Traffic (band)
traffic | |
---|---|
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 | CH | UK | 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 | CH | UK | 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 | CH | UK | 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 | AT | UK | 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
- Website by Steve Winwood (English)
- Steve Winwood fansite
- Traffic at Discogs (English)