Traffic- Glad & Freedom Rider REACTION & REVIEW

[@ericanderson8886]

This is a really great album, jazz and folk and Steve Winwoods great voice. "Empty Pages" is the great song on the album.

[@montyernst2617]

If you want more jazz fusion from Traffic, you must do "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys." My favorite song of theirs.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

It's my favourite album of theirs, and that is definitely the standout song of the album.

[@martykott450]

Love Traffic...and especially this record. Traffic is just freaking intelligent. Hard to catagorize. Tasty playing and that pure and easy voice of Steve Winwood.

[@joelliebler5690]

Traffic was such a force of talent and entertainment!

[@lisarainbow9703]

This entire album is incredible. Been on my desert island list for decades. Another incredible Traffic song is "Dream Gerard" from their last album, I highly recommend it, for a highly complex sonic landscape...

[@craigireland5629]

Totally agree. That's a great track.

[@geneleonard4368]

Great track but not their last album . Far from home is

[@craigireland5629]

@geneleonard4368 for some inexplicable reason this album totally passed me by. Would you recommend it?

[@lisarainbow9703]

@@craigireland5629 same here, I thought it was, "When the Eagle Flies"... If there's more, I'm all ears...😁

[@craigireland5629]

@lisarainbow9703 I have just been reading a bunch of reviews and opinions are mixed. The album is from 1994 so not surprisingly it has a different sound/feel. Still worth checking out though i should think.

[@rolandbullivant8700]

The only LP I’ve bought twice. Simply brilliant.

[@yes_head]

John Barleycorn and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys are as good a 1-2 punch from any band ever. Essential additions to any collection.

[@jimuren2388]

Winwood-yes. Capaldi-yes. But don't forget Chris Wood. His flute and sax are standouts in so many of their best songs.

[@BryanWicks]

This is a first listen for me as well. Looking forward to checking out their catalog. Thanks for the upload! 👍🏾

[@craigireland5629]

Great band. I hope you enjoyed this

[@lisarainbow9703]

There's SO much to explore with Traffic. I highly recommend checking out the song, "Tragic Magic" for another great funky instrumental with wah saxophone, and smokin keyboards.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

I'd recommend checking out "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys". Great album and very much in the same mood as these two songs.

[@craigireland5629]

@TimvanderLeeuw I bought the When The Eagle Flies album when it came out. I loved it then and still do. It kinda gets overlooked which is a great shame.

[@TimvanderLeeuw]

@@craigireland5629 I don’t know that album yet so I guess I should give that a listen!

[@fenderchamp8241]

Shows how blessed we are. Have been listening to this stuff for years, and kind of take its for granted. This was.

[@lisarainbow9703]

"Freedom Riders" were also a group that formed during the Civil Rights movement, who fought against racsim and segregation.

[@fenderchamp8241]

Traffic had a string of albums that are unparalleled in Rock.

[@hokemonsimpson9322]

I saw these guys at an outdoor festival. They did this whole album, but doubled the length of the solos. The entire crowd danced on the grass the whole time. One of the best times I ever had at a concert.

[@rphilyaw1]

So tasty on a Sunday morning. Just a really talented group of guys writing and playing some great music. I agree with one of the other comments about "Empty Pages", another great song on this album. Really can't go wrong with Traffic - give "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" a listen as well. Great stuff as always, JP!

[@mikeloomis687]

Loved this album first time a friend played it back in early 1971. The album is still a regular on my iPhone. Thanks JP....right up my alley.

[@isaacvanwart-i2v]

After 60 years of listening to most of rock/pop/soul/blues of the 60s and 70s, I have concluded the five most visionary, accomplished, and important acts are: 5. The Band. 4. Bob Dylan. 3. Van Morrison. 2. Traffic. 1. The Beatles. The order is gray and fluid. When I listen to Traffic or VM I am sure they are 1 & 2. “Glad/Freedom Rider,” “Dear Mr Fantasy,” “Low Spark,” “Heaven is in your Mind” and damn near every Traffic song is creamiest of the creamiest crop. Incredible.

[@Morthoron1]

John Barleycorn and Low Spark....2 supreme prog rock/jazz/folk albums back to back. Loved them from the first day I heard them. Nothing else like Traffic.

[@afterthefox]

one of the great albums in rock history...from the jump you are sold...

[@ohfour-seven6228]

As noted below, Empty Pages is just as incredible. Great songs and great way to open an album. Traffic did the same with the opening tracks (which were also title tracks), for their albums The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and Shootout at the Fantasy Factory. Such an epic and sophisticated band!

[@tszirmay]

my very first purchase back in 1970 , it was a game changer.....

[@arroyo284]

Traffic was creative. This was 'alternative music' back in the day. Steve Winwood - Piano, Hammond B3, Electric Piano, Vocals, Guitarist, there is nothing he couldn't do at the highest level. ...and btw ... that's Steve pushing out the bass line too.

[@maruad7577]

That's a surprise. "Glad" has the feel of early Manu Dibango (i.e. "Soul Makossa").

[@-davidolivares]

Yes… just yes. This is a work jam for me but sounds great on a Sunday morn. Love bōf. Yummy.

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Hi Justin. Dave from Across The Ocean. Favourite album by Traffic. Such a versatile band. You have the psychedelic pop of their early days, and on this album (which was originally intended to be Steve's solo album) there's the jazz and soul on these tracks, plus the folk we've heard on the title track and some rockier tracks (Every Mother's Son is my fave). With brilliant vocals, keys and guitar, Steve has been much in demand over the years on other people's albums, especially for that swirling organ you've highlighted.

[@-R.Gray-]

Now imagine Winwood's voice on Chicago's cover of his old hit "I'm A Man".

[@bertkilborne6464]

Brilliant arrangement - I had this album and listened to this hundreds of times without knowing the name of the tune. I thought Glad was the intro to Freedom Rider

[@shemanic1]

Superb album by a great band. Thanks for this.

[@oeokosko]

Good to see you getting involved in Traffic Justin. One of my all time favourite live albums is Traffic On The Road. Would love it if you'd react to and review the jazz-funk-jam track Light Up Or Leave Me Alone as per the version taken from the CD: Light Up Or Leave Me Alone "Traffic On The Road - US First Edition [4/4]"

[@jonathan492]

1700 views on these masterpieces is sad. I found John Barleycorn must Die in my dads collection when I was 16. Its one of the first albums I got into from that era. Im 41 now, and I can literally identify songs from almost any genre from a few notes, from rock,classic rock, rap, hip hop. This album and band are fantastic. Check out Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton in the band Blind Faith- Cant Find my way Home and Presence of the Lord

[@elegantirony78]

Thanks! Rainmaker has this killer flute / bass combo

[@ChasBeauregarde]

This was my gateway album into jazz fusion. After this I started listening to Billy Cibham, Return To Forever, Stsnley Clarke, The Crusaders snd Weather Report. Thanks Traffic!

[@jaybird4093]

I don’t have the greatest ear but I think the “Halloween” sounds are diminished chords and scales. At the end of Glad, there’s a whole-tone vibe in the chords with harmonic minor improv over the top. The use of the spooky organ helps set that mood, too. Pop music doesn’t utilize those sounds much but classical and jazz do. Debussy uses whole tone scales in the piece Voiles (Clouds - If clouds made music they’d sound like Debussy). Many of Debussy’s piano works flirt with the five-star rating for me. ☁️☁️☁️☁️☁️ For the diminished sound, the beginning of YYZ by Rush fits the bill.

[@maruad7577]

XYZ live in Rio was a revelation to me. I had never seen a crowd vocalize to an instrumental before. An amazing performance and an amazing crowd.

[@FairDealDan]

I played the Debussy prelude "Voiles"...my teacher said the title translates to "veils" ...a metaphor for the sails on the sailboats in the harbors...like in French impressionist paintings...

[@jaybird4093]

@@FairDealDanYou’re right,my bad. I was thinking of nuages.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

I Traffic in positive goodwill on this Sunday morning! 26 days and first solid food! I'm Glad for eggs, sausage, grits and toast! A couple of weeks of rehab, putting on weight, and no relapses, and I'll be a Freedom Rider home! Unless I can catch a flight on Ginger Bakers Air Force. Then the writers will be filling Empty Pages with the exploits! Peace & Love. P.S. Justin didya like it much?

[@jaybird4093]

👍 Great news, James!

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

I'd like to second that. 😊

[@maruad7577]

Glad to hear though I must admit I would rather hash browns or chips instead of grits. Regardless, I am truly happy to know you are doing better.

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

@@maruad7577 After living nearly 30 years on the 'Red-Neck Riviera' (Pensacola FL., New Orleans, and Houston), I've grown to appreciate grits, fried 'taters, and onions would have been my first choice! But it was the most agreeable option for my neglected gut! Thanks to you and everyone else who has wished me well. I've got my sights set on seeing Bob Dylan without medical assistance. Peace & Love.

[@maruad7577]

Fried taters and onions sounds great. P & L to you as well.@@jamespaivapaiva4460

[@Jimi-DV]

There are no bad tunes on "John Barleycorn...", but I have a special place for "Every Mothers Son", "Empty Pages" and "Stranger to Himself" (Winwood plays all Instruments on "Stranger..."). "Glad" needs no mention.

[@johncagnettajr344]

Glad was my college soccer team’s theme music. Go Wick!

[@daveking9393]

Such a great LP. Thanks for continuing the journey.

[@JamesHowe]

Great stuff and I really love the jazzy aspects. One thing I've always been wondering about, what was it about the late 60's and early 70's with using flutes? Genesis, with Peter Gabriel, the Moody Blues with Ray Thomas, and obviously Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson. I'm not complaining, I just think it is interesting. The flute in Freedom Rider seems to harken back to some of the early 60's 'beat' music. Really nice stuff. I've always liked Traffic but I never owned any of their albums. That should probably change.

[@Ker-mk3bf]

Fantastic song! Again JP, you must be reading my playlist! 💖

[@TZ61]

Love this album; I positively wore out side 1 of my vinyl copy, and side 2 is pretty darn good too. Great upload.

[@erikahlander3489]

The only Traffic piece I remember from the 60s is "Hole in my shoes". It is really different from the rest of their production - psychedelic! From what I understand written without influence of drugs (?) - slightly like Zappa. I would appreciate your opinion! (Your reactions are so well made today so your reaction matters).

[@yes_head]

"Hole In My Shoe" was a Dave Mason song. For some reason he was enthralled with psychedelic music in 1968, when everyone else had moved on. He was out of the band shortly after that.

[@joeyblowey123456]

I'm opposite of you today JP. I have always liked Glad more than Freedom Rider. But that's just splitting hairs as both are fantastic.

[@jtenaz]

Oh yes, l like that songs.

[@HippoYnYGlaw]

First listen. Great! I Scare Myself by Dolby Thomas copied the piano line then. This was a major surprise 4me. Better than Tull in flute rock. Diolch

[@davidmckenzie420]

I bought this album way back in high school. I sure liked Freedom Rider. But Glad was right up there.

[@happilyeggs4627]

I don’t know why but “Glad” always makes me think of Nina Simone.

[@michaelfrank2266]

I am thinking, meh. I looked at their discography. I have heard of them. I know little of them. I liked the similarity to Chicago. I'd be willing to hear another from them. I hit the like button.

[@lisarainbow9703]

Check out their song, "Tragic Magic" for another song that showcases the incredible sax playing of Chris Wood..

[@michaelfrank2266]

A lot of my listening these days depends upon the mood I am in at the moment. I gave your suggestion a listen. It was at the right moment. I hear why you would like it. The sax is both jazzy and mellow and supported with a nice groove.@@lisarainbow9703

[@draj52]

Hi, being the first to click...i'm 66 so i can say u ugot good taste

[@jfergs.3302]

Hmmm, all a bit banal for me, which's a pity seeing the artists. Glad, just an average slow country, blues style number. Nothing standout and heard it so many times. FR... I just didn't like the underlying melody, tune just seemed a little... off. Also, seemed pretty derivative due the massive use of sax, and flute. Sounded like they attempted a (weak) Tull, Gong, hybrid number... Yeah, no great.

[@Owlstretchingtime78]

Not the easiest question by any means, but what sort of stuff floats your boat?

[@jaybird4093]

When I first heard this album, I was all in so I bought it. After a couple of listens, I was done and it just collected dust. I had a lot of those kinds of albums in my collection. I guess that’s the price I had to pay to find that elusive sweet spot.

[@-davidolivares]

@@jaybird4093 Must admit, I have to be in the mood but it peeks its little head out of my work CDs and screams play me.

[@jaybird4093]

@@-davidolivaresAlthough I stopped listening years ago, I was immediately transported back to the time and place where I first heard this album all those years ago. I watch this channel partly for the memories it stirs up. Good times! 👍🤟

[@-davidolivares]

Wow, hmm, ok, difference of opinion here. Not newsworthy and was a little expected. Enjoy your day sir.