Mr. Fantasy: 50th Anniversary Mini-Documentary

Mr Fantasy: A mini-documentary that Celebrates the 50th anniversary of Traffic's debut album.
Find out more at Steve Winwood's official website:
www.SteveWinwood.com

[@bigdukepod]

One of the greatest bands ever assembled. There will never be another Band like them. Steve Winwood is a musical visionary and genius. I listen to them to this day!

[@jameslindsay24601]

Organ, flute, crazy percussion, Steve's voice! No one sounded like Traffic

[@mikeorclem]

for sure.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Less is more in that jazz setting that they placed Steve's voice in.

[@televinv8062]

Monstrous band!

[@rosemarygranat4541]

Thanks

[@andyoclover]

I don't even have words for what they've created!Nothing short of brilliant! Thank you

[@charliemcleod764]

I saw Traffic in 1967/68 in Edinburgh. It was supposed to be a Jethro Tull gig but they got stuck in Europe somewhere. So, the replacement acts were, Traffic, Ten Years After & Family. They were excellent, & I loved 'Hole In My Shoe'

[@richardo5951]

Jesus, what a lineup ! I would loved to see any of those bands during that period. Can you share any memories of Family as a live band ?

[@billlarstead8019]

Strolled into Copenhagen for a 4 day side trip just as a two day Rock-fest was staged in an airplane hanger. Got to see Family in August of 71’ w/ John Wieder on bass & violin! Great show! Saw Ten Years After at The Shrine Audit. in 68’ & Traffic 3 nights in a row in 70’: two nights at the Fillmore & the 3rd show in Santa Monica. Amazing memories!

[@fabrikk60]

There's a bit of similarity between early Traffic and early Tull, namely the folk element and the flute. Both bands were on Island Records (in the UK). Many years later Jethro Tull started playing "John Barleycorn" on one of their tours.

[@ValentinaRodriguez-fz5eu]

I had forgotten how good they were , came across Mr Fantasy by change and I’m hooked on them again .. woww nothing like the musicians of that time .. real , true magical notes and sounds .. soo professional .. I salute them and bless them for ever and ever

[@Zepster77]

Love this band so much. This piece with Steve and Jim recounting what happened is also very very special

[@airtow6766]

No matter how it came together, you guys wrote and made some of the greatest music ever. Thank You for that!

[@kevinbrucestevens7747]

They really did. True talent born for it.

[@coenfilm]

I loved all of Traffics music especially Low Spark of the High Heeled Boys when it came out. I love it all. Get the album and just enjoy it.

[@karenholliday2703]

Stevie's and Clapton's music were the songs of my life and still are

[@roarander7426]

My Mr music Steve Winwood talks about Traffic, which was a rock/blues and jazzband that made them known in the whole modern music world. Traffic is dead long ago, but the central figure is still rocking more than 70 years old looking 60 and is a central figure in keeping the synthesis of rock and roll, blues, and jazz alive. Thanks for hanging on in the variety of modern music.

[@julieraymond482]

From what I read about how Dave Mason wanted them only as a backing group_ not a collective of songwriters ,I can appreciate them not commenting on this.Classy,unlike now,where everything is open for public scrutiny. We have become so accustomed to talk show trash,that all some seem to want is dirt on somebody else.Great to know some would not fall for this.

[@pretorious700]

RIP Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood.

[@TD06071951]

......and Dave Mason.

[@TheMindOrchestra]

Traffic for me was always a special band and sound they got. Very few managed to cross pollinate so many styles with so much class. To get together before 67 and stay making music into the 70's was already quite an achievement. They had/ve a great sound. As a Brit I feel they encapsulated a very english sound of psychedelia up there with the best of them. Tracks like 40 thousand headmen and Hidden Treasure represent this gorgeous acoustic funky ethnic feel that few bands managed to pull off let alone such treasures. Loved the folk feels too in the music that are there right from the word go too. A wonderful band one I never tire of listening too.

[@MA-iridium]

Outlandish artist,Stevie Winwood is always in my and my family's hearts, all his production is timeless...with all our admiration,,,God bless Stevie always for all the joy he has brought to millions of humans, not just me!!!!!

[@rocketpost1]

Great mini-doc but I wish it could have been longer. I could have watched this for hours. Steve has one of rock's great voices and I've loved him since I first heard Keep on Runnin'. I remember there was an early B side (sorry young people) called Blues in F where Stevie as he was then known played a marvellous guitar instrumental. I think he was 14 at the time. I'm 71 now and still can't play as well as Steve did in the early 60s. I keep trying trying though. I think some people are naturally talented. Dear Mr Fantasy is a very underrated song and always sounds fresh to me. Another favourite is No Name, No Face, No number. Thanks Steve for all the great music that you have been involved with.

[@stacyblue1980]

Traffic never gets old. Still blows my mind.

[@alexanderbchoek9607]

It takes me back to another world.thank you guys.

[@allancollins1531]

stacyblue1980 always a favourite band.played the l.p. To death. .

[@leannefrances8243]

Traffic was so original it changed my perception of life when I hear their music it transports me to the 70 s the freedom and excitement of life 😍💗

[@ValentinaRodriguez-fz5eu]

Absolutely agree

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Made me leave that Noodle Factory.

[@enduringnomad8385]

Thank you for a lifetime of great, enjoyable music Steve. The music of my youth

[@garythecrow3935]

Some of the best music of our time.....

[@kooperknebel4357]

I had the great pleasure of seeing Traffic three times when they came through Chicago in the early 1970's. Me and my mates were huge fans. We had all their records and played their music in our band. I have the absolute, ultimate respect for Steve Winwood. He's a huge part of my life.

[@mikeorclem]

happy times

[@justpeachy4938]

What was the name of your band? Did you play live gigs? Be interested to hear. Be well, play on!

[@macmcdowell4417]

"I have the absolute, ultimate respect for Steve Winwood." - Ditto. Winwood's ascension was guaranteed based just on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm A Man". His Hammond B3 riffs and singing at 16, 17 were phenomenal. I got to see Traffic at the Fillmore East in '68? His first solo record has always had a special place in my heart. His solo work, like Traffic, is underrated. It might be said that some of it is close to syrupy, but coming from Steve W., it's always genuine.

[@mysteriousplankton]

A very unique band. The songs never get old because they are timeless.

[@NolalanD]

Love these guys! Steve had so much balls when he was young "it's that the public has to try and accept us." So true about the white artists sort of picking a black artist to be like (I always thought Winwood was the white Ray Charles: Ray could sing anything and make it sound like it had soul, and so could Steve). RIP Campaldi , Wood, and Miller. Miller is the unsung genius of this whole scene and I am thinking of writing a screenplay about him!.

[@davidgibbs381]

Yeah, DO IT!! Title it: "Mister Jimmy" !!

[@if6was929]

Just hearing the opening notes of Mr. Fantasy in a radio advertisement for the album made me realize Traffic was something special and the group immediately became one of my favorites. Mr. Fantasy was a state of mind, a wonderful, happy and friendly place to be. The imagery in Traffic's songs is so evocative, vibrant and compelling, it was a place I wanted to return to over and over again. They captured a special aspect of the zeitgeist which made them seem like they were on the same journey as everyone else in the counterculture.

[@richardo5951]

Beautifully stated. I feel the same way about Traffic and their place in the story of my generation. And I always liked the way that Paper Sun took a playfully sardonic look at psychedelia. "Too much sun will burn " being one example. Mr.Fantasy is ,in my view, one of the greatest debut albums from that period.The best songs on it are both of their time and timeless.

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Sixpence for the phone. Screw inflation ay ?

[@tobyomeeng]

Bittersweet indeed, it brings so many Beautiful vibes back...love your voice Steve, it thrills my soul..

[@MarkTyner-e8g]

It's an honor here just to see and hear Jim.

[@cosmicretrouniverse]

This Man Steve Winwood is a Genius ..look him up ..Spencer Davis Group .. Then ...Formed This Great Band Called TRAFFIC .. i do recall as a kid hearing Paper Sun on an old vintage record player ..Then .. I discovered Music .. Beatles were good but ..But Hey These guys were very very Good ..above anyone else ...

[@krugmeister7301]

Steve Winwood was Also in BLIND FAITH....🙌🏼🙌🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@risahall554]

Carlos Krueger after Traffic

[@lisamoroney3036]

Not for long 😩

[@markhunter8554]

@@risahall554 After Traffic and before Traffic.

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Still plays with Old Slowhand. Good mates, too.

[@bartonone2005]

"These were my very good friends, you know. And they're all gone, you know. So it's of course, it's a, 'tis a, it's, you know, sort of bittersweet, you know, return to...to remembering all these good times with friends who're no longer with us. Yeah? More bittersweet than I...I imagined it would be." That says it all right there. SW had me in tears. His grief evident as he stumbled over his words. Yet in typical stiff upper lip fashion, he gives an incongruous sweet smile as the camera cuts away.

[@davidgibbs381]

Jimmy Miller is a legend! The guy's so good that The Stones immortalize him in "You can't always get what you want". Never knew about him and Traffic!!

[@noelsalisbury7448]

The Tin Man was a Dreamer

[@mvxwelldemon]

one of the most criminally underrated 60’s bands

[@brötzmannsax]

Back in the 60's so many records were released for Christmas and I remember walking into a record store and bought Magical Mystery Tour and Mr. Fantasy in 1967 and had a mighty psychedelic Christmas!

[@kailuakidd1512]

Traffic was a great band. Cool documentary. Just happen to have Twenty Thousand Headmen on my trail. Cheers

[@geckonia]

Such a great band... thank you.

[@guywhitlock2829]

geckonia Amen Bro

[@JohmathanBSwift]

yes, thank you

[@EmeraldWoodArchives]

I've always wanted to know more about Chris Wood. He really seemed like talented and interesting fellow. Chris "Woodwind" Wood. Far out.

[@Thundergod-]

They erroneously had the year of death for Jim Capaldi as 2007 when it was 2005....

[@larryh.4629]

I turn 70 next month and last nite I turned my son on to you he will be a fan long after we are gone and hopefully pass great music onto his children . That's immortalized. Thank you .

[@denniswinters3096]

Dave Mason seems like the elephant in the room no-one mentions. I understand why, but to not give him a single mention seems a bit weird, a bit mean-spirited, really.

[@CyrusTaraporvala]

Thanks, Steve. Finally had the pleasure of hearing you in Auckland a few years ago. Your music has had a great influence on me from the early 70's till today. That 'free' state of mind has always remained :)

[@Bergz01]

A unique and eclectic bunch of musos - so many brilliant memories from my youth - Traffic was and remains my favourite band. Thank you for the everlasting memories of that is timeless and a joy to groove to.

[@paultarditi908]

The thing is unlike the average lives of most people, they're not all gone, they still live in the music they gave us.

[@randyjellen4938]

Wooowww. After watching this what a beautiful time it seemed like! It goes to show how different it was between generations/times. Try doing this today! The living together as a band, and only job was jamming any time you wanted during day/night, could sleep in an old cottage in country with just mattress on floor....SAFELY...lol. What a beautiful time it seemed. 🙂

[@wakkistefdakkimick2470]

Reading the comments, it's clear that not mentioning mr. Mason seems to be a great way to put attention on him.

[@denisedillon9727]

💞Steve Winwood/Traffic.

[@chrisshenzo2594]

What a treat to see. Steve is still so rightfully beloved, and such an amazing talent, but Jim ,Chris and Dave earned a special place all their own that's creatively head and shoulders above so much of what their era produced. I'll never tire of their music!

[@sherrysteffen7765]

1-27-2024❤ Thank you for bring people knowelgeable Jesus Christ 3:25

[@arthurhunt642]

Everyone in this band stood out as a highly skilled musician. Together, absolute magic!

[@kenhabeeb]

My favorite band of all time. Very creative, unusual and cool music. Heaven Is In Your Mind and Paper Sun slay me. I will never tire of them. But in fact, due to the high standards of the boys, there were many great tunes, and equally interesting lyrics. I'll tell you what's truly amazing: Traffic, The Band, Cream, The Dead, the Stones, and Hendrix were all playing at the same time! What the hell, man! If you were paying attention, and you had a good ear, you couldn't go wrong. :)

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

Thanks, Steve, for more than a half-century of great music! 😎

[@stwads]

God bless Chris Wood & Jim Capaldi!

[@robertflowers6621]

I just went to a Steve Winwood concert two nights ago, he played several songs from his days with Traffic. Winwood at age 75 sounded every bit as good as he ever did!

[@douglasstewart518]

Winwood is maybe the greatest musician of any age!

[@51tomtomtom]

Great ! Even the end : Going to Australia with Hovercraft !!!! Stupid questions provoke such answers....

[@51tomtomtom]

Yes, thats what the old german saying means: stupid question ask for stupid answers ......

[@baconsledge]

Blind Faith was one of the first albums I had at age 15. Steve Winwood was amazing to hear for many decades thereafter!

[@johnbarleycorn4592]

Traffic was so into ethnic and different and yet they actually veered away from the Indian sounds that were prevalent and still did famously. Hats off.

[@MrPaladin123]

so Dave Mason couldn't be found to say a few words???

[@j40bob1]

They didn't want to find him.

[@johnjacobs1625]

Thx STEVE!! Been there Most all of the Journey!! JJ

[@bangersnmash4856]

My wife used to baby sit for Jim

[@vitosestito6772]

You guys were and are great! Thanks for the magic.

[@guneetlehl8098]

Mason so conspicuous by his absence !!!

[@bradode77]

Fully formed rock prodigy at 15 , went on from there.

[@andreagrifo]

great band. last summer I saw a Steve concert in Italy. touched my heart. thanks for Your music Sir

[@stevebaziuk7955]

the least they could have done, is give Mason a little credit..

[@seventhsamuel]

Exactly what I was thinking. Flaws and all, Mason still had something important to lend, and seems to be respectful and acknowledges Winwoods talent. What is Steve's hangup with Dave?

[@hannealbrechtsen461]

Mason is part of Traffics early history. Why silence his contributions? Says more about the rest of the guys than about mr mMason...

[@toomuchrose]

Why? The bloke is a pompous arsehole.

[@TheMindOrchestra]

People fall out loose friendships have disputes that can run entire lifetimes - maybe he didnt want to be in it - none of us know the details - why not just focus on appreciating the music. People loose touch people change their feelings and ideas on others- we all have reasons- who are any of us to judge and pass judgement. Great music great band cool mini-doco.

[@ricklewis5804]

Steve Baziuk Might be the editing.process of the video, got edited out maybe?

[@jimklein9606]

One mention of Dave Mason…seems a tad petty to me to not include his significant contributions.

[@MariaLucia-vl9oy]

UMA DAS MAIORES BANDAS PRA MIM SEMPRE. COM UMA FORMAÇÃO INCRÍVEL, TINHA SWING, PROGRESSIVO, ROCK, JAZZ ETC. UMA MISTURA PERIGOSA PORQUE FICA DIFÍCIL IDENTIFICAR O GÊNERO, MAS COM OS INGREDIENTES CERTOS E GÊNIOS NO COMANDO SE TRANSFORMA EM. TRAFFIC.

[@maazvdo]

Really special sonority! Traffic! Thanks for share.

[@michaelknight4041]

To me the brits made something even better out of thier blues influence. I like the older blues music but i love the British rock that came out of it

[@ZipSlipHollingbrook]

I love Steve Winwood. He was like 12 when all this went down. Will music ever be like this again?

[@Steadylife2]

Thank you for sharing this documentary! You are legend!

[@brucevair-turnbull8082]

I can't but notice the elephant in the room here: Dave Mason. 🤔

[@cameronleuthy2429]

Thank you. The history, telling it now, is important

[@frank2778]

It’s all quite simple: hook up with Winwood and it will all workout.

[@marcwordsmith]

yes, great band. Magic album. Loved it and still love it all these years later. BUT ... I mean ... come on. What is this, the Soviet Union? Did they just air brush Dave Mason's contributions right out of the story? I mean, am I the ONLY one who LOVED (and still LOVES) songs like "Hole in My Shoe" and "Crying to Be Heard"??

[@blackmore4]

@Rudy Overlord But Winwood saying, _"these were my good friends and they're all gone"_ is going a bit far, no? I agree with Marc Polonsky, Mason was a key part of the group while he was with them.

[@musicplateau1]

I think there is bad blood between Mason and Winwood that goes back years. Steve still circumnavigates Dave to this day. There must have been a whopping elephant in the room when they went to RRHOF ceremony.

[@John2E0GTU]

Mr Winwood also airbrushed Paper Sun out of the story. Hence why it is only in the Greatest Hits albums.

[@fauxbro]

@@musicplateau1 Dave didn't play with Traffic when a dispute of whether he could play electric guitar or just bass was not resolved. The Hall reached a compromise wherein Mason led the finale of Feelin' All Right when all the inductees participated

[@rickprokop6797]

Interesting that there is no mention of Dave Mason who is in many of the early photos with the group at the country house and is still very much alive. Traffic played at the Central Park Bandshell in, I believe, September of 1968. They were introduced by John Zacherle from WNEW whom I think were the sponsors of the event. Needless to say the concert was mind-blowing! I believe Dave Mason was on bass. I didn't know him at the time because the second album hadn't come out yet, and there wasn't a photo of him anywhere on the first US album.

[@konakuzo]

Thank you for this Steve. Saw Dave Mason's Traffic Jam in Honokaa, Hawaii in 2015. He's alive and kicking. What a great, nice guy.

[@DYNODRUM]

The, members of Traffic are , so called : Visionaries that transformed Their Musical abilities ,ideas, etc, Weaving it all in to the lasting Future

[@blackmore4]

_"These were my very good friends... and they're all gone"_ ?? Is Dave Mason dead too? Actually, when Windwood and Capaldi were discussing Traffic's strengths, they were full of praise for each other and Chris Wood but not one word about Mason. I'm guessing there must have been a big falling out. What about?

[@Flowmotion1000]

blackmore4 Dave Mason, I've read, eventually wanted to write separately rather than collectively with the band and this, I think, caused the ructions.

[@Man777Alive]

Felt his pain at the end there, great talents.

[@tquire5]

Maybe the best show I've been to, Steve Winwood at the Ryman Auditorium here in Nashville. I had perfect seats (a Christmas gift from my wife). Everyone goes to the Ryman to listen to the music, not like going for the show, ya know? Very intimate, acoustically great place to listen and I got to hear Steve Winwood and his band do Everything from Spencer Davis, Traffic, and his solo work... What a deserving Icon of music! Thanks Steve

[@hhenryf.8]

Great doc of one of the all-time great bands! Dear Mr. Traffic, you wrote and played the soundtrack of our lives at a time in our lives that was unparalleled! And in doing so, you made us all ha-ppy! God bless and keep you all, always!

[@markacohen1]

Love to hear these guys describing what they wanted to do and how they did it...freedom and togetherness was at the heart of it...they truly succeeded in what they set out to do musically...that is pretty rare in life...even if it didn't last nearly long enough...love Winwood's brummie accent, so reflective and quietly joyful

[@Chuttanooga]

Until today I listen to Traffic more or less over time on my old records. The melodies are so timeless. You made me happy!

[@hdgboy]

It’s a shame that Steve and Dave didn’t get along. So much so that Steve doesn’t even recognize Dave as a member of the group. When Steve is looking at the album cover and says that they are all gone, it’s clear that Dave is on the album cover and he’s not dead. There must have been one heck of a falling out between them because Steve doesn’t recognize Dave to this day. I thought Dave’s early contributions were excellent. But I think Traffic continued to get better. Still one of my favorite bands.

[@blackmore4]

@Rudy Overlord Interesting comment - I didn't know any of that. For me, Traffic are weird. Mr. Fantasy is one of my my favourite albums of all time but even the second album veers towards being a bit too Dad-rock for me. And now I know why! The more they jammed and the longer the songs got, the more I disliked them and the sharper and more 'pop' they were, the more I liked them. Then again, I love the Winwood & Capaldi songs quite as much as the Mason ones on Mr. Fantasy... so I'm still confused.

[@marykatelesnett2846]

Saw an interview with Dave and he said that they couldn't agree on the direction the music was going. Apparently, Capaldi and Winwood worked together and Chris didn't have much to say, so Mason's ideas were ignored. This after his songs were the only ones on the first two albums that made the band any money. I saw Mason in the late 70's and he played for about 1 1/2 hours with an obvious sore throat. He stopped the show and said he'd come back and play a full show at the end of his tour. He came back and played for 3 hours a number of months later. If they all could have just gotten along, who knows what they would have created.

[@julieraymond482]

Just because someone is still alive,does not always mean you are still friends.People drift apart all the time,and many times,it is over personality differences ,or opinion differences ,or both .The fact that you rarely hear any of Mason's songs ,beyond"We Just Disagree" is saying something.Whereas,Steve Winwood had "Higher Love", "While You See A Chance","Valerie","One And Only Man",etc.is very telling here.At least to me.Also,he seems to be someone who tries to work with whoever he is with,something you can't t do with everyone.

[@paulhumberstone4843]

thankyou steve for all your wonderful music you have given us your up there with the very best

[@stevewinwoodvideos]

Thanks for listening

[@giftedplanksify]

We know that Dave Mason is still around. Dude you still Jam with him in Ojai!! C'mon man

[@giftedplanksify]

@Gisselle ST no just a Steve winwood sighting at the ojai post office by some dude I know around 10 years ago and that they were jamming at Dave's place ( nothing to see here, move along)

[@noelsalisbury7448]

❤️

[@birdzzzondayflu2489]

Great reference to Robert Johnson after 2:04

[@randyrick8019]

Well. Dave Mason only gets mentioned once or twice in passing, and one mostly sees his back or not at all. He's there. but alnost invisible.

[@marcwordsmith]

no, he's never mentioned at all. I was hoping for a mention. It saddens me that they left him out of the story. Decreases my respect for Steve Winwood, one of my favorite musicians ever.

[@lopezb]

Mason had a great solo album, Alone Together. I think he and Steve are the only ones still around...

[@TheGman858]

@Rudy Overlord I think he also quit the band on several occasions

[@jrblanton9284]

Incorrect. They mention Dave Mason at 0:30 and the band he was in at the time. That is a mention, even if a brief one.

[@brownieboy401]

@@jrblanton9284 Yeah, but that's it. A bit mean. He wrote their biggest hit single, Hole In My Shoe, and probably their most well-known song, Feelin' Alright.

[@phillipdias6390]

I was born and raised on with Traffics music from the age of 2 and now t 56 enjoy to the fullest God bless Chris Jones any time I here a flute I think of him and Steve voice is signature

[@julieraymond482]

Probably,because of past problems between them from before,maybe they thought he would overshadow them by making it about him,and his vision for the group possibly ,instead of a group where they shared equally the songwriting ,etc.

[@tomriley6957]

First two albums were a huge influence on me in late 60's, but for me went downhill after Dave Mason left.

[@noelsalisbury7448]

You gotta catch 'Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory' and 'John Barleycorn must die ' and finally 'Low Spark of High Heeled Boys '. The others , some good tracks, others not so good. But plz get the 3 mentioned

[@dommccaffry3802]

Not even a mention for mason ; must be bad blood

[@risahall554]

What 11 crazies give a thumbs down to the greatest band ever

[@giorgioclavelli1757]

"Going to Australia by hovercraft" Fantastic!! you'r my hero matey!!!

[@onegoodjoe]

When it's real, you FEEL it!

[@SHALAt22]

I first heard Dear Mr. Fantasy when I was a teenager. I was experimenting with pot and I interpreted the song to mean something about an altered state of consciousness, like being on drugs. Steve Winwood's vocal and melody was key. John Lennon wrote happiness is a warm gun and it also resonated the same way.

[@jamesooley8771]

almost every photo excludes Dave Mason

[@frankmackey2419]

Removed all the advertising ( like the ubiquitous " Marshall " from amps) from all the gear letting nothing interfere with the music...just music.

[@johnwells1015]

I was a naive 11 year old kid when I first heard Gimme Some Lovin in the mid 60’s, and I’m embarrassed to say I thought it was a Black singer.

[@imsgoalie1]

I'm still not sure to this day.

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Jackie Edwards did it first.

[@silaslang688]

Who hasn't wanted to go to Australia ,by hover-craft? Doesn't really matter where you are from.

[@lynnehammar5350]

Wow, what a great retrospective from such accomplished, down-to-earth legends. I would love to hear musicians detail their collaborations in more detail - like, did Steve Winwood ever work with Alan Parsons or David Bowie, etc.?

[@parallaxcontinuum7898]

Sooooo grateful I saw them live ,in their original line up that summer of 1970.