Rock Trailblazers Traffic Saluted With New 6LP Box Set
The collection features all of the British band’s groundbreaking work between 1967 and 1974.
A 6LP vinyl box set containing all of the 1960s and ’70s albums by seminal rock trailblazers Traffic will be released by Island/UMC on 17 May. The Studio Albums 1967-1974 is the first-ever vinyl box set celebrating their work, and includes original artwork plus a rare facsimile promo poster for each disc.
The collection begins with Mr. Fantasy, the band’s debut set released in December 1967 in the wake of their dynamic arrival with three top ten UK hit singles, ‘Paper Sun,’ ‘Hole In My Shoe’ and ‘Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush.’ None of these were included on the LP, which appeared in America as Heaven Is In Your Mind, but it did feature Traffic’s next 45, ‘No Face, No Name, No Number.’
Their self-titled sophomore record followed in October 1968, when Dave Mason had returned to the fold following his departure at the beginning of that year. He wrote or co-wrote half of its ten songs including the celebrated ‘Feelin’ Alright?’; Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood also all wrote for the LP, which notably featured Winwood and Capaldi’s ‘Forty Thousand Headmen.’
July 1970’s John Barleycorn Must Die was a bold shift to a more overtly folk-influenced sound, much admired in particular for its near title track ‘John Barleycorn (Must Die)’ as well as ‘Glad’ and ‘Empty Pages.’ Late 1971 brought the progressive rock landmark The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, which eventually became a platinum-certified disc in America and saw Traffic become a favourite of FM radio there.
Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory followed it into the US top ten in 1973, solely produced like its predecesor by Winwood. Traffic completed their initial run of album releases with 1974’s When The Eagle Flies, produced this time by Island boss Chris Blackwell and another top ten US success.
The band went on to pursue solo endeavours, with Winwood and Capaldi reuniting once more under the Traffic name in the 1990s. The Studio Albums 1967-1974 serves as a reminder of their singular eclecticism and fearless invention.
The Studio Albums 1967-1974 is released on 17 May. Scroll down for the full tracklisting, and pre-order it here.
Mr Fantasy LP
Side A
1. Heaven Is In Your Mind
2. Berkshire Poppies
3. House For Everyone
4. No Face, No Name, No Number
5. Dear Mr. Fantasy
Side B
1. Dealer
2. Utterly Simple
3. Coloured Rain
4. Hope I Never Find Me There
5. Giving To You
Traffic LP
Side A
1. You Can All Join In
2. Pearly Queen
3. Don’t Be Sad
4. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
5. Feelin’ Alright?
Side B
1. Vagabond Virgin
2. Forty Thousand Headmen
3. Cryin’ To Be Heard
4. No Time To Live
5. Means To An End
John Barleycorn Must Die LP
Side A
1. Glad
2. Freedom Rider
3. Empty Pages
Side B
1. Stranger To Himself
2. John Barleycorn
3. Every Mother’s Son
Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory LP
Side A
1. Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory
2. Roll Right Stones
Side B
1. Evening Blue
2. Tragic Magic
3. (Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired
The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys LP
Side A
1. Hidden Treasure
2. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
3. Rock ‘n’ Roll Stew
Side B
1. Many A Mile To Freedom
2. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
3. Rainmaker
When The Eagle Flies LP
Side A
1. Something New
2. Dream Gerrard
3. Graveyard People
Side B
1. Walking In The Wind
2. Memories Of A Rock N’ Rolla
3. Love
4. When The Eagle Flies
Explore our Traffic Artist Page.
UK English
Nate
April 5, 2019 at 6:52 pm
What’s the sources for the vinyl? It says from original master tapes in some postings but doesn’t specify if The vinyl was made from high-res digital transfers or all analog sources. This would be helpful in making a purchasing decision.
Joe
April 5, 2019 at 9:06 pm
Where’s Last Exit?
Ian
April 6, 2019 at 9:58 am
Erm, last exit. Where is it? Half of it was a studio album.
Fred De Sena
April 13, 2019 at 3:45 pm
Exactly huge oversite!!!
Fred De Sena
April 13, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Exactly! Major Fux Pas!