Tower Of Power - East Bay Grease (1970 us, excellent jazz funk brass rock)

Tower's musical odyssey actually began in 1968 when Emilio Castillo met Stephen Doc Kupka in July of that year. When Doc auditioned during a band rehearsal at Emilio's house, Emilio's father called him into the kitchen and offered the following advice: Hire that guy, he's got something. Doc and his signature baritone sax sound were now in the band, and on August 13, 1968, Tower of Power, as we know them today, began playing gigs, and soon became very well known in the area.

Many other bands came out of the San Francisco Bay area in the late 60's. Bands like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Big Brother, Journey, Cold Blood and others all helped to define the San Francisco Sound. Tower of Power has always claimed Oakland, California as their hometown. Playing area venues and making a name for themselves, Tower of Power's big break was just around the corner.

After playing at a Tuesday night audition at the Fillmore in 1970, Tower was signed to Bill Graham’s San Francisco records and their first album, “East Bay Grease,” was recorded. All of the compositions were original tunes written by Castillo and Kupka.

Tower Of Power

Tracks
1. Knock Yourself Out - 7:10
2. Social Lubrication - 7:24
3. The Price - 6:10
4. Back On The Streets Again - 5:51
5. The Skunk, The Goose, And The Fly - 5:50
6. Sparkling In The Sand (Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, Lawrence Lopez) - 9:05
All selections written by Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka, except where noted

Tower Of Power
*Rufus Miller - Lead Vocals (Except Sparkling)
*Emilio (Mimi) Castillo - Alto Sax,Vocals,And Extra Greasy Vocals On The Skunk
*Dave Garibaldi - Drums,Vibes,Background Vocals
*Greg Adams - First Trumpet
*Steve Kupka - The Funky Doctor - Baritone Sax,Background Vocals
*Skip Mesquite - Tenor Sax,Flute,Vocals
*David Padron - Second Trumpet
*Frank Prestia - Bass
*Rick Stevens - Lead Vocal On Sparkling In The Sand, Background Vocals
*Willy Fulton - Guitar, Background Vocals
Mellow Side Orders
*Mic Gillette - Trumpet, Trombone, Flugelhorn Solo On Sparkling In The Sand
*Ken Balzell - Trumpet

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Fashion Pink - To Brainstorm (1970-71 germany, astonishing heavy psych experimental prog rock, 2000 issue)

The origins of Fashion Pink can be traced back to the experiences of three schoolmates from Baden-Baden, southwest Germany, who decided to form a contemporary underground progressive rockband, having already played in various beat groups.

Fashion Pink was formed in 1968 by Roland Schaeffer (saxophones, vibraphone, guitar, bass, vocals), Eddy von Overheidt (organ, piano, vocals) and Joe Koinzer (drums, percussion). This line-up was completed by Jürgen Argast (bass) and Helmut Ruesch (guitar). After a few month, Jürgen and Helmut left and Rainer Bodensohn took over bass and flute. These young and enthusiastic musicians, all well educated on their instruments from an early age, developed a complex and refined music style. Influenced by the likes of Jethro Tull, Caravan, Soft Machine and Frank Zappa not to mention Jimi Hendrix, Beatles and Rolling Stones the boys created a varied and exciting music, which diverged from the well-travelled tracks of kraut and progressive rock. After only a few gigs, the musicians had gained a considerable local reputation, but were hungry for more.

At that time, Rainer's father was as a flutist with the Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra, while Eddys father was involved with the Baden-Baden casino orchestra both of which had strong ties with SWF-radio station. In 1969 SWF started their talent search for up-and-coming bands organised by presenter Walther Krause. It was not surprising that Fashion Pink became the first young band in a long series recording sessions for SWF. Walther Krause appreciated Fashion Pink's work especially the talent of Roland Schaeffer so much, that he engaged him as a producer for further bands in the sessions series.

All in all, Fashion Pink were invited four times to record under live/studio conditions at SWF-studio U1 in Baden-Baden. During their sessions in 1970 and 1971 Fashion Pink recorded some cover versions in addition to their own material.

This collection concentrates on their own compositions and shows the band's development from song-oriented psychedelic material to more complex arrangements, which ended in epics in excess of ten minutes (titles such as "Thesen-Antithesen" and "Brainstorming"). Copies of the sessions were sent to concert agents and to various German labels. This added to the band's reputation and Fashion Pink played at the first Straßbourg festival in early 1971, this was followed by further festivals and many gigs in southwest Germany in and around the french border.

Following a gig in early 1971 their van was involved in an accident  from which Harald Wagner (bass) never entirely recovered forcing him to leave the band. Harald had joined Fashion Pink at the end of 1970 allowing Roland and Rainer to concentrate on their own main instruments. The remaining members decided to continue as a quartett and change the group's name. Second choice "Fashion Prick" caused trouble when the band tried to sign a record deal and Roland suggested the name "Brainstorm".

German label Intercord accepted and offered them a two album contract. In October 1972 Brainstorm released their first album "Smile A While" followed by "Second Smile" in summer 1973 ... but that's another story.

Roland Schaeffer is the only founding member of Fashion Pink still active in the music business, playing guitar and saxes in one of Germanys most famous progressiv rock bands Guru Guru.

by Manfred Steinheuer, September 2000 

Tracks
1. You Make Me Crying (Roland Schaeffer) - 3:23
2. Cry In The Morning (Roland Schaeffer) - 4:04
3. Einzug Der Elefanten (Arrival Of The Elephants) (Roland Schaeffer, Rainer Bodensohn) - 2:45
4. You See (Eddy Von Overheidt) - 2:45
5. Number Six (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt, Rainer Bodensohn, Joe Koinzer) - 5:54
6. Why Am I So Blind (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt, Joe Koinzer) - 5:31
7. Shit Is Nothing Changing (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt, Rainer Bodensohn, Joe Koinzer) - 5:04
8. Watch Time Flows By (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt) - 3:05
9. You Knock Me Out (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt, Rainer Bodensohn, Joe Koinzer) - 3:05
10.Herbst (Autumn) (Roland Schaeffer, Rainer Bodensohn) - 3:29
11.Brainstorming (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt, Rainer Bodensohn, Joe Koinzer) - 10:23
12.Thesen-Antithesen (Roland Schaeffer, Eddy Von Overheidt) - 13:57

The Fashion Pink
*Roland Schaeffer - Saxophones, Vibraphone, Guitar, Bass, Vocals
*Eddy Von Overheidt - Organ, Piano, Vocals
*Joe Koinzer - Drums, Percussion
*Jürgen Argast - Bass
*Helmut Ruesch - Guitar
*Rainer Bodensohn - Bass, Flute

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Sameti - Hungry For Love (1974 germany, great tough raw 'n' roll, 2010 digi pak remaster)

Sameti was founded in 1970 by the late Shrat (Christian Thiele, ex-Amon Düül) & Harris Johns in Munich/Germany and became part of the so called "German Underground". They played at the legendary PN-club in Minich and a couple of festivals like the first "Herzberg" Festival and the "Erstes deutsches progesssives Popfestival" at the Sportpalast in Berlin. 

After a few month Shrat left the band. The rest carried on as a trio, but only for some month. 

The original band produced a music with trippy Amon Düül II and Hawkwind stylings, and is especially notable for the stunning improvised side-long work "Anotherwaytosee Improvisation". Shrat's vocals, only heard rarely in Amon Düül II, come across as most strange, adding a unique touch to a highly derivative blend of Krautrock styles.

Tracks
1. Intro - 1:25
2. Do You Really Love Me - 2:57
3. We're Gonna Make You Feel Allright - 3:27
4. Sweet Angel - 5:43
5. Peppermint Bar - 2:49
6. Ain't Got No Peace - 4:16
7. Save Me - 3:43
8. I'm Not A Looser - 3:49
9. Baby Please Love Me - 4:15
10.More And More - 8:41
All songs by Christian Thiele, Jorg Evers, Bernd Weber, Robby Heibl

The Sameti
*Christian Thiele (Shrat) - Lead Vocals
*Daniel Alumno - Drums
*Jorg Evers - Guitar, Vocals
*Robby Heibl - Bass, Vocals
*Bernd Weber - Guitar, Vocals

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Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Live In White Lake, NY (1969 us, awesome blues brass rock, 2015 release)

This is a part of Rock 'n' Roll Music History, recordings made in Woodstock 1969 (last day on August 18th), including a couple of unreleased songs.

Tracks
1. Intro 01:07
2. Born Under A Bad Sign (William Bell, Booker T. Jones) - 13:38
3. No Amount Of Loving (Paul Butterfield) - 6:12
4. Driftin’ And Driftin’ (Charles Brown, Johnny Moore, Eddie Williams) - 12:08
5. Morning Sunrise (Paul Butterfield, Philip Wilson) - 8:00
6. All In A Day (Rod Hicks) - 9:03
7. Love March (Gene Dinwiddie, Philip Wilson) - 10:07
8. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright ("Little" Walter Jacobs) - 9:58

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
*Paul Butterfield - Vocals, Harmonica, Piano
*Buzzy Feiten - Guitar
*Rod Hicks - Fretless Bass, Background Vocals
*Philip Wilson - Drums
*Ted Harris - Keyboards
*Keith Johnson - Trumpet
*Steve Madaio - Trumpet, Background Vocals
*Gene Dinwiddie - Soprano, Tenor Sax, Background Vocals, Lead Vocal (Track 7)
*Trevor Lawrence - Bariton Sax, Background Vocals

Paul Butterfield's mosaic
1964  The Original Lost Elektra Sessions
1965  The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
1966  East West
1966  East-West  (2014 Audio Fidelity Hybrid SACD) 
1966-68  Strawberry Jam
1967  The Resurrection Of The Pigboy Crabshaw
1968  In My Own Dream
1969  Keep On Moving
1970  Live 
1970  Live Vol.2 
1971  Sometimes I Just Feel Like Smilin' (2015 Release)
1973  Paul Butterfield's Better Days
1973  Live At Winterland Ballroom (2014 issue)
1973  It All Comes Back (Japan Edition)
1976  Put It In Your Ear (2015 Edition)

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Procol Harum - Procol Harum (1967 uk, gorgeous psychedelic rock with baroque and prog tinges, 2015 deluxe double disc set and 2012 japan HQCD expanded issue)

The self-titled Procol Harum marked the album debut of the band then consisting of Gary Brooker (vocals/piano), Robin Trower (guitar), Matthew Fisher (organ), David Knights (bass) and B.J. Wilson (drums).  (Brooker, Trower and Wilson had all previously played in The Paramounts, the group that scored a minor U.K. hit in 1964 with Leiber and Stoller’s “Poison Ivy.”)  With all but the closing track, Fisher’s “Repent Walpurgis,” penned by the team of composer Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid, Procol Harum heralded bold new voices in the British rock scene with its progressive blend of psychedelia, classical and blues idioms.  

The LP, produced by Denny Cordell and released on Regal Zonophone, had been preceded by two single releases.  May 1967’s “A Whiter Shade of Pale” reached No. 1 in the U.K. in June and stayed in that position for six weeks.  (Guitarist Ray Royer, whose tenure in the group was short-lived, played on “Whiter Shade.”)  “Homburg” then followed in October, making No. 6 on the pop chart.  Surprisingly by today’s standards, neither song was included on Procol Harum in the U.K., but “Whiter Shade” was added to the LP for its U.S. release.  It replaced “Good Captain Clack” in a reshuffled sequence.  “Whiter Shade” would make No. 5 in the U.S., with “Homburg” performing less impressively at No. 34.

Esoteric has Procol Harum, remastered from the original mono tapes (no stereo version exists), available in both 1-CD and 2-CD iterations.  The single disc has the original 10-track U.K. album plus four bonus tracks – the singles “A Whiter Shade of Pale” b/w “Lime Street Blues,” and “Homburg” b/w “Good Captain Clack.”  This edition is seven tracks short of Salvo’s 2009 version of this LP.  However, Esoteric also has the album in a 2-CD deluxe edition with 15 bonus tracks – seven of which are previously unreleased and two of which are making their CD debuts.  

The seven previously unreleased cuts encompass the band’s 1967 BBC performances for Top Gear and Easybeat.  The other bonuses include B-sides, alternate takes and stereo mixes.  Henry Scott-Irvine provides the new liner notes, and the 2-CD set also includes a facsimile promotional shop poster made for the release of the album in January 1968.

by Joe Marchese

Tracks

Disc One - Original Album Released as Regal Zonophone LRZ 1001 in January 1968

1. Conquistador - 2:33

2. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence - 3:21

3. Something Following Me - 3:33

4. Mabel - 1:50

5. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of) - 4:59

6. A Christmas Camel - 4:42

7. Kaleidoscope - 2:49

8. Salad Days (Are Here Again) - 3:33

9. Good Captain Clack - 1:25

10.Repent Walpurgis (Matthew Fisher) - 4:04

11.A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Single Version) (Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Keith Reid) - 4:04

12.Lime Street Blues (Single Version) - 2:50

13.Homburg (Single Version) - 3:52

14.Good Captain Clack (Single Version) - 1:28

15.Alpha - 3:50

16.Salad Days (Are Here Again) (Instrumental March 1967) - 4:12

17.Understandably Blue - 3:29

18.Pandora's Box (Instrumental) - 3:05

19.Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of) (Alternate Mono Mix) - 4:45

20.Something Following Me (Alternate Mono Mix) - 3:38

All Songs by Keith Reid, Gary Brooker except where noted

Bonus Tracks 11-20

Disc Two

1. A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Extended Early Version, March 1967) (Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Keith Reid) - 6:04

2. Homburg (Extended Stereo Version) - 5:33

3. Repent Walpurgis (Extended Stereo Version, August 1967) (Matthew Fisher) - 7:27

4. Conquistador (1971 Stereo Mix) - 2:39

5. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence (1971 Stereo Mix) - 3:27

6. Something Following Me (Stereo Mix) - 3:47

7. Mabel (Undubbed Stereo Mix) - 1:55

8. Kaleidoscope (Stereo Mix) - 3:08

9. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of) (Stereo Mix) - 5:23

10.Homburg (1971 Stereo Mix) - 3:56

11.Morning Dew (Bonnie Dobson, Tim Rose) - 3:11

12.A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Keith Reid) - 5:12

13.Mabel - 1:37

14.Homburg - 3:50

15.Good Captain Clack - 1:17

16.She Wandered Through The Garden Fence - 3:12

17.Kaleidoscope - 2:27

All Songs by Keith Reid, Gary Brooker except where stated

Tracks 11-13 BBc "Easybeat" Session, June 1967

Tracks 14-17 BBC "Top Gear" Session, September 1967

Victor Japan Hqcd 2012 Edition

1. Conquistador - 2:35

2. She Wandered Through The Garden Fence - 3:22

3. Something Polliwog Me - 3:34

4. Mabel - 1:51

5. Cerdes (Outside The Gates Of) - 5:00

6. A Christmas Camel - 4:43

7. Kaleidoscope – 2:49

8. Salad Days (Are Here Again) - 3:34

9. Good Captain Clack - 1:26

10.Repent Walpurgis (Matthew Fisher) - 4:55

11.A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Gary Brooker, Matthew Fisher, Keith Reid) - 4:06

12.Lime Street Blues - 2:51

13.Homburg - 3:53

14.Good Captain Clack - 1:29

15.Il Tuo Diamante - 3:23

16.Understandably Blue - 3:30

17.Pandora's Box - 3:43

18.Alpha - 3:48

19.Conquistador - 2:38

20.She Wandered Through The Garden Fence - 3:25

21.Homburg - 3:54

All Songs by Keith Reid, Gary Brooker except where indicated

Procol Harum
*Matthew Fisher - Organ
*Dave Knights - Bass
*B.J. Wilson - Drums
*Robin Trower - Guitar
*Gary Brooker - Piano and Vocals
*Keith Reid - Lyrics
On "A Whiter Shade of Pale" only
*Ray Royer (in place of Trower) - Guitar
*Bill Eyden (in place of Wilson) - Drums

Related Act
1973-76  Robin Trower - Tale Untold, Chrysalis Years (3 disc box-set, 2010 remaster bonus tracks issue)

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Brain Police - San Diego's Only Psychedelic Cops (1964-69 us, magnificent rough garage psych rock, 2000 extra tracks issue)

So much great music gets banished to the vaults, and that includes Brain Police’s demo album. Recorded in 1968, the disc should have fallen into the mitts of a major label, but apparently the stars were simply not aligned the moment the project materialized.

The album, which though reissued in 2000 by Shadoks Music is now duly deemed a real rarity, has been reissued a few times here and there, but there’s no argument this collection is the finest of the pack.

Chock full of hard and heavy action, Brain Police clearly had its sights set on attracting the burgeoning underground market of the day. Not only were the San Diego, California band’s chops on fire, but they also had the songs to match such flash and fury. Comprised of original compositions, Brain Police continually showcases how imaginative the group was when it came to cobbling together compact arrangements and crowning them with muscular melodies.

The interplay between the smoking guitars, fierce drumming and crunchy keyboards is truly something to behold. Powerful vocals, quaking with emotion fit perfectly with the band’s bold and brash stance.

Spilling forth with catchy curves that curl round and round, “Election For Mayor”/”Ride My Train Of Love” further zones in on the band’s knack for harmonizing. Charted of sweeping rhythms and jittery breaks, “I’ll Be On The Inside If I Can” partners psychedelic motifs with progressive rock patterns, while “Getting Too Much Higher” and “My World Of Wax” tremble and explode with dazed and confused illusions devised of teeth-gnashing acid-baked riffs.

Shades of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, Blue Cheer and even the Who frequently arise in the grooves of Brain Police, but originality is definitely at a premium. The band’s character and personality shines through on each track, leaving the listener impressed and breathless.

As the cherry on the sundae, the record features singles the group cut prior to evolving into Brain Police. First known as the Man-Dells, the band demonstrates their affection for the swinging sounds of Merseybeat to charming effects on “Bonnie” and “Oh No.”

The group soon changed their name to the Other Four, turned into a hot local act and delivered superb efforts like the moody, Byrds flavored “Searching For My Love,” the sparkly Hollies styled “These Are The Words” and “Once And For All Girl,” a springy garage pop rocker sure to woo “Nuggets” and “Pebbles” fans.

by Beverly Paterson

Tracks
1. Election For Mayor / Ride My Train Of Love - 5:18
2. I'll Be On The Inside, If I Can (Rick Randle) - 3:27
3. I'd Rather See You Dead (Rick Randle) - 3:50
4. Find Me A Moment - 2:59
5. Getting Too Much Higher - 3:42
6. Adler (Rick Randle) - 3:30
7. Gypsy Fast Woman (Rick Randle) - 5:54
8. I'll Find Love - 4:21
9. There's A Light Over The City - 2:39
10.My World Of Wax - 3:16
11.World Of Wax - 2:42
12.Smoking At Windsor Hill - 3:02
13.Bonnie - 2:51
14.Oh No - 2:06
15.Why? - 2:12
16.Searching For My Love - 2:08
17.These Are The Words - 2:00
18.Once And For All Girl - 2:15
19.Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night - 2:12
20.How Do You Tell A Girl - 2:30
All songs by  Norman Lombardo except where stated
Tracks 13-14 as The Man-Dells
Tracks 15-20 as The Other Four

The Brain Police
*Norman Lombardo - Vocals, Bass
*David Randle - Lead Guitar
*Rick Randle - Vocals, Organ, Guitar
*Sid Smith - Drums
With
*Benny Bennett - Percussion

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Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die (1970 uk, superb classic album, japan SHM and 2011 deluxe double disc edition)

After disbanding the original version of Traffic, a 22 year old Steve Winwood emerged from the tumultuous over-hype and eventual self-combustion of Blind Faith in 1970 still owing Island records two albums. Initially conceived as his first solo project, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist quickly called in Traffic cohorts drummer Jim Capaldi and reed man Chris Wood to help flesh out the sound. The result was the reformation of Traffic (minus Dave Mason) and a top five entry in the US charts, the act’s best selling and highest ranking stateside set at the time.

Forty-one years later, it holds up remarkably well. This deluxe edition spiffs up the sound with terrific remastering, keeping the original six track, 35 minute program on disc one and adding a second platter with three alternate takes (worthwhile for collectors but hardly essential) along with a November 1970, 40 minute Fillmore East live performance, professionally recorded and intended for release but scrapped.

Winwood is clearly the focus and driving force on the studio selections with his guitar, organ and piano lines interweaving on longer compositions that combine the upbeat and moody jazz flavors of “Glad” with the dreamy, pulsing soul-rock of “Every Mother’s Son” and the dusky traditional acoustic British folk of the title track. The latter story song with its narrative voice doesn’t mesh in the context of the other more introspective tunes but reveals a different, more roots oriented angle to the band’s music.

The concert adds bassist Rick Grech, recently from Blind Faith, to the trio as they spin through peppy, extended versions of older gems such as “Medicated Goo,” “Forty Thousand Headmen,” and a stretched out, funky “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring.” The closing 21 minutes including nearly 15 dedicated to a medley of Barleycorn’s “Glad” and “Freedom Rider” provide room for Traffic to stretch out and loosen up. They jam and interconnect with the focused intensity of professionals brimming with talent, youthful enthusiasm and a joy of playing that even four decades later remains edgy, rousing and contagious.

by Hal Horowitz

Tracks
Original Album 1970
1. Glad (Steve Winwood) 6:59
2. Freedom Rider (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) 6:20
3. Empty Pages (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 4:47
4. Stranger To Himself (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 4:02
5. John Barleycorn (Must Die) (Traditional, Arr. Steve Winwood) - 6:20
6. Every Mother's Son (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 7:05

Japan SHM Bonus Tracks
4. I Just Want You To Know (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 1:30
7. Sittin' Here Thinkin' Of My Love (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 3:3
8. Backstage And Introduction (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 1:50
9. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood) - 6:56
10.Glad (Steve Winwood) - 11:29
Demos Tracks 4, 8.
Tracks 7, 9, 10 live recordings on Fillmore East 18th November 1970

Disc 2 Deluxe 2011 Edition 
1. Stranger To Himself (Alternative Mix) (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 4:09
2. John Barleycorn (Must Die) (First Version) (Traditional, Arr. Steve Winwood) - 5:05
3. Every Mother's Son (Alternative Mix) (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 7:03
4. Intro - 1:44 (This Is The Same As Backstage And Introduction From The 1999 Reissue)
5. Medicated Goo (Steve Winwood, Jimmy Miller) - 4:17
6. Empty Pages (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 4:47
7. 40,000 Headmen (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 4:30
8. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood) - 5:16
9. Every Mother's Son (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 7:00
10.Glad (Steve Winwood) / Freedom Rider (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 14:30
Tracks 5-10 recorded live at The Fillmore East, 18th and 19th November 1970

The Traffic
*Steve Winwood – Hammond Organ, Piano, Bass, Percussion, Acoustic, Electric Guitars
*Chris Wood – Saxophone, Flute, Percussion
*Jim Capaldi – Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
With
*Ric Grech – Guitar, Bass

1969  Traffic - Last Exit (SHM remaster)
1971  Traffic - Welcome To The Canteen (SHM remaster)
1973  Traffic - On The Road (SHM remaster)
Related Acts
1965  The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP (Japan bonus tracks release) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - Autumn '66 (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966-68  Deep Feeling - Pretty Colours  
1970  Dave Mason - Alone Together (Japan remaster) 
1971  Dave Mason And Cass Elliot (2008 remaster)
1972  Dave Mason - Headkeeper (Japan SHM-CD 2010 remaster) 
1972  Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced (2012 extra track edition) 
1973  Dave Mason - It's Like You Never Left  
1976-77  Dave Mason - Certified Live / Let It Flow (2011 double disc edition)  

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Traffic - On The Road (1973 uk, fine blend of jazz, psych prog rock, japan SHM remaster)

By April of 1973 the band had been touring for several months in support of the sequel to 'Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys', the 'Shoot Out At the Fantasy Factory' disc. This is a six  live set filled with jazz-rock performances from their European tour.

There is energy in here. Winwood gets in some long, impassioned guitar solos on the staid pop song "Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired"; the plodding rocker "Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory" has a sincerely bad attitude; and Capaldi's wild-eyed vocal on the sloppy "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" is welcome. Sparse praise for a record of this length. Produced by Winwood and Chris Blackwell. The band is Winwood, Capaldi, and Wood; Hood and Hawkins: and Barry Beckett, who ably recreates the keyboard parts that Winwood double-tracked on the studio albums. 

Tracks
1. Glad / Freedom Rider (Steve Winwood)/(Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 20:55
2. Tragic Magic (Chris Wood) - 8:39
3. (Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 10:31
4. Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 6:51
5. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (Jim Capaldi) - 10:56
6. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 17:47

The Traffic
*Steve Winwood - Guitar, Lead Vocals, Piano
*Chris Wood - Flute, Saxophone
*Jim Capaldi - Percussion, Lead Vocals, Drums
With
*Rebop Kwaku Baah - Percussion
*Barry Beckett - Organ, Piano
*David Hood - Bass
*Roger Hawkins - Drums

1969  Traffic - Last Exit (SHM remaster)
1971  Traffic - Welcome To The Canteen (SHM remaster)

Related Acts
1965  The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP (Japan bonus tracks release) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - Autumn '66 (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966-68  Deep Feeling - Pretty Colours  
1970  Dave Mason - Alone Together (Japan remaster) 
1971  Dave Mason And Cass Elliot (2008 remaster)
1972  Dave Mason - Headkeeper (Japan SHM-CD 2010 remaster) 
1972  Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced (2012 extra track edition) 
1973  Dave Mason - It's Like You Never Left  
1976-77  Dave Mason - Certified Live / Let It Flow (2011 double disc edition)  

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Traffic - Welcome To The Canteen (1971 uk, amazing live testament, SHM remaster)

This is UA's long-promised, contract-fulfilling, Traffic live album though a new recording evidently much changed from the destroyed earlier tapes, and with no outright mention (aside from the familiar quadripartite interlocking symbol) of the Traffic name, probably because nobody, including Steve Winwood himself, could ever tell you who or what the group consists of at any given time.

The six tunes included in Welcome to the Canteen are all repeats, indeed near duplicates, most of them, of songs from previous Traffic/Spencer Davis/Dave Mason albums. Everybody's cutting quickie live albums these days, so why not Traffic too but why not some new or unfamiliar material to accompany this Walking-down-Memory-Lane stuff?

On the other hand, the old quartet never especially remembered for their stage excitement, but here augmented by three other musical blokes was in tiptop form on the two nights these performances were taped. Winwood's in fine voice, Mason's guitar playing just gets better and better, and Chris Wood's sax/flute comments are invariably tasteful. Only Jim Capaldi seems to have little to do, since Jim Gordon's over from the States to hold down head drum chores, along with the fancy Afro hand-drumming of someone named Reebop Kwaku Baah. (A moment of respectful silence for all those black Africans who keep cropping up on English rock albums: Dudu Pukwana, Remi Kabaka, Rocky Dzidzornu, et al.) And unassuming bassman Rick Grech adds rock-solid bottom to this band of renown. A redoubtable assemblage of musicians, to be sure.

Altogether, they do manage to pull it off starting slow, but getting into some chef-d'oeuvre canteen-cooking by the end of Side Two. The percussion trio is a particularly felicitous touch; more rhythmic rock you could not ask for. But other than Mason's crisp guitar and Winwood's droning organ, that's all Medicated Goo and Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave, respectively, have to offer. The previous studio versions win out.

Similarly, 40,000 Headmen receives a warm, slightly slowed-down, but percussively perky performance; yet it's not much more than a close copy of the haunted and exquisite. English soul treatment this song got back on Traffic's second album mystery R&B, echoing twin flutes, odd moments of percussive accentuation, perhaps the definitive Traffic tune. Only Sad and Deep As You from Side One really improves on the original; Wood's fluttery, breathing flute miraculously more-than-replaces the splendid piano from Mason's album and Dave himself has never sung more feelingly.

It's Side Two that has the stand outs. For them, Steve and the boys slide way back to '66 and '67, to latch onto Gimme Some Lovin' and Dear Mr. Fantasy. What a looking back! Eleven swirling, blending, building, wondrous minutes of Fantasy with Winwood as pensive/yearning/mournful as ever: Do anything to take us out of this gloom, Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy. Gordon and his cohorts make it bouncy and snappy, all right, all the way up to a wall-of-sound frenzy. And Mason and Winwood, play dual guitars to beat the band, alternating clean and dirty solos from first to last. This is the spirit and the music that Traffic's other live release never achieved.

As for Gimme Some Lovin', stand back. From an all-time great three-minute single to a nineminute eternal experience, comin' at you like a fast freight with cowbell clangs, conga/timbale wheeling, and Gordon driving all, demolishing his drum-set en route plus guitar riffs, bizarre sax honks, and Winwood's organ dancing and moaning around his soul-shout, on and on into the night. Shake your ass and stomp your feet.

In-person, this Traffic proves itself to be right up there with the old Dead and the new Allmans. What more could you ask for?

by Ed Leimbacher (Posted: Oct 28, 1971)

Tracks
1. Medicated Goo (Jimmy Miller, Steve Winwood) - 3:34
2. Sad And Deep As You (Dave Mason) - 3:48
3. Forty Thousand Headmen (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood) - 6:21
4. Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave (Dave Mason) - 5:39
5. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood) - 10:57
6. Gimme Some Lovin' (Spencer Davis, Steve Winwood, Muff Winwood) - 9:02

The Traffic
*Steve Winwood - Organ, Lead Vocals, Electric Piano, Electric, Acoustic Guitars
*Jim Capaldi - Percussion, Backing Vocals, Tambourine
*Chris Wood - Sax, Flute, Electric Piano, Organ
*Dave Mason- Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Lead Vocals
*Ric Grech - Electric Bass
*Rebop Kwaku Baah - Congas, Timbales, Bongos
*Jim Gordon - Drums

1969  Traffic - Last Exit (SHM remaster)

Related Acts
1965  The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP (Japan bonus tracks release) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - Autumn '66 (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966-68  Deep Feeling - Pretty Colours  
1970  Dave Mason - Alone Together (Japan remaster) 
1971  Dave Mason And Cass Elliot (2008 remaster)
1972  Dave Mason - Headkeeper (Japan SHM-CD 2010 remaster) 
1972  Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced (2012 extra track edition) 
1973  Dave Mason - It's Like You Never Left  
1976-77  Dave Mason - Certified Live / Let It Flow (2011 double disc edition)  

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Traffic - Last Exit (1969 uk, excellent psych bluesy rock with prog shades, SHM remaster)

Since Traffic originally planned its self-titled second album as a double LP, the group had extra material left over, some of which saw release before the end of 1968 (there was a new, one-off single released in December, "Medicated Goo"/"Shanghai Noodle Factory"). In January 1969, Steve Winwood announced the group's breakup. That left Island Records, the band's label, in the lurch, since Traffic had built up a considerable following.

As far as Island was concerned, it was no time to stop, and the label quickly set about assembling a new album. The non-LP B-side "Withering Tree," "Medicated Goo," and "Shanghai Noodle Factory" were pressed into service, along with "Just for You," the B-side of a solo single by on-again, off-again member Dave Mason that had been released originally in February 1968 and happened to feature the rest of the members of Traffic as sidemen; a short, previously unreleased instrumental; and two extended jams on cover songs from a 1968 live appearance at the Fillmore West. It all added up to more than half an hour of music, and that was enough to package it as the posthumous Traffic album Last Exit. 

Actually, Last Exit isn't bad as profit-taking products go. "Just for You" is one of Mason's elegant folk-pop songs, including attractive Indian percussion. "Medicated Goo" has proven to be one of Traffic's more memorable jam tunes, despite its nonsense lyrics, and the equally appealing "Shanghai Noodle Factory" is hard not to interpret as Winwood's explanation of the band's split. And while the cover material seems unlikely, the songs are used as platforms for the band to jam cohesively. So, Traffic's third album, thought at the time of its release to be the final one, has its isolated pleasures, even if it doesn't measure up to its two predecessors. 

by William Ruhlmann

Tracks
1. Just For You (Dave Mason) - 2:18
2. Shanghai Noodle Factory (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Jimmy Miller, Larry Fallon) - 5:06
3. Something's Got A Hold Of My Toe (Steve Winwood, Dave Mason, Jimmy Miller) - 2:14
4. Withering Tree (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi) - 3:04
5. Medicated Goo (Steve Winwood, Jimmy Miller) - 3:36
6. Feelin' Good (Live) (Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse) - 10:40
7. Blind Man (Live) (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) - 7:06

The Traffic

*Steve Winwood - Organ, Lead Vocals, Piano, Bass, Guitar
*Jim Capaldi - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
*Chris Wood - Flute, Saxophone, Organ
*Dave Mason - Guitar (1, 3), Lead Vocals (1)

Related Acts
1965  The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP (Japan bonus tracks release) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - Autumn '66 (Japan bonus tracks edition) 
1966-68  Deep Feeling - Pretty Colours  
1970  Dave Mason - Alone Together (Japan remaster) 
1971  Dave Mason And Cass Elliot (2008 remaster)
1972  Dave Mason - Headkeeper (Japan SHM-CD 2010 remaster) 
1972  Jim Capaldi - Oh How We Danced (2012 extra track edition) 
1973  Dave Mason - It's Like You Never Left  
1976-77  Dave Mason - Certified Live / Let It Flow (2011 double disc edition)  

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