Classic '70s Traffic Albums 'Welcome To The Canteen' and 'The Low Sparks Of High Heeled Boys' Remastered and Reissued.

PR Newswire

March 1, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- The reissue series featuring Traffic, one of classic rock's most influential, adventurous, critically lauded and remarkable bands, continues with two albums that celebrated their 30th anniversaries last year, the live "Welcome To The Canteen" (Island/UME) and the studio "The Low Sparks Of High Heeled Boys" (Island/UME), both released March 19, 2002. Each has been digitally remastered from the original analog master tapes, and the latter includes a special bonus track.

In support of 1970's hit album "John Barleycorn Must Die," Traffic took to the road. But Steve Winwood's ability to sing and play multiple instruments simultaneously on a recording could not be replicated onstage. So the group expanded to include former Blind Faith bassist Rick Grech, allowing Winwood to focus on guitar and keyboards, while Jim Capaldi handled drums and Chris Wood several other instruments. By mid-1971, Traffic grew once more when drummer Jim Gordon, formerly of Derek & The Dominos, joined. Also welcomed was percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah, a former sideman for Dizzy Gillespie. The most striking addition, however, was singer-guitarist Dave Mason, a founding member who had exited in 1968 due to creative differences.

This edition of Traffic would last just six performances during July 1971. Highlights from the opening night at Fairfield Hall in Croydon and a London benefit for Oz Magazine would be issued in September as "Welcome To The Canteen," which includes Traffic masterpieces such as "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "40,000 Headmen," Mason's "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" and the Spencer Davis Group standard "Gimme Some Lovin'." What then prompted Mason to resume his solo career was Winwood's desire to come off the road and focus his energies on recording.

The result in late 1971 was the release of "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," Traffic's biggest U.S. commercial success, a Top 10 hit, eventually platinum certified. Driven by Winwood's wistful lead vocal, Traffic blended elements of rock, jazz, and African percussion with a new maturity and sense of melancholy, from the 12-minute-long FM hit title track to the compelling "Many A Mile To Freedom" and poignant "Rainmaker." The more upbeat "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock & Roll Stew" would also become favorites of Traffic fans. As a bonus, the reissue adds the latter's extended, full-length single version.

A major U.S. tour in support of the album further confirmed the group's spiraling popularity. True to form, however, this edition of Traffic was also short lived. "Welcome To The Canteen" and "The Low Sparks Of High Heeled Boys" represent brief but glorious moments in '70s rock.

Editor's note: The Label spelled the album title wrong. Spark.