Steve Winwood, straight off his experience in the British pop music scene with the Spencer Davis Group, teamed up with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, and on-again off-again member Dave Mason to create something altogether more unique.
Mr. Fantasy, Traffic’s debut album, ranks as one of the best albums of the psychedelic era. By turns dreamy then energetic, melancholy then comic, the music encompasses an eclectic range of sounds and styles, incorporating such instruments as sitar, tambura, harpsichord, and flute. Like many other experiments in psychedelia, the disc can sound a bit dated, a bit musically camp; but it still packs a wallop.
Their later albums would sound more conventional, but were far less remarkable. For their self-titled sophomore effort, they eased up on the psychedelic sounds in favor of a more accessible roots-rock feel, with overall good results. Then they shifted towards a light jazz- and prog-influenced sound, with longer pieces that I find pleasant to listen to but rarely captivating.
The first playlist here compiles the best tracks off the UK and US releases of their debut album. The second playlist features a little more than half of their second album and some selections from their subsequent releases.
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