Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
After dispensing with his services in December 1967, the remaining members of Traffic reinstated Dave Mason in the group in the spring of 1968 as they struggled to write enough material for their impending second album. The result was a disc evenly divided between Mason's catchy folk-rock compositions and Steve Winwood's compelling rock jams. Mason's material was the most appealing both initially and eventually: the lead-off track, a jaunty effort called "You Can All Join In," became a European hit, and "Feelin' Alright?" turned out to be the only real standard to emerge from the album after it started earning cover versions from Joe Cocker and others in the 1970s. Winwood's efforts, with their haunting keyboard-based melodies augmented by Chris Wood's reed work and Jim Capaldi's exotic rhythms, work better as musical efforts than lyrical ones. Primary lyricist Capaldi's words tend to be impressionistic reveries or vague psychological reflections; the most satisfying is the shaggy-dog story "Forty Thousand Headmen," which doesn't really make any sense as anything other than a dream. But the lyrics to Winwood/Capaldi compositions take a back seat to the playing and Winwood's soulful voice. As Mason's simpler, more direct performances alternate with the more complex Winwood tunes, the album is well-balanced. It's too bad that the musicians were not able to maintain that balance in person; for the second time in two albums, Mason found himself dismissed from the group just as an LP to which he'd made a major contribution hit the stores. Only a few months after that, the band itself split up, but not before scoring their second consecutive Top Ten ranking in the U.K.; the album also reached the Top 20 in the U.S., breaking the temporarily defunct group stateside.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From €13,50/month
Dave Mason, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - JIM CAPALDI, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Organ, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kramer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wood, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, ComposerLyricist - Chris Wood, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - JIM CAPALDI, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Winwood, Piano, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Wood, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, ComposerLyricist - JIM CAPALDI, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, Guitar, Organ, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kramer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wood, Flute, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - JIM CAPALDI, Drums, Timpani, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, Bass Guitar, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Wood, Soprano Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - GLYN JOHNS, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, ComposerLyricist - JIM CAPALDI, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kramer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wood, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1967 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, ComposerLyricist - Muff Winwood, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kramer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wood, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1967 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Winwood, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Kramer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wood, Bass Guitar, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
JIM CAPALDI, Drums, Percussion, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Winwood, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Wood, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Miller, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Traffic, MainArtist - Glyn Jones, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
Dave Mason, Flute, AssociatedPerformer - JIM CAPALDI, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - ANDY JOHNS, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Winwood, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Organ, Piano, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Wood, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Miller, Producer - Traffic, MainArtist
℗ 1968 Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
After dispensing with his services in December 1967, the remaining members of Traffic reinstated Dave Mason in the group in the spring of 1968 as they struggled to write enough material for their impending second album. The result was a disc evenly divided between Mason's catchy folk-rock compositions and Steve Winwood's compelling rock jams. Mason's material was the most appealing both initially and eventually: the lead-off track, a jaunty effort called "You Can All Join In," became a European hit, and "Feelin' Alright?" turned out to be the only real standard to emerge from the album after it started earning cover versions from Joe Cocker and others in the 1970s. Winwood's efforts, with their haunting keyboard-based melodies augmented by Chris Wood's reed work and Jim Capaldi's exotic rhythms, work better as musical efforts than lyrical ones. Primary lyricist Capaldi's words tend to be impressionistic reveries or vague psychological reflections; the most satisfying is the shaggy-dog story "Forty Thousand Headmen," which doesn't really make any sense as anything other than a dream. But the lyrics to Winwood/Capaldi compositions take a back seat to the playing and Winwood's soulful voice. As Mason's simpler, more direct performances alternate with the more complex Winwood tunes, the album is well-balanced. It's too bad that the musicians were not able to maintain that balance in person; for the second time in two albums, Mason found himself dismissed from the group just as an LP to which he'd made a major contribution hit the stores. Only a few months after that, the band itself split up, but not before scoring their second consecutive Top Ten ranking in the U.K.; the album also reached the Top 20 in the U.S., breaking the temporarily defunct group stateside.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:57:38
- Main artists: Traffic
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited This Compilation ℗ 1968 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Distinctions:
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.