Original

Traffic had pretty much broken up in late 1968, Steve Winwood joined Blind Faith and later he and Chris Wood were in Ginger Bakers Air Force. Winwood, Wood, and Capaldi got together again to record 1970’s Jonh Barleycorn Must Die. In the Fall of 1971 I was just entering 9th grade and it was around that time when my parents bought an Electrophonic AM/FM stereo with a 8-track player. After spinning the FM dial I discovered WMMR as well as WMPH my high school radio station. Pretty much every song on this record was played frequently back then. The music is quite different from the Psychedelic/Pop music of their earlier records, more of a Jazz Rock Jamming style. Side one with “Glad” and “Freedom Rider” feature sax and flute by Chris Wood and “Empty Pages” with Steve Winwood’s electric piano are classics. “Stranger To Himself” and “Every Mothers Son” are basically Winwood solo tracks with him playing all instruments and Jim Capaldi on drums. Although not as well known as the songs on side one I did hear “Every Mothers Son” last month on one of my satellite radio stations. Another classic in between these two is “John Barleycorn”. Their interpretation of the traditional song is a great Folk Rock song with acoustic guitar, flute, and piano with vocals by Winwood and Capaldi who also plays tambourine. I have heard many versions of this song and this one was always my favorite. I probably bought this record sometime in 1972. Although it sounds well played there are no skips or other problems.