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"…If You See Something That Looks Like A Star…"
At
last count - I numbered way over 50 artists across Universal’s vast catalogue
given the 2CD “Gold” treatment (sometimes also known as a “Definitive
Edition”). But with the artwork for these digitally remastered two-disc
retrospective sets being so uninspiring and uninformative (a track list on the
rear with bugger all else by way of detail) – many simply go unnoticed – languishing
around in digital warehouses unwashed and unloved. But that isn’t to say there
isn’t a deal for a buyer to be had…
Amidst
their hidden gems - STEPPENWOLF and THE CRUSADERS are two "Gold"
editions that jump to mind (I’ve reviewed and raved about both - amazing
content as well as quality remastered sound). Well here comes another – the
TRAFFIC instalment.
As
you can see from the detailed lists below – you get great choices (and lots of
them) and best of all (only credited on the inside booklet) - superb ELLEN
FITTON mastering. Fitton is a name I’ve sung the praises of before – she
mastered all of the extraordinary “Complete Tamla Motown Singles” book
collections (75 discs across 14 volumes, 1847 tracks) and has also had a hand
in large swaths of Hip-O Select reissues. Her work here is the same. So here
are the smiling phases, paper suns and high-heeled boys with low sparks…
Released
September 2005 – "Gold" by TRAFFIC on Universal/Island 0602498312070 (Barcode
602498312070) is a 2CD retrospective that breaks down as follows:
Disc
1 (79:49 minutes):
1.
Paper Sun
2.
Dealer
3.
Coloured Rain
4.
Hole In My Shoe
5.
No Face, No Name, No Number
6.
Heaven Is In Your Mind
7.
Smiling Phases
8.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Tracks
1 to 8 are from their debut album “Mr. Fantasy” – released December 1967 in the
UK on Island ILPS 9061 [Tracks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the British LP] and April
1968 in the USA as “Heaven Is In Your Mind” on United Artists UAS 6651 (Stereo)
[Tracks 1 to 8 on the US LP – retitled “Mr. Fantasy on 2nd pressings].
9.
You Can All Join In
10.
Pearly Queen
11.
Feelin’ Alright
12.
Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring
13.
Forty Thousand Headmen
Tracks
9 to 13 are from their 2nd album “Traffic” – released October 1968 in the UK on
Island ILPS 9081 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 6676 (Stereo)
14.
Shanghai Noodle Factory
15.
Medicated Goo
Tracks
14 and 15 are form their 3rd album “Last Exit” – released May 1969 in the UK on
Island ILPS 9097 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 6702 (Stereo)
16.
Glad
17.
Freedom Rider
18.
Empty Pages
19.
John Barleycorn
Tracks
16 to 19 are from their 4th album “John Barleycorn Must Die” – released July
1970 in the UK on Island ILPS 9116 and in the USA on United Artists UAS 5504
(Stereo)
Disc
(78:44 minutes):
1.
Gimme Some Lovin’ (Live) – from the live album “Welcome To The Canteen” -
released September 1971 in the UK on Island ILPS 9166 and in the USA on United
Artists UAS 5550
2.
Low Spark Of The High-Heeled Boys
3.
Light Up And Leave Me Alone
4.
Rock & Roll Stew
5.
Rainmaker
Tracks
2 to 5 are from their 5th studio album “The Low Spark Of The High-Heeled Boys”
– released November 1971 in the UK on Island ILPS 9180 and in the USA on Island
SW 9306
6.
Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory
7.
(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired
Tracks
6 and 7 are from their 6th studio album “Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory” –
released January 1973 in the UK on Island ILPS 9224 and in the USA on Island SW
9323
8.
Something New
9.
Dream Gerrard
10.
Walking In The Wind
11.
When The Eagle Flies
Tracks
8 to 11 are from their 7th and last studio album “When The Eagle Flies” –
released November 1973 in the UK on Island ILPS 9273 and in the USA on Asylum
7E-1020
The
20-page booklet is unexpectedly substantial – cool photos, an essay on the band
by SCOTT SCHNIDER and detailed reissue credits at the rear. And that superb
remastered sound too…
To
this day tracks like “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and Dave Mason’s wonderful “Feelin’
Alright” (covered by Joe Cocker, Grand Funk Railroad, Lulu and Three Dog Night
within a few years of its release) still send me. There’s fantastic audio punch
on “Medicated Goo” ("freaky Freddie!”) and Island Records literally named
their budget label sampler LP after the “You Can All Join In” track on the 2nd
LP. The opening instrumental “Glad” on “John Barleycorn Must Die” always
sounded to me like Soul Rock or even Fusion before such a phrase was even
coined – brilliant stuff.
The
stunning eleven and half minutes of “Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys” where
Winwood cruises through this almost hypnotic groove still sounds unbelievably
modern – I love it (lyrics above). For sure things began to taper off towards
the bands last few albums - but I still feel there’s soulfulness in the
Winwood/Capaldi slowy “(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired”. The eleven-minute
“Dream Gerrard” (a co-write with Vivian Stanshall) has a good groove too - as
does “Walking In The Wind” (another Capaldi co-write with Steve Winwood). All
this and “Paper Sun”, “Smiling Phases” and the hippy sitar of “Hole In My
Shoe”! Will we ever see their like again? I doubt it…
With
generous playing times on both discs (a half-decent booklet too), top quality
sound and an online price tag that is often below three pounds (three quid for
God's sake!) - you’re getting a whole lot of bang for your buck here. Way to
go…
