SO MUCH FLAVOR! | The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys - Traffic (Reaction)

[@827dusty]

The great Steve Winwood and Traffic. This is one of the greatest songs in all of Rock. Thanks JMBOY!

[@shawnbfowler8883]

My favorite song by Traffic. The combination of sax, keyboards and bongo's make this a jamfest for the ears!

[@betseyr.9081]

"Light Up or Leave Me Alone" ties this one for me.

[@lindawick455]

Another banger! Traffic. They dont get enough respect. ​@@betseyr.9081

[@patriceschmitz521]

Steve Winwood is one of my favorites. Blue eyed soul. Fabulous voice. Keyboard and guitar. ❤❤

[@Jeff-yt3qp]

The song drags you in and doesn’t let go till the fade out. Brilliant

[@TheoZoffrok]

The "man in the suit" is the man from the record company, I've always thought.

[@christopherwood9213]

NO - this is from the 1970s --- it is the dealers offering "spark" of either "boys" (heroin) or "girls" (coke) thought to be a combo that got the "best" of both drugs.

[@myownchannel247]

Congratulations! You just found the ultimate chill song from the 70’s 😎

[@fatovamingus]

This is such a bong song. Totally impressed that you hung in there

[@parsleyqueen]

Anything with Stevie Winwood's name on is going to be worth a listen💜☮

[@willlockler9433]

What deep dive is Steve Winwood. Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, Blind Faith, then his solo career. This one of my favorites. Not surprised you like it. Always a pleasure to watch an intelligent reactor.

[@maxbrazil3712]

The good old days, when the world had talented an amazing music artists. Now we have Katie Perry and Drake, corporate created plastic androids using auto tune.

[@thomasdesmond2233]

Stop it. There were people saying the EXACT thing about the music you loved when it came out.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

I wrote my comment above, then scrolled down to see this: "Now we have Katie Perry and Drake, corporate-created plastic androids using auto-tune." Statement of the week. Dead on, bro.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

@@thomasdesmond2233 No they weren't, they were saying music was too vulgar or they didn't like the 'hippies' who were making it, or the drugs they were taking, but they could never say Elvis (parents hated him in the beginning, or Chuck Berry or Little Richard or The Beatles or the Rolling Stones or the Doors etc weren't talented musicians and singers. And there was no faking the music or vocals until the 90s & really common in the 2000s...there was nothing like that before that...singers were actually singing. So no, the complaints aren't comparable. It's actually been studied to show that since the 60s-70s music has gotten to sound more and more alike due to everyone using the same chords, simpler tunes etc. Music is objectively worse now (there are of course exceptions) and a huge number of young reactors, after hearing decades of the music before them, have also stated the same thing.

[@chellj8175]

Absolutely!! So glad we had this music to enjoy then , that lives on !! The stuff of today is not music !! Love this one !!! Such talent !! These musicians of the 70’s, 80’s had true talent !! Unheard of these days !!!

[@oswaldmontecristo1035]

@@thomasdesmond2233 You are obviously a millennial who thinks Cold Play is the greatest band ever. Computers, auto tune, voice enhancements, sampling.....all this shit has killed the great music that required lots of effort, dedication and talent. Now it's just a simple matter of mastering some technology technique and aptitude. These guys were all about superior musical ability, composition and improvisation.

[@dianegoldeneye7207]

Traffic is incredible. Thank you for being so open to these songs of my growing up. I was a teen when this came out. Love your reactions. It makes me happy to see you enjoy this. 😊

[@kellydelay18]

This music is why us old timers don’t like rap or hip hop much lol

[@AliasMark69]

"Much"... too funny, or not at all.

[@dmartin1203]

Not just old timers...anyone who loves "real" music!

[@AliasMark69]

Way back in June 2023 I suggested "Dear Mr, Fantasy" .... go find out why.

[@bugvswindshield]

....play me a tune.... love that song

[@michaelkeefe8494]

​@@bugvswindshieldmake it snappy

[@Cheshirecat-nx9zn]

The man in the suit has just bought a new car from the profits he's made on your dreams

[@melissatuel862]

My favorite line in this song - because it's true

[@AliasMark69]

It was artist like Steve Winwood and groups like this that put the CLASS in Classic Rock.

[@donaldleider7382]

My favorite Traffic jam!

[@petechawk4100]

Oh man. This song brings back the flashbacks from the days when we were buzzed to the max and cruzin' in the middle of the night in a deep fog...brain fog...those days were...far out.... man....

[@cynergy4]

'Cause spirit is something that no one destroys. One of the greatest songs ever! As a matter of fact, one of the greatest albums ever!

[@marymargaretmoore9034]

Traffic is one of my absolute favorite bands. Multi talented Stevie Winwood started singing for the Spencer Davis Group when he was 14. Chris Wood on flute and sax. Great reaction.

[@jpmnewyork]

This recording. This recording. Thank you for doing this recording. I'm 69, I've been listening to this for decades, but every time I hear it, it still makes me break out in a cold sweat. Don't know why, but I don't care.

[@dwgrly]

I still have this album on CD. Loved it then. Still great.

[@lindawick455]

Love the trapazoidal form of this real album and Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory

[@richardmirandi4370]

Back in Stevie Winwoods day the music managers and the like wore expensive "Platform Shoes". I feel the "Low Spark" is the meaning of the low vibe the con artists have of deceit, lying, stealing and greed. Thank you to you and your fans for another great reaction.

[@tommyferg]

My Man, that was an excellent analysis, about the actual music and the lyrics as well.

[@JMBOYTV]

Thanks!

[@AliasMark69]

Steve Winwood is a Master guitarist and keyboards and just about any other instrument he gets his hands on.

[@AliasMark69]

Lets all Stand and Applaud JM for this one. Brilliant again, as usual.

[@munchkinmoonstone]

Freedom Rider and other songs from John Barleycorn Must Die album.

[@kathyrizzi8754]

I love the group, Traffic, very jazzy & cool.👍👏👏👏💜

[@christopherwood9213]

Love watching the Youngbloods react to white-as-white Englishman laying out rock/jazz/soul riffs!!!

[@Fred-l5l]

High heeled boys are a mixture of Heroin and speed, more commonly know as Speedballs. Comedian John Belushi died over dosing on it. The song made a lot more sense when i learned it was drugs. Gun that didnt make noise is a syringe.

[@robertlear2712]

I think this about the music industry. Music producers get rich off the dreams of musicians.

[@mikecaetano]

Nice! "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" is ostensibly about musicians getting scammed by corrupt managers and bad record labels, but with cosmic stakes, so to speak. Traffic dropped two studio albums, then broke up, then reformed a year later and dropped four more before wrapping up in 1974. Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood. Capaldi played drums, Mason guitar, Winwood keys, and Wood the flutes and sax. Winwood and Mason often jammed with Jimi Hendrix back when. Mason plays the twelve string on "All Along The Watchtower", for example, and Winwood plays the Hammond organ on "Voodoo Chile". When you're ready for another taste from Traffic, check out "Freedom Rider", "Feelin' Alright?", and "Dear Mr. Fantasy", along with many others.

[@purfctwmn]

Thank you 😃

[@CuzKatieSaysSo]

Although Traffic has a lot of other great songs, I'd say this is their Magnum Opus. So glad you did this awesome piece of music 🎶 ❤

[@AliasMark69]

Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton - Dear Mr Fantasy [Crossroads Guitar Festival Illinois,USA, 6/26/2010]

[@betseyr.9081]

The early 70’s was a glorious time to be part of this music scene in HS! Yes we were spoiled but we didn’t know it, fantastic bands on the airwaves that still resonate today.

[@scenicrouteart]

Wow!!! I haven’t seen anyone react to this amazing gem! Thanks!!

[@brendamilloy2557]

You've already reacted to Steve Winwood's "Roll With It" and "Higher Love" from his later solo career. This is Steve earlier, in Traffic, which he co-founded. An excellent band! Traffic wasn't driven by dollars, they were truly driven to experiment and find the sound. So many great songs to listen to. Steve is a gifted musician and vocalist! The title of the song comes from this, according to Jim Capaldi, drummer for Traffic: "The title refers to an inscription written by diminutive American actor Michael J. Pollard in Jim Capaldi's notebook while they were both in Morocco. Capaldi and Pollard were planning to work on a movie that was never filmed. Capaldi said: Pollard and I would sit around writing lyrics all day, talking about Bob Dylan and The Band, thinking up ridiculous plots for the movie. Before I left Morocco, Pollard wrote in my book 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'. For me, it summed him up. He had this tremendous rebel attitude. He walked around in his cowboy boots, his leather jacket. At the time he was a heavy little dude. It seemed to sum up all the people of that generation who were just rebels. The 'Low Spark', for me, was the spirit, high-spirited. You know, standing on a street corner. The low rider. The 'Low Spark' meaning that strong undercurrent at the street level." The ripoff/scam that they are singing about are the record companies, ripping off the artists hard earned money. It happened frequently before the artists caught on and started suing.

[@lindakoschwitz7098]

A lot of interesting changes in this, making it an masterful piece of music.

[@JacquelineEdinger]

I ❤ this song! I get yelled at when I play it on a jukebox cuz its so long! 😂

[@lindakoschwitz7098]

One of my favorite jams by Traffic.

[@AgingDrummerBoy-ly1js]

One of my favorite songs period! I still listen to this song all the timeand I've been jamming to it since I was a teen too. Thanks for this pick! ✌️♥️🤟🥁

[@tankgrrl29]

agree - one of my all time favorite songs ever!

[@JPMadden]

The electric pianos and early synthesizers of the '60s and '70s made such interesting sounds, much better than the computerized models of the '80s I grew up listening to.

[@faithnyou1732]

Yay! So happy you chose this one! One of my all-time favorites. And yes, so much flavor -- truly a masterpiece! I love how you always break-down the lyrics in such an amazing way! Thanks JM for another great reaction! ✌💙✌

[@glennburch1081]

Makes my top ten list of ALL SONGS, ALL GENRES, that's a mouth full! Steve Winwood is a giant amongst GIANTS. So much to listen to in this song, all the different instruments and tempos and genres...... and then that vocal tone. Can it get any better than this? The lyrics are even ICONIC, so relevant for the times they were written with the "gatekeepers" walking all over the artists. Never grow tired of listening to SW's vocal, great stuff! Superb reaction, TY.

[@johnroberts5637]

We had real music back then, and it's gratifying to see youngsters like you not only give it a listen, but appreciate it as much as we did when it was new. Good luck on your journey.

[@fenderchamp8241]

This is just ONE of MANY great Traffic tunes. 40,000 Headmen live one of my favorites

[@tenjed4224]

I had the chance to catch Traffic during the Dead's summer tour when Traffic first came out of retirement. They were awesome and played like they hadn't missed a beat.

[@michaelkeefe8494]

The take I've alwats preferred: "High heeled boys" were the long haired musicians paying % to agents and labels (the man in the suit)... Shooting the man dead, metaphorically, was a call for the artists to take back control of their industry.

[@paulward1799]

I like your reactions, especially when your face shows the confusion of 'how did they come up with this?'

[@Maiko100876]

You have to see the video of Steve Winwood , his eyes just two black dots “ tripping on acid” singing “ CAN’T Find MY WAY HOME”!! Priceless LEGEND.

[@chellj8175]

Love this song !!!! ❤❤❤Traffic had some awesome tunes !!!

[@marcfriedman7339]

I could listen to this song everyday!! It is one of my all time favorites. It is on my deserted island playlist songs.

[@MoncurElectric]

Thanks for taking on one of my favourite songs. The organ through a fuzz pedal is an amazing sound.

[@christopherwood9213]

JMBOY - Your reaction to the sax solos tells it all --- the lad was Chris Wood from the Birmingham, England highlands who was infatuated with Charlie "Bird" Parker... He sure shows it in this "live-in-studio" mix. This cut introduced we thousands of white American teens to Black jazz musicains coming out in fusion at the time --- Myles (of course), Herbie Hancocks, LA Express, and the whole jazz-rock "FUSION" of the period. Personnel Steve Winwood (original member) - vocal, piano, Hammond organ Chris Wood (original member) - tenor saxophone Ric Grech - bass guitar Jim Gordon - drums --- [American session musician] Reebop Kwaku Baah - congas [European session musician] Jim Capaldi (original member)- additional percussion Original meaning of the term: it is the dealers offering "spark" of either "boys" (heroin) or "girls" (coke) thought to be a combo that got the "best" of both drugs.

[@clifton8929]

This song features haunting melodies, smooth jazz rhythms, and thought-provoking lyrics that make you understand it's meaning long after the trance and magic of the music end. One of my favorite Traffic songs. Great commentary JMBOY as always. If you like this try Blind Faith - Blind Faith was a supergroup formed in 1969, out of the remains of two other supergroup, Traffic and Cream. Songs like PRESENCE OF THE LORD, CaN'T FIND MY WAY HOME, and HAD TO CRY TODAY are all great songs with Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton.

[@owl-gd6ce]

the live version is so good too

[@bobschenkel7921]

Always loved the MC Escher style of this album cover. That's why I bought it when I first saw it, without knowing how great the music was on the LP. Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi and friends tear it up on this record. "Low Spark" was an eye opener, lots of meat on this bone.

[@danacasey8543]

I love Traffic! Steve Winwood has some great solo work too!

[@Frankincensedjb123]

This is the music we old heads grew up on, and let me say, it's more than music to us. It is an experience, a moment to contemplate, reflect, go deep. Sadly, post-2000, the music took a serious dive for the worse. The 80s and 90s had their points of merit, but with the advent of free-music and corporate-backed favorites, the era of the true artist, the genius released, is a bygone era. What a trip we took in that decade. God bless, peace, and love. You do a great job. keep it up.

[@AppleCranberry-kw3ir]

Thank You!!! ❤❤❤❤ This is a classic track from the band Traffic a U.K. band from the 70's. Enjoy!!!

[@acb9231]

Great song, great band! Next, check out Empty Pages, released in 70. ✌️

[@scottallan6770]

One of my all-time faves for sure!!!

[@Papabob1957]

That whole album is fantastic, so many great grooves

[@iammine7325]

I've always liked this song 😍

[@Retroearthling]

I love watching you. You just seem like the nicest person. Really.

[@JMBOYTV]

Thank you!

[@vidge123]

and imagine listening to that back then with something mind altering.

[@michaelgrillo4333]

Chris Wood on the Sax (RIP) was a great inspiration on the song, album and to the band.

[@AliasMark69]

Well, this is going to POP your Brain..... "Traffic" were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason. Steve Winwood went on to have a great Solo career after this groups broke up.... "Dear Mr. Fantasy" will tickle your brain too.

[@dabassmann]

@AliasMark69 and @JMBoyTV , my favs (besides Low Sparks) is John Barleycorn Must Die, Shanghai Noodle Factory, Forty Thousand Headmen, Stranger to Himself, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone..... just to name a few!!!!

[@AliasMark69]

@@dabassmann John Barlycorn Must Die is awesome, they all are. Now it's time for me to Light Up.

[@imp736]

Legend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jenniferfoster1692]

This is about how musicians are taken advantage of by agents, managers & record companies, while the artists give their blood, sweat and tears to create the 'product'. The high heeled boys were the sleazy managers etc, using your hard work and going out and buying big cars from the work the artists did. Vocalist is Steve Winwood, very famous in multiple bands and solo, you may have heard some of his music already from the Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith or his solo stuff was super, super famous.

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

…….”We Have A Winner”

[@Fred-l5l]

Low spark refers to the description of the High produced by mixing Heroin and speed, known as a High heeled boy. Gun that didnt make noise, a syringe.

[@decal2756]

Traffic & Steve Winwood is a BIG rabbit hole filled with a treasure trove of great music & musicianship. The entire Low Spark LP is great as well as John Barleycorn Must Die...well, all of their LP's! Winwood is a great singer, pianist, organist , guitar player, band leader & songwriter. I saw them every time that they came around in the early 1970's & they were truly great live. Blind Faith was a super group that he was in with Eric Clapton & Ginger Baker from Cream as well as Ric Grech on bass. That was in 1969 & they only put out one LP and played a short tour...but that LP is great as well

[@davidfischer1138]

Great evaluation. Best review of this song I've seen.

[@JMBOYTV]

Thank you!

[@4yules]

"empty pages" steve winwood...the man has soul

[@Altman1953]

Released the year I graduated HS. MORE of this please.

[@Linda-y9h]

I remember playing this record at the summer rental, Huntington Beach 72, I was 17. So glad I was around for the best music generation. ❤😊

[@AnonymousServant513]

This song is to my ears as a candy shop is to my nose...lol

[@jaycorby]

Just subscribed to your channel, JMBOY. You seem to be a real stand up guy, very pleasant. This Traffic piece is one of their best - I could tell you really liked it. Check out the meaning of "low spark of high heeled boys"...it's actually pretty cool.

[@salsonny]

Great jam for puttin round the house doing oddz n ends

[@raulmexb]

Very, good insight. Nice.

[@CosmicVagabondPixie]

OMG YAY!!! i **LUV** **Traffic** whew this song is **Extraordinary** man ha **Steve Winwood** is a talent on a whole different level! **Hope** ya will check out **Dear Mr Fantasy** & **Empty Pages** Thank YOU **JMBOYTV** YAY!!! **Get It**

[@brucenye6137]

Check the backstory bro, this song is a direct reply a critic that dissed the band

[@beadybaby]

“Little Stevie Winwood”! Check out Cream too!

[@MisterWondrous]

Yes, this is a major classic with some length to it. One that I would imagine would be hard to beat, yet one very fun to play...along or en ensemble. The saxes are the saxiest of any song I can recall.

[@Ronster64]

Definitely one of my favorite drive songs, and late night in the summer too! Epic

[@bugvswindshield]

lil stevie windwood. a billiant young man and traffic is a fantastic band.

[@terrieb13]

Love this! The song and the album are both in my top ten favorites! Thanks for the great reaction. ☮️❤️😎

[@Rick-or2kq]

I struggled with that for a while trying figure to out if it was a sax or an organ, finally I gave up and went looking for the answer. What I found was it is a Hamon Organ through a reverb.

[@dabassmann]

High Heeled Boys (a short guy) .... the Low Sparks (pissed off) so the Low Sparks Of High Heeled Boys is basically the Attitude/Hate that comes from dudes with the Napoleon Complex.

[@bobg8378]

😂 ahhh no

[@johnbordach4195]

Great reaction.

[@827dusty]

This song is about the greed of the big record Companys back in the 60s and 70s. They had all the leverage, especially with new Bands and artists, trying to make it.

[@Fred-l5l]

Nope, speedballs also known as Highheeled boys. Makes sense now huh?

[@jeffmartin1026]

A Top 10 song the year it came out, a Top 10 song that decade and, by the way, still a Top 10 Song. For myself, the low spark of high heeled boys is the music/look/attitude of club/street level musicians who are pushing the boundaries and advancing music. The record executives don't pay any attention to them 'cuz they don't see any value in them. But in fact, it is the LSoHHB (music/look/attitude) that shoots those men dead.

[@gregpusczek4473]

brilliant music for the middle of the night

[@robertlear2712]

One of my favorite songs

[@delmar418]

Who else can combine SOUL, RAUNCHY BLUES, JAZZY SEDUCTION and provoke thought like this? I think you nailed it on all points, except for the one you smoothly avoided, LOL! including a couple of interpretations that missed me completely.

[@salsonny]

This is about the Glam Rock invasion in the late 60s early 70s

[@lindawick455]

Ha ha...

[@SusanW714]

Classic! ❤

[@RuthKing-wm9nw]

Check out 16yr old Winwood Spencer Davis Group. Side note...way back in tje day a high helled boy was slang for a mix of coke and heroin. Next Blind Faith Can't Find My Eay Home

[@AliasMark69]

A CAUTION! my friend, Classic Rock is like a very strong drug you can easily become addicted to. The more you hear the more you need to hear and it can take over your entire life and soul. Take it from someone who is now 70 years old and a hopeless addict for over 66 of those years. But, it is totally a wonderful experience and completely harmless so continue to indulge. "YOU GUYS"

[@jimmyfortrue3741]

Another great song choice... Thanks.