Gold

Performer: Traffic
Producer: Jimmy Miller; Steve Winwood; Chris Blackwell; Traffic; Bill Levenson (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Traffic: Dave Mason (vocals, guitar, sitar, Mellotron, bass guitar, tambora); Chris Wood (vocals, flute, saxophone, organ, percussion); Steve Winwood (vocals, piano, harpsichord, organ, bass guitar, percussion); Jim Capaldi (vocals, drums, percussion); Rick Grech (violin, bass instrument); David Hood, Rosko Gee (bass instrument); Jim Gordon , Roger Hawkins (drums); Rebop Kwaku Baah (congas, bongos, timbales). Liner Note Author: Scott Schinder. Although there are a few Traffic compilations on the market, this 2005 two-disc set, puts them to shame, with 30 essential tracks that span the British band's initial run from 1967-1974. (Core members Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi revived the Traffic name briefly in the 1990s.) From the Eastern-tinged psychedelic rock of "Paper Sun" and "Hole in My Shoe" to the R&B-leaning pop of "Something New" and the soul jam of "Dream Gerrard," all of the group's finest songs are here. The work done between '68 and '71 is Traffic's most enduring legacy. During these years, when the ensemble wasn't breaking up or shifting personnel, they melded folk, jazz, and rock into a brilliant amalgam. The key elements of group--Winwood's plaintive vocals and melodic organ lines, Capaldi's tight drumming, and Chris Wood's dynamic woodwind embellishments--are present throughout this excellent collection, which is a must for anyone seeking a thorough overview of Traffic.

Traffic appeared amidst the late-1960s psychedelic scene, and at its height the band was one of the most adventurous outfits around, although Traffic's unstable lineup made it an on-again, off-again affair by the '70s. Teenage wunderkind Stevie Winwood was the main man, but all the members made significant contributions. With a sound that combined influences from folk, rock, jazz, and soul, Traffic created something wonderfully of its time on classic albums such as THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH-HEELED BOYS.

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