RK 50: Traffic

9-8-08 RK50: Traffic

“John Barleycorn” was the first Traffic LP I ever fully digested, so it remains my favorite. It was easy to find all of their original LP’s. The singles were a bit harder to find, in the U.S. I gleefully obtained the re-mastered CD’s a few years back, all sound great. Never had a chance to see them play live, unfortunately.

CD MR. FANTASY ISLAND US 542823.2
1967 15 TRKS mono (5 x bonus tracks) ('00 issue)
LP MR. FANTASY ISLAND UK ILPS 9061
1968 10 TRKS pink Island, stereo
LP MR. FANTASY U.A. US UAS 6651
1968 12 TRKS U.S. version, stereo
7" PAPER SUN / GIVING TO YOU U.A. US UA 50195
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
7" HOLE IN MY SHOE / SMILING PHASES ISLAND UK WIP 6017
1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD HEAVEN IS IN YOUR MIND ISLAND US 542824.2
1967 16 TRKS (4 x bonus tracks) ('00 issue)
LP HEAVEN IS IN YOUR MIND U.A. US UAS 6651
1968 12 TRKS stereo, 1st US issue, slight track differences from the UK “Mr. Fantasy” album.

LP HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH (O.S.T.) U.A. US UAS 5175
1968 12 TRKS Spencer Davis Group, Andy Ellison etc.
7" HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH ISLAND UK WIP 6025
1967 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD TRAFFIC ISLAND US 542852.2
1968 13 TRKS (3 x bonus tracks) ('01 issue)
LP TRAFFIC ISLAND UK ILPS 9081T
1968 10 TRKS booklet
7" NO FACE, NO NAME, NO NUMBER ISLAND UK WIP 6030
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
7" FEELIN' ALRIGHT? / WITHERING TREE ISLAND UK WIP 6041
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP LAST EXIT U.A. US UAS 6702
1969 7 TRKS 1st US issue
CD LAST EXIT ISLAND US 548540.2
1969 7 TRKS re-mastered ('01 issue)
7" MEDICATED GOO / SHANGHAI NOODLE FACTORY ISLAND UK WIP 6050
1968 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE ISLAND UK ILPS 9116
1970 6 TRKS UK original issue
CD JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-9273
1970 11 TRKS ('03 issue) kami sleeve (4 x bonus tracks, some from the abandoned “Traffic Live” LP)
7" EMPTY PAGES / STRANGER TO HIMSELF U.A. US UA 50692
1970 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LP WELCOME TO THE CANTEEN ISLAND DE 85 676 IT
1971 6 TRKS Live; I also used to have a British 8-track tape of this album!
CD WELCOME TO THE CANTEEN ISLAND US 586847.2
1971 6 TRKS Live, re-mastered ('02 issue)

CD LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS, THE ISLAND US 548827.2
1971 7 TRKS re-mastered ('02 issue)
LP LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS, THE ISLAND DE 85 807 IT
1972? 6 TRKS shaped sleeve
7" ROCK & ROLL STEW (Part 1) / (Part 2) ISLAND US 1201
1972 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY ISLAND US 842781.2
1973 5 TRKS re-mastered ('03 issue)
LP SHOOT OUT AT THE FANTASY FACTORY ISLAND US SW-9323
1973 5 TRKS shaped sleeve

CD ON THE ROAD ISLAND US 63464.2
1973 6 TRKS Live, re-mastered ('03 issue) – same songs, just indexed to 6 tracks instead of 7
LPx2 ON THE ROAD ISLAND US 90028.1
1973 7 TRKS Live

CD WHEN THE EAGLE FLIES ISLAND US 548826.2
1973 7 TRKS re-mastered ('03 issue)
LP WHEN THE EAGLE FLIES ASYLUM US 7E-1020
1974 7 TRKS U.S. pressing
7" WALKING IN THE WIND / (INSTRUMENTAL) ISLAND UK WIP 6207
1974 2 TRKS no pic sleeve
7" WALKING IN THE WIND (Short) / (Long) ASYLUM US E-45207
1974 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

CD FAR FROM HOME VIRGIN US 39490.2
1994 10 TRKS CD-only release?
CD5 HERE COMES A MAN VIRGIN UK VSCDG 1494
1994 3 TRK CD Single CD5
CD5 SOME KINDA WOMAN VIRGIN UK VSCDX 1506
1994 4 TRK CD Single CD5

I’ve also got most of the Steve Winwood solo records, as well as a few Jim Capaldi albums. And can’t forget Dave Mason’s “Alone Together” album. Too bad that original Traffic members Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood have both passed away.

I know that some of the non-US re-mastered Traffic CD’s have different bonus tracks, such as the “John Barleycorn” CD. And now the Japanese have re-mastered the re-masters as “SHM” CD’s. Presumably using t same masters, SHM CD’s are supposedly made of ‘better materials’. I’m 50 now – how many more years will I need stuff to last?

The music and ideas of the Traffic albums will live on – “classic rock” – in the best sense of the phrase.

- Ron