By: Traffic Average Rating: Binding: Audio CD Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered Label: Island Number of Discs: 1 Release Date: August 29, 2000
Classic early Traffic This CD was a great purchase for me since it brings together all the songs on the two vinyl versions I own, plus offers rarities like "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush." Some may be put off by Dave Mason's attempt at psych, but these are more than outweighed by all the great songs this album has to offer. And it just doesn't get much better than Steve Winwood's vocals on "Heaven is in Your Mind", "Smiling Phases", and of course "Dear Mr. Fantasy."
If I were to pick one Traffic album for the fable Desert Island it would have to be Low Spark, but this one isn't far behind.
Groundbreaking, even by today's standard After being the teenaged frontman for the R&B-based Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood launced his eclectic follow-up, Traffic, with this auspicious debut -- originally titled Dear Mr. Fantasy in UK. To hear the opening, sitar-laden "Paper Sun" when your ears were expecting "Gimme Some Lovin', Phase 2" was a jarring revelation at the time -- and still is.
With a couple of so-so exceptions, Traffic's catalog is consistently high-quality and underrated, even with all the accolades and popularity the group enjoyed. But Heaven Is In Your Mind is still the best -- even better than their self-titled second album, John Barleycorn Must Die, or Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys.
Dave Mason came and left before the release of the album (then rejoined for the second LP and left again), but the trio of Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood were the true nucleus. Contrary to some revisionists' perspective, they were not the fathers of progressive rock or anything other subgenre; this is way too wide-ranging and far-reaching to pigeonhole. There's psychedelica, folk, R&B, jazz, and what would later be dubbed "world music," way ahead of its time.
Although he's invariably thought of as a singer and keyboard player, Winwood is also a killer guitarist and handles most the lead work here. There are several classics, but the obvious highpoint is "Dear Mr. Fantasy" -- the song that stole the show when Winwood played Clapton's Crossroads Festival in Chicago in '07.
I can't recommend this enough.
So much better than the British issue This remastered issue of Traffic's first American lp with the necessary material from other issues of the period is the one to have: great sound, great sequencing, and material that still sounds fresh after a long, long time. I wish that Traffic had been able to surpass their first two lp's. They didn't, but at least we have this wonderful record.
heaven is in my speakers as well When it comes to pure excellent songwriting and top notch musicianship, "Heaven Is In Your Mind" is Traffic's finest hour. The brilliant songwriting skills were firmly swinging smoothly on this album. It's just a wonderful pop album that sadly will probably be forgotten as the years pass and people choose to remember the Beatles, Stones and Who instead. Traffic didn't release a lot of music, but what they have is sure worth the time and money. An album you must own for your pop record collection.
This rocks! Although there is no doubt that you're hearing the typical Traffic sound, the music on this CD is anything but. This is Traffic in their best form and is a great addition to any collection for serious Traffic-lovers.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
