, Dave Mason and Steve Winwood all played on Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland album?
Steve Winwood says that Traffic was a "quirky" band ... he was right, of course. Dave Mason was the pop-sensible one, and restless one, so was in/out of the band .. and they went more R&B/jazz in the future (Glad, Empty Pages ...)
@Dicon Dissectional Reactions - Blind Faith [Band], Can't Find My Way Home [Song], a must listen. Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton and I forget who else but, they were the very first "Super Group" [Groups made up from other bands. Bad Company is another example of a "Super Group"].
Traffic was another band that was integrated with Black/White performers. Music has no boundaries. I loved them from the first. Someone wrote a comment about their 1972 concert. Yes, please check that out. There are a lot of great suggestions that you should take a dive into (Low Spark Of HH Boys is fabulous). I encourage you to try the 80s Steve Winwood which are more pop-rock, but still pretty great: If You See a Chance , Arc of a Diver, and Freedom Overspill are really good songs.
I been checking your videos out. Love the response you relay during your first listen. The pure love of reaction to good rocking music plus the innocence you have . Growing up with this music I was 16 when this came out. It's telling that time and perception changes nothing until you allow it.i could rattle on but time to go, one album I suggest zephyr the vocales of candy givens and a kid on guitar by the name of Tommy bolin wow.
Great song Steve Winwood a pure genius who can play every instrument and even did so on a solo album.Legendary band that only lasted a few fantastic years.Winwood went on to start the band Blindfaith which was only one magical album with Ginger Baker, And Eric Clapton, former members of Cream. He later did some incredible and popular so,o albums in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
This is a great song but may not be the easiest to interpret. Considering they were high as kites on lsd and other fun stuff but you can do what I do and just let music essentially be a soundtrack for my life. It works considering music lyrics are basically art in the form of poetry and story telling that really only have true meaning to the writer’s or bands experiences.
Not bad stuff for 1967... way ahead of it's time in my opinion. This was really the year guitar solos really started to shape up into a more hard rock feel, outside of a few outliers like the Who in the couple years before.....think Hendrix blew up on the scene, Cream was in their peak with Clapton, the Yardbirds........ sure a few came from the blues roots like John Mayall that had that premonition of where rock and roll was heading... into hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive, eventually the roots of Heavy Metal i.e. some Steppenwolf, Deep Purple was about to happen, Sabbath was only 2 yrs away.....then you have bands like Blue Cheer with a very very heavy turned to 11 sound (check out their cover of Summertime Blues, they were a band that Owsley (Kid Charlemange, Steely Dan's character based upon) actually funded and got going, along side Grateful Dead who had a more airy feel.
Heads up low Spark of High Heeled Boys is an anthem of the British envision. Now light up and leave me alone is a pot smokin song! Is your Dad one of those snobbish Zep people. Just askin.
I really liked this band. So much talent and everyone went on to play more music with other bands. Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys should be your next choice. I think this song has to do with management putting it to the band, giving them drugs to make them perform when they are exhausted, etc. hence the puppet strings. Californication was a TV series starring David Ducovney (X-Files).
To Daniel. You're missing something big here listening to older music. 1) We did not know the lyrics so therefore 2) we had to rely on the "vibe", the connection the music made with us. The great music of my time was blues rock. Many people were getting their ass kicked by life, the world, the opposite sex, people who didn't-like-the-world etc. And music connected to this "reality". This was the connection with Zeppelin, Traffic, Tull, Yes, ELP etc. i.e. Take us out of this realm and into a different mindset, a different mentality. Something not-of-this-world and it's established reality. ... Listen, connect to the vibe, the rhythm, the story, the trip, the melody of 70s music blues-rock music. The words are secondary and a waste. Who wants to know what a 20-something has to say? Even back in the 70s.
Sorry Benedict, but I humbly disagree. Not with everything you said. I actually agree with most of it, but I do not agree that the words are secondary and certainly not a waste or that “no one cared.” To say that the words are a waste is disrespectful to so many great songwriters of that time. Look at the great concept LPs of the Moody Blues. They actually stated that they had hoped that they could change the world with the message of love in their songs. Some of the Allman Brothers songs come to mind, “Melissa?” as do those written by Jackson Browne or Bob Seger. I’m talking about heartfelt songs born out of pain, heartbreak for the condition of humanity, observations of life or songs that celebrate the good in life. In fact, I would say that some of the most philosophical lyrics ever written have been those from the late 60s and into the 1970s, even the 80s to a degree. There certainly was enough going on in society at that time to provide material for great song lyrics. Take a song like Rod Stewart’s “Every Picture Tells a Story” or “Mandolin Wind” or Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” Heck any of Dylan’s songs … and just try to tell me that the words are unimportant or “a waste.” What about Don McLean’s “American Pie?” Or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird or “Simple Man” or “Tuesday’s Gone?” I do remember back in the day getting the occasional album that had the song lyrics printed somewhere on the jacket. What a treat that was! (at least for me) One of the more pleasant things about the advent of the Internet, again speaking for myself, has been the ability to look up song lyrics and finally know what I was listening to! Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin and Green River by CCR are two diverse, but good examples. I could go on and on, but I guess I already have. LOL Hopefully, I’ve made my point. I do believe in free speech and free thought so you are welcome to hold whatever opinion you like 👍🏼 , of course. Peace ☮️ up ⬆️
The song is a simple sketch of a tortured artist who sacrifices his own happiness to make the audience happy. The artist expresses of pain for his fans. Where did you get the drug idea - that’s a miss
You shouldn’t have to apologize, over and over, for pausing. People should have figured it out by now. Besides, you’ve never heard the song before, how could you know a good place to pause?
Of all the traffic tunes you picked this one? Holy Molly. 🤨 It’s good but not one of their best! The lyrics of these groups can mean a lot of stuff, don’t try to dissect them too much. It’s about the demands, and expectation of being a performer. Period. Still not enough Zep. Just sayin! 😎
Low Spark of High Heel Boys is a MUST if you like this one.
Oh yes ----- the best ever ever ever!!
Steve Winwood wasn't much older than you when he sang this song.
Excellent, you found Traffic. Winwood was only 19 years old when he formed Traffic. Lots of hall of fame songs in Traffic's library. Ont he John Barleycorn Must Die album, there are tracks where Steve plays every instrument & vocals. Stevie Winwood was only 14 tears old when he was in the Spencer Davis Group. Amazing talent.
We used to always hang around different friends home's and listen to music on LP'S and check out the album covers. So many albums had great artwork back then.
Love Traffic! My personal favorites are Many a Mile to Freedom, John Barleycorn Must Die, Freedom Rider, and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.
This band is very tight with multiple instruments for a full soundscape. Low spark...and John Barleycorn... are two of my all time best albums from the early seventies.
One of the great voices in classic rock
Daniel, whenever you get done with Traffic, depending on how far you want to go, then you gotta watch Traffic Live at Santa Monica 1972. A great concert film that is about 1 hour long and features about 8 songs including Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Light up or Leave Me Alone, Dear Mr. Fantasy, John Barleycorn Must Die, Glad, Freedom Rider and Rainmaker. It's uncut on youtube and the first 40 min. or so demonstrate why Steve Winwood is one of the most talented musicians of all time. His voice and acoustic, electric guitar, piano and organ playing are all featured. Chris Wood is great on flute and sax and Jim Capaldi sings mostly backup vocals. Roger Hawkins and David Hood provide a very good rhythm section and Rebop Kwaku Baah adds percussion. They play extended jam versions of their progressive jazz and folk numbers that they are famous for.
Yes!!
Flawless..
Steve Winwood’s first hit was “Gimme Some Lovin’”, when he with the Spencer Davis Group. He plays guitar, piano and Hammond organ. He is an absolute gem.
Steve Winwood is SO underrated as a guitar player. He’s such an awesome all around musician
I once told my straight friends that if they ever wanted to know what it was like to be on acid (this was a LONG time ago) all they needed to do was to listen to this, and "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" and they would understand.
"Don't Be Sad" and "40,000 Headmen" from the self titled "Traffic" album, "Glad" (wonderful instrumental), "Freedom Rider" and "John Barleycorn" from "John Barleycorn Must Die" album, "Low Spark" "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock and Roll Stew" from the Low Spark album, have always worked for me. Quite a wonderful band, in my opinion!
I can't keep up with all your reactions and get anything done ☺
George Wodicka LOL it’s a long weekend so all of today is devoted to catching up.
Keyboardist Steve Winwood on guitar, flute and sax player Chris Wood on organ, guitarist Dave Mason on bass, and Jim Capaldi on drums. Not too shabby. Also, us old timers give you hell on our end, without realizing that you're so young. Sorry about that. We're all jaded because we all lived through it so long ago. Try Steppenwolf for the band we all loved.
Little Stevie Winwood, started at 17 and spent a life in music
Just to add a couple bands Winwood has “fronted”
Spencer Davis Group, also played with Clapton etc.
Great band, criminally neglected by most music reactors. My favorite song is 'John Barleycorn Must Die'. Steve Winwood went on to form Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker (both recently of Cream) who only made 1 studio album. Winwood had a lot of commercial success in the '80s with a string of pop hits.
The Blind Faith song that Daniel should do is "Can't Find My Way Home".
FYI Steve Winwood sang on "I'm a Man" by the Spencer Davis Group when he was 16. I personally prefer the Chicago cover but thought you might enjoy the factoid.
"The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" by Traffic is another one to check out.
Years later Steve Winwood put out a solo album ' Arc of a Diver '. He played all the instruments and vocals on the entire album then mixed it in the studio. This man is ultra talented.
Excellent song , very good choice my friend🎵🎶🎸
The entire "John Barleycorn" album is worth a listen. I especially like "Glad."
Allman Brothers live at Filmore East .... it will blow your mind
Here is a real change of pace. The Jam, Down in The Tube Station at Midnight. Changed my direction of music at the time entering the 80's along with The Clash. The bass line is nuts and the 3 Brits. are very special. Hard to label their music except to say it is original and wonderful.
Ending reminds me of the ending of "LA Woman".
Steve Winwood went on to have decent solo career. Became even bigger in the 1980s
Steve actually started playing with His father and brother att age 8. Started playing THE piano age 4.
Hidden behind THE piano att pubs.
Way to Young.
Spencer Davies groupage 16, Gimme some Lovin, instant hit!
Blind Faith, with Clapton. Then Traffic!
Low spark of high heeled boots!! Worth your while!!
Live with Clapton: Little Wing ( Hendrix).
Home concert him and accoustic guitar is Great!
Multi instrumentalist!
As Spencer Davies Said: Sang Ray Charles: Georgia, flawless age 16!
I love Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and you should react to it (when you have plenty of time - it's a longer one), but I think you should probably do a few others first just to get a bit more familiar with them.
Glad, Freedom Rider, Stranger To Himself, and John Barleycorn ( all from the John Barleycorn Must Die album). Glad is instrumental so no lyrics to analyze. John Barleycorn will be fun when you get the meaning and it's a really great song. I'd do the one from the remastered album and then after you've heard it, find a version (on TH-cam) of Just Steve Winwood with his acoustic guitar doing it. He's so good.
Rock 'N' Roll Stew off the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys album is great too. There are many more but that'll get you started.
Oh, I forgot to add Feelin' Alright. After you do the version (original) by Traffic, you should do Joe Cocker's excellent version.
I agree 100 per cent. "Glad" is one of my personal favorites
Traffic was full of young talent. In addition to Stevie Winwood, another founding member was Dave Mason. He wrote “Feelin’ Alright” (another Traffic tune to check out) and I believe he also had writing credit on “The Low Spark...” that many have mentioned. If you want to check out Dave Mason’s solo work, my suggestions would be “Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave”, “Headkeeper”, and “Only You Know and I Know”. Good stuff Daniel. Keep ‘em coming.
The use of this song at the beginning of Marvel's Endgame was genius.
Lead singer Steve Winwood released his 2nd solo album in 1980, Arc of a Diver. To give you an idea of his talent and versatility, here is a listing of the personnel:
Steve Winwood - lead and backing vocals, pianos, synthesizers, organ, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass, drums, percussion, drum machines, production, engineering, mixing
"Make it snappy" doesn't have to mean hurry, the song that he's making should be "snappy".
With some snap.
“Why do you stop the song” comments should always be ignored. Get a Spotify account and listen to it alone if you want to jam out.
Steve Winwood weaved his way into different genres and styles of music since the 1960's for decades. First a teenage R&B singer/keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter with the Spencer Davis Group with several hits including "Gimme Some Lovin'. Next, became a psychedelic music star with this band Traffic. He also sang a folk-rock masterpiece with Traffic with the song, "John Barleycorn Must Die". Then there was Blind Faith with Eric Clapton with songs like "Can't Find My Way Home", before going solo with a more pop/R&B dance sound with songs like "Higher Love".
Daniel, this tune is what I like to think of as one of two bookends. There was a movie called 'Alice doesn't Live here Anymore" not a good movie for healthy young people. That having been said, this one here, is all about the music you listen to after having ingested chemicals that you do not get from your pharmacist at the local GNC. More importantly, there is a song by the same artist called "Can't find my way back home" sung and made popular by two artist on two different albums. This is Steve Winwood of Traffic fame, the other artist was Eric Clapton. The two versions are both incredible. They are friends, and they released both versions. This tune brings back things and behaviors that I'd just as soon never mention but never forget. A great song indeed but, you must buttress this one with the other one for balance. I don't want to bring your father into this conversation because this is your channel but, based on his musical collections heard thus far. he is well aware of which I speak. Your doing a great job, wisdom indicates that some doors should remain closed. Right Dad? Keep up the good work. I like the catalog and I like your fresh insights. Us Boomers made a lot of great music. You are like a musical spelunker, digging the depths of ancient musical ruins, picking up little gems as you go.
Winwood was the 16 year old star of the Spencer Davis Group “I’m a Man”.
Steve Winwood in Traffic then, Blind faith with Eric Clapton, then his solo career! Great keyboard player and guitar plus very good on mandolin! Forgot Spencer Davis group when he was very Young!
You should check out the solo acoustic recordings that Steve Winwood did recently, Can't Find my Way Home and John Barleycorn Must Die are great. Lets you really hear how he wrote the songs.
TRAFFIC, "DEAR MR. FANTASY" ANOTHER AWESOME BRITISH BANDS. A VERY YOUNG STEVE WINWOOD LEAD SINGER.. YEP, "LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS", NEXT. REACTION IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. FAR OUT...🤩✌
The Low Spark of High Heel Boys is one of my favorite songs. Another good one is "40,000 Headmen"
I've never heard anyone do this, but I've always wanted a DJ to play this, and then segue the ending riff in to The Kinks You Really Got Me.
I think any performing artist feels this way on some level. Great reaction.
Little Stevie Winwood and Little Stevie Wonder were out at the same time!
Allman Brothers live at the Filmore East
Awesome tune and winwood is great live performer even into old age.
My next recommendations based off of some of the other "story" type songs with lyrical focus that i would check out are :
"Monkey and Bear" by Joanna Newsome (a harpist, writer and lead vocalist).
Bob dylan has many great songs but these 4 are great "boots of Spanish leather", "the lonesome death of hattie carol", "tamborine man" (full version not radio pop edit) and "subterranean home sick blues". All high end poetic songs.
John Barleycorn Must Die, Freedom Rider And Glad (instrumental) are faves, although I love this one and Low Spark, too. For this song, I always interpreted it more as how entertainers have to smile and perform even when they’re tired, sad or sick, the crowds don’t care.
They are in a house in Engalnd, they rented it as a band to jam and get to know each other. They smoked a lot of dope and then jammed for while, Steve Winwood said nothing really happened until they came out of the "purple haze of dope"! Then they got down to business of reshearsing and writing. I think the house was in Berkshire or some rural county like that. Did you know that Chris Wood, Dave Mason and Steve Winwood all played on Jimi Hendrix Electric Ladyland album?
Steve Winwood says that Traffic was a "quirky" band ... he was right, of course. Dave Mason was the pop-sensible one, and restless one, so was in/out of the band .. and they went more R&B/jazz in the future (Glad, Empty Pages ...)
After Low Spark, if you want to do more Traffic, I suggest Rock And Roll Stew.
Great song and Steve Winwood is a fantastic musician! He played with Eric Clapton with the group Blind Faith
Great Band, Low Spark of High heel Boys . Master's at their craft
@Dicon Dissectional Reactions - Blind Faith [Band], Can't Find My Way Home [Song], a must listen. Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton and I forget who else but, they were the very first "Super Group" [Groups made up from other bands. Bad Company is another example of a "Super Group"].
Oh just love Traffic! Take a look at "Glad" as soon as you can.
Traffic was another band that was integrated with Black/White performers. Music has no boundaries. I loved them from the first. Someone wrote a comment about their 1972 concert. Yes, please check that out. There are a lot of great suggestions that you should take a dive into (Low Spark Of HH Boys is fabulous). I encourage you to try the 80s Steve Winwood which are more pop-rock, but still pretty great: If You See a Chance , Arc of a Diver, and Freedom Overspill are really good songs.
I been checking your videos out. Love the response you relay during your first listen. The pure love of reaction to good rocking music plus the innocence you have . Growing up with this music I was 16 when this came out. It's telling that time and perception changes nothing until you allow it.i could rattle on but time to go, one album I suggest zephyr the vocales of candy givens and a kid on guitar by the name of Tommy bolin wow.
Check out John Barleycorn live Santa Monica 1972. Darkly beautiful song. Chris Wood's flute is pure magic!!
It's Steve Winwood, the most unknown World's greatest musician.
Love that you do research. Thanks
Excellant choices
Great song Steve Winwood a pure genius who can play every instrument and even did so on a solo album.Legendary band that only lasted a few fantastic years.Winwood went on to start the band Blindfaith which was only one magical album with Ginger Baker, And Eric Clapton, former members of Cream. He later did some incredible and popular so,o albums in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Great song choice!
Daniel, you need to watch this song live, 1972 I think. You will like it
This is a great song but may not be the easiest to interpret. Considering they were high as kites on lsd and other fun stuff but you can do what I do and just let music essentially be a soundtrack for my life. It works considering music lyrics are basically art in the form of poetry and story telling that really only have true meaning to the writer’s or bands experiences.
Pure rock and roll!!
steve winwood still looks and sounds great after all the years of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Not bad stuff for 1967... way ahead of it's time in my opinion. This was really the year guitar solos really started to shape up into a more hard rock feel, outside of a few outliers like the Who in the couple years before.....think Hendrix blew up on the scene, Cream was in their peak with Clapton, the Yardbirds........ sure a few came from the blues roots like John Mayall that had that premonition of where rock and roll was heading... into hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive, eventually the roots of Heavy Metal i.e. some Steppenwolf, Deep Purple was about to happen, Sabbath was only 2 yrs away.....then you have bands like Blue Cheer with a very very heavy turned to 11 sound (check out their cover of Summertime Blues, they were a band that Owsley (Kid Charlemange, Steely Dan's character based upon) actually funded and got going, along side Grateful Dead who had a more airy feel.
Heads up low Spark of High Heeled Boys is an anthem of the British envision. Now light up and leave me alone is a pot smokin song! Is your Dad one of those snobbish Zep people. Just askin.
Eric on lead guitar....
their gloom...vietnam, civil rights , the late 60's were rough
You really should listen to the live from Santa Monica concert 1972. It is epic.
I think this is the song that Avengers: End Game opened up with at the beginning of the film.
Another great song to check out (on your own time) is Rainmaker from the same Santa Monica concert. It is very pagan!!
Early stoner music :)
You must do "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"
Great guitar work!!!
I really liked this band. So much talent and everyone went on to play more music with other bands. Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys should be your next choice. I think this song has to do with management putting it to the band, giving them drugs to make them perform when they are exhausted, etc. hence the puppet strings. Californication was a TV series starring David Ducovney (X-Files).
To Daniel. You're missing something big here listening to older music. 1) We did not know the lyrics so therefore 2) we had to rely on the "vibe", the connection the music made with us. The great music of my time was blues rock. Many people were getting their ass kicked by life, the world, the opposite sex, people who didn't-like-the-world etc. And music connected to this "reality". This was the connection with Zeppelin, Traffic, Tull, Yes, ELP etc. i.e. Take us out of this realm and into a different mindset, a different mentality. Something not-of-this-world and it's established reality. ... Listen, connect to the vibe, the rhythm, the story, the trip, the melody of 70s music blues-rock music. The words are secondary and a waste. Who wants to know what a 20-something has to say? Even back in the 70s.
Sorry Benedict, but I humbly disagree. Not with everything you said. I actually agree with most of it, but I do not agree that the words are secondary and certainly not a waste or that “no one cared.” To say that the words are a waste is disrespectful to so many great songwriters of that time. Look at the great concept LPs of the Moody Blues. They actually stated that they had hoped that they could change the world with the message of love in their songs.
Some of the Allman Brothers songs come to mind, “Melissa?” as do those written by Jackson Browne or Bob Seger. I’m talking about heartfelt songs born out of pain, heartbreak for the condition of humanity, observations of life or songs that celebrate the good in life.
In fact, I would say that some of the most philosophical lyrics ever written have been those from the late 60s and into the 1970s, even the 80s to a degree. There certainly was enough going on in society at that time to provide material for great song lyrics.
Take a song like Rod Stewart’s “Every Picture Tells a Story” or “Mandolin Wind” or Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” Heck any of Dylan’s songs … and just try to tell me that the words are unimportant or “a waste.” What about Don McLean’s “American Pie?” Or Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird or “Simple Man” or “Tuesday’s Gone?”
I do remember back in the day getting the occasional album that had the song lyrics printed somewhere on the jacket. What a treat that was! (at least for me)
One of the more pleasant things about the advent of the Internet, again speaking for myself, has been the ability to look up song lyrics and finally know what I was listening to!
Battle of Evermore by Led Zeppelin and Green River by CCR are two diverse, but good examples.
I could go on and on, but I guess I already have. LOL Hopefully, I’ve made my point.
I do believe in free speech and free thought so you are welcome to hold whatever opinion you like 👍🏼 , of course.
Peace ☮️ up ⬆️
Your dad seems like he knows a lot of great music. Still don't see your review of The Low Spark of High-heeled Boys
You Win
Stevie Winwood is the man!
the boy wonder
Wait. I thought Steve Winwood was “born” in 1986.
I think the song is about artist peddling their misary to entertain others.
40,000 Headmen by Traffic is a good tune but what it means ????
It is a very good song
Thank you for hearting
Iove traffic play more
Make it snappy means upbeat not fast!
What a lot of you guys Who react to videos from the 70s forgot to remember is that a lot of the songs have to do with Vietnam.
The song is a simple sketch of a tortured artist who sacrifices his own happiness to make the audience happy. The artist expresses of pain for his fans.
Where did you get the drug idea - that’s a miss
Pls listen to any humble pie
Your pausing would be easy peasy and not annoying if you used genius.com for lyrics. FYI.
You shouldn’t have to apologize, over and over, for pausing. People should have figured it out by now. Besides, you’ve never heard the song before, how could you know a good place to pause?
Of all the traffic tunes you picked this one? Holy Molly. 🤨 It’s good but not one of their best! The lyrics of these groups can mean a lot of stuff, don’t try to dissect them too much. It’s about the demands, and expectation of being a performer. Period. Still not enough Zep. Just sayin! 😎