1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #108. Traffic - Traffic (1968)

Traffic - Traffic (1968)

Label – island
Producer – Jimmy Miller
Art Direction –Jim Capaldi
Nationality –UK
Running Time –40:42

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. You Can All Join In
2. Pearly Queen
3. Don't Be Sad
4. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
5. Feelin' Alright
6. Vagabond Virgin
7. (Roamin' Thru The Gloamin' With) 40 000 Headmen
8. Crying To Be Heard
9. No Time To Live
10. Means To An End

This is a interesting record from a band with interesting story. After dispensing with Dave Mason of his services in December 1967, the remaining members of Traffic had to reinstate him back into the group in the spring of 1968 as they struggled to write enough material for their upcoming second album simply known as “Traffic”. The result is a record that is basically divided between Dave Mason's catchy folkish-rock compositions and then by Steve Winwood's compelling rock jams. Mason's material was the most appealing both initially and eventually: the lead-off track, a jaunty effort called "You Can All Join In," became a European hit, and "Feelin' Alright?" turned out to be the only real standard to emerge from the album - but then only after it started earning cover versions notably the one by Joe Cocker. It was a short lived reunion as for the second time in two albums, Mason found himself dismissed from the group just as an LP to which he'd made a major contribution to was hitting the stores. But then again, only a few months after this record was released, the band itself split up. (they did re-group in 1970 however). The record did earn them their second consecutive Top Ten ranking in the U.K. and it reached the Top 20 in the U.S.
It is recommended.


J

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