Traffic (band)

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traffic
Traffic 1973 in Hamburg
Traffic 1973 in Hamburg
General information
origin Birmingham , England
Genre (s) Rock , psychedelic rock , folk rock , jazz rock
founding 1967, 1970, 1994, 2004
resolution 1969, 1974, 1994, 2004
Founding members
Steve Winwood
Jim Capaldi † January 28, 2005
Chris Wood † July 12, 1983
Guitar, vocals
 Dave Mason
Last occupation
Keyboard, guitar, vocals
 Steve Winwood
former members
Rick Grech † March 17, 1990
Drums
 Jim Gordon
Percussion
 Reebop Kwaku Baah † January 12, 1983

Traffic was an English rock band from Birmingham , England in the late 1960s and early 1970s . The band consisted of four top-class musicians who initially found their sound in a kind of rural commune : Steve Winwood (kb, gt, vc), Dave Mason (gt, vc), Chris Wood (fl, sax) and Jim Capaldi (dr).

history

First phase

Winwood founded Traffic in 1967 after leaving the Spencer Davis Group . Her debut single Paper Sun was a hit in England. The second single Hole in My Shoe was even more successful.

The first Traffic album Mr. Fantasy (1967) was, like the singles, successful in England, but not outside. The second album, Traffic , was released in 1968. On this album, Mason contributed many compositions (e.g. Feeling Allright ) and sang the lead voice. There was tension as Mason didn't want to be in Winwood's shadow. Mason left. After a tour in America, Winwood broke up the band.

Second phase

Winwood played with Blind Faith and then began to prepare a solo album, which was eventually released as the new Traffic album John Barleycorn Must Die ; it should be the most successful of the group.

In May 1971 the band expanded to include Rick Grech , Jim Gordon and Reebop Kwaku Baah ; more albums followed. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys hit the charts in America, but not in England. The band broke up again, but occasionally recorded new albums: Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973) and When the Eagle Flies (1974).

Third phase

Capaldi and Winwood had solo successes, but in 1994 came a new Traffic album with Far From Home ; both went on tour again as Traffic, but the big success did not materialize.

Dave Mason had some success with solo albums in Europe, but especially in America, where he moved his work. Despite his outstanding virtuosity on the guitar, he never really made a breakthrough.

Chris Wood died in Birmingham (England) on July 12, 1983 of pneumonia and the consequences of his alcohol and drug use. Jim Capaldi died of stomach cancer on January 28, 2005 in London.

The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 .

particularities

In 1967, the previously less successful London band The Specters , from which Status Quo later developed, also renamed itself to Traffic . Winwood and his bandmates were ultimately able to prevail, so that the competitors chose the name Traffic Jam .

Discography

Studio albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE CH CH UK UK US US
1967 Mr. Fantasy - - UK16 (8 weeks)
UK 		US88 (22 weeks)
US
1968 traffic - - UK9 (8 weeks)
UK 		US17 (26 weeks)
US
1969 Last exit - - - US19 (22 weeks)
US
with live recordings
1970 John Barleycorn Must Die - - UK11 (9 weeks)
UK 		US5 (38 weeks)
US
1971 The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys DE48 (1 week)
DE 		- - US7 (30 weeks)
US
1973 Shoot out at the Fantasy Factory - - - US6 (29 weeks)
US
1974 When the Eagle Flies - - UK31 (1 week)
UK 		US9 (27 weeks)
US
1994 Far from Home DE22 (11 weeks)
DE 		CH17 (6 weeks)
CH 		UK29 (4 weeks)
UK 		US33 (9 weeks)
US

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

Live albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE CH CH UK UK US US
1971 Welcome to the canteen - - - US26 (19 weeks)
US
1973 On the road - - UK40 (3 weeks)
UK 		US29 (24 weeks)
US

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More live albums

  • 2005: Last Great Traffic Jam

Rarities and compilations

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE CH CH UK UK US US
1969 Best of traffic - - - US48 (14 weeks)
US
1975 Heavy traffic - - - US155 (3 weeks)
US
More heavy traffic - - - US193 (4 weeks)
US

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More compilations

  • 1968: Here We Go round the Mulberry Bush

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
DE DE AT AT UK UK US US
1967 Paper Sun
Heaven Is In Your Mind 		DE37 (4 weeks)
DE 		- UK5 (11 weeks)
UK 		US94 (1 week)
US
Hole In My Shoe
Heaven Is In Your Mind 		DE21 (10 weeks)
DE 		AT14 (4 weeks)
AT 		UK2 (14 weeks)
UK 		-
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush
 - - UK8 (12 weeks)
UK 		-
1968 No Face, No Name, No Number
Mr. Fantasy 		- - UK40 (4 weeks)
UK 		-
1970 Empty Pages
John Barleycorn Must Die 		- - - US74 (8 weeks)
US
1971 Gimme Some Lovin 'Pt. 1
Welcome To The Canteen 		- - - US68 (7 weeks)
US
1972 Rock & Roll Stew ... Part 1
 - - - US93 (2 weeks)
US
1994 Here Comes a Man
Far from Home 		DE87 (3 weeks)
DE 		- - -
Some Kinda Woman
Far from Home 		DE64 (10 weeks)
DE 		- - -

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

literature

  • Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd Revised Edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 693-695 - ISBN 0-312-02573-4
  • British hit singles . 13th Edition, London: Guinness World Records, 2001 - ISBN 0-85112-111-X
  • Whitburn, Joel: Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual 1955-1977 , Menomonee Falls: Record Research, Inc., 1978 - Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 78-60196

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/traffic-mn0000012472/biography accessed on October 20, 2019
  2. ↑ a b c d Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US