Conference mr1pst::music

    I'm an old Low sparker from way back and I do remember Spencer
    Davis band although I hadn't hit double digits in life experience
    yet. My favorite Stevie period is with Traffic and I still love
    the Low Spark album/period. The longer jams you mentioned are
    kinda boring now that I've cleaned up my act but they were great
    while under the ... Well you know what I mean. His 80' stuff has
    been fun though I haven't felt compelled to buy any. Though my wife
    and I did chose the song Higher Love for our last dance at our wedding.
    We opened with a Talking Heads number with a lot of fun in between.
    
    One of the strangest lineups that I saw in Concert was when Traffic
    were headliners at the Boston Garden and Little Feat and either
    Lynard Skinnard or ZZ-Top backed them up. No seats on the floor
    so people could 'groove' to the music. Was strange seeing how the
    acid head Traffic fans mixed with the alcohol ladened fans for the
    other bands. A good time was had by all.
    
    Jim C.
    

    My first blast of Steve was when I heard "Gimme Some Lovin'" balsting
    out of my little AM transistor radio when I was 12.  I soon got into
    Traffic and Blind Faith and currently have about 95% of Steve's total
    output.  He has had periods where he was somewhat less than inspired,
    but stuff like "Roll With It" (the song, not the album) and much of
    "Refugees of the Heart" show he still has a capacity for some powerful
    music.
    
    I wish he would play more guitar!  The blues stuff on the SDG
    recordings like "Stevie's Blues" was certainly up there with his
    contemporaries like EC. Every once in a while he cuts loose on an
    album, but not often enough for me.  I also wish he would do more
    eclectic projects like "Go", or get a *real* band together as opposed
    to using a bunch of sidemen.  
    
    What do I like best about it?  The emotion he projects through his
    singing, I guess.  What do I wish he'd do less of?  Well, this studio
    overdub-to-death stuff that started with "Arc of A Diver" seems to be
    coming to an end, thankfully.I also wish he would find a new
    collaborator.  I much prefer Capaldi and Stanshall's stuff to Will
    Jennings.
    
    a U.S. Discography (more or less)
    
    Spencer Davis Group:
    
    Gimme Some Lovin' (UA, out of print)
    I'm A Man (UA, out of print)
    Heavies (UA, out of print)
    Greatest Hits (UA, out of print)
    Greatest Hits (Rhino)
    Greatest Hits (EMI)
    
    Traffic:
    
    Mr. Fantasy (original U.S. version on UA, out of print)
    Mr. Fantasy (UK version reissued in U.S. on Island)
    Traffic (UA, Island)
    Last Exit (UA, Island)
    John Barleycorn Must Die (UA, Island)
    Welcome to the Canteen (UA, Island)
    Low Spark of high-Heeled Boys (Island)
    Shootout at the Fantasy Factory (Island)
    On the Road (original U.S. single LP, Island, out of print)
    On the Road (UK version reissued in U.S. on Island)
    When The Eagle Flies (Asylum, out of print)
    Best of Traffic (UA, out of print)
    Smiling Phases (compilation, Island)
    
    Solo:
    
    Steve Winwood (Island)
    Arc of a Diver (Island)
    Talking Back To The Night (Island)
    Back in the High Life (Island)
    Chronicles (compilation, Island)
    Roll With It (Virgin)
    Refugees of the Heart (Virgin)
    
    Other stuff:
    
    Blind Faith (Atco/Polydor/RSO)
    Ginger Baker's Air Force (Atco/Polydor/RSO)
    Ginger Baker At His Best (compilation of above two, RSO, out of print)
    Stomu Yamashta's Go (Island)
    Go Live (Island)
    What's Shakin'  (three tracks with Powerhouse, Elektra, out of print)
    Winwood (UA, out of print, compilation of various stuff up to John 
    	     Barleycorn)

    I have an original GB single of Spencer Davis' "I'm A Man" with Mister
    Murray's "I Drink To Your Memory" on the B-side.
    
    I wonder what that is worth now?
    
    (When Steve Windwood was in Nashua, my hub was wishing fervently that
    he could have had that 45 signed by him...THAT would make it REALLY
    worth something!)
    
    K.C.

    Yeah, but if you're like me the value is not in $ because I would
    never sell something like that. I have a number of 'priceless'
    1st issue lp's, singles, etc.. They could foreclose my mortgage,
    send me to the street and I wouldn't sell them. I'd find somewhere
    or someone to hold them until things got better. In fact most of
    them I don't keep at home for fear that someone may like them as much
    as I do or more.
    
    Jim C.
    
    

    Yup...we're like you!
    
    My hub has actually said that if he ever got that puppy autographed, he
    would encase it and frame it, and never play it again (none to worry...
    we have the whole thing on cassette, too).
    
    K.C.

    
    "Gimme Some Lovin'" remains one of my all-time favorite tunes, but I 
    became a bigger fan when I first heard 'Dear Mr. Fantasy'. The
    whole song just blew me away, and those two guitar solos were
    absolutely beautiful. I bought that album and then the second, and
    'Last Exit' when they were released. I have about 15 favorite tracks
    from all of those albums that remain well-played to this
    day, but "Crying to be Heard" (second album) and "Mr. Fantasy" are my
    top choices. 
    
    The general sound of the band is one that for some reason personifies 
    that 1967-68 period of time; flute melodies, Capaldi bashing away on
    the drums, that beautiful church-grinder of a sound that Winwood would
    get out of the Hammond, the occasional distorted guit solo, and of
    course, that -voice-. (Like 40,000 Headmen--this hippie folksy stuff
    hits the Hammond head-on.)
    
    I was lucky enough to see Winwood twice; once was at the Fillmore
    East right after reforming Traffic (this was the John Barleycorn tour, 
    and the show bill that night also included Mott the Hoople and Fairport
    Convention...all for $5.50...wotta show). The other time was about a year 
    before, at Madison Square Garden with Blind Faith (along with
    Delaney/Bonnie/friends and Free, and that horrible revolving stage).
    The encore they did that night was a rearrangment of 'Means to an End',
    off the second Traffic album.
    
    I grew a bit tired of the 'Canteen' era Traffic, with the extended play
    stuff, but whenever things like 'Low Spark' came on the radio, I always
    listened.
    
    The recent stuff I can take or leave, but 'Higher Love' is a beautiful
    release, and I love the imagery in 'My Love is Leaving' (chilling) and
    I enjoyed hearing those (now slightly rusty) guitar chops in 'Carry
    On'. 
    
    Regarding Traffic, I had heard that Chris Wood died several years ago 
    (fell down some stairs, I think, but not sure). Capaldi has had some
    success on his own and was still active musically back around '88.
    
    Peter
    
    stage).

I'm stretching the ole memory a bit here, but I seem to recall that
the "John Barleycorn Must Die" album started out as a Winwood solo
album (I think Traffic had broken up at the time), but that Winwood
ended up using Capaldi and Wood so much in the studio that he decided
to make it a Traffic album.

    Re: .7
    
    That story is true.  He was going to call it "Mad Shadows" and was
    working with producer Guy Stevens (who gets credited for one or two of
    the JB tracks).  Stevens gave the name to Mott the Hoople for their
    second album.
    
    							Brian

    I read, several years ago now, that Chris Wood died of "liver disease,"
    but never heard any more about it. Very sad; when I heard "40,000
    Headmen" on FM radio (in the Boston area) a few days ago -- which was
    what prompted me to enter this note -- I realized that the flute
    playing really makes that song.
    
    --Nancy

    I am something of a Winwood fan. I don't like everything he does but I
    like some from each phase: Gimme Some Lovin, Low Spark, Blind Faith,
    Higher Love. I thought his remake (or remix?) of Valerie was excellent
    and well timed. Does anyone have a story on that? And since I am sort
    of a pop guy, Higher Love knocked me out.
    
    I must say, however, that I still play that Blind Faith song on my
    twelve string: "Come done off your throne and leave your body at home /
    Somebody must change..." I forget the title.
    
    I also tired of the extended jams and the overdubbed studio stuff that
    so often seemed technically laudable but creatively vacant due to the
    lack of any kind of synergy.
    
    The song Roll With It struck me as a nice soul inspired song but the
    album left me disappointed. It is hard to follow something like Higher
    Love, as soo many artists find.
    
    Oh, well, FWIW...
    
    Ray

>    I must say, however, that I still play that Blind Faith song on my
>    twelve string: "Come done off your throne and leave your body at home /
>    Somebody must change..." I forget the title.

Can't Find My Way Back Home.

Excellent album ... really got bashed by the critics when it came out, though.
I guess they expected more from a supposed "Super Group."  :^/

    
    	My first exposure to a Stevie album was Traffic's "On the Road".
    	My favorite Traffic is definitely Shootout.  Why did he quit 
    	the guitar for keys?  Is that his solo on Dear Mister Fantasy?
    	I have always enjoyed his bluesy singing/playing.
    
    	The 1st Go album was interesting.  Really liked about half the
    	stuff on it a lot.  I seem to remember that Al Dimeola was on it.
    	Did a blazing solo on Ghost Machine, I believe.  Also, there was
    	Michael Shrieve (Santana) on drums.  

    re: 146.10
    
    About that line in "Can't find my way home":
    
    > Come down off your throne/ and leave your body at home
    
    I'm sure it's "leave your body alone."
    
    But, gee, maybe I like your version better!
    
    Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle!

    I would like to know what do the lyrics to "Arc Of A Diver" mean.
    It sounds like a private love song to someone very special.
    I am a fan and my favorite tunes are: Arc Of A Diver.
                                          Back In The High Life.
                                          Split Decision.
                                          Low Spark.
                                          and Roll Right Stones.
    
                         Thanx!
    
                               Darhyl.
     
    

    Heard I'm a Man by Spencer Davis on my way in to work a couple mornings
    ago. Gawd, I wish I had a better radio. What a tune. Why's it so damn
    short. And what happened to Muff?

    Muff Winwood became a staff A&R man at Island records.  He worked as
    producer for a number of Island acts, including Sutherland Bros. and
    Quiver, John Martyn, Patto, etc.
    
    						Brian

    
    I saw Steve Winwood on his "Back In The High Life" tour in Nov. '86. 
    He played mandolin on the title cut.  For me, "Back In The High Life"
    is the best song that Winwood has ever done.
    
    During that concert mentioned above, he even played oldies such as
    "Empty Pages" from the "John Barleycorn" LP.  It was one of the best
    concerts I ever attended.  Winwood seemed very warm and genuine and
    obviously loves performing in front of a receptive audience.  The seats
    I had were on the side - lousy at best, but the performance certainly
    made up for it.  BTW, Level 42 was the warmup band, and they were also
    very, very excellent.  Those guys in that band can really play!
    
    Bill Slater

    
    	Heard on the news that Steve is trying to reform Traffic
    	with Mason and Capaldi and ?.
    
    	Hope this one happens!
    
    	Tom
    

    Well, ? aint gonna be Chris Wood or Reebop because they are both
    deceased.  Geez, trying *again* with Dave Mason?  Didn't he just join
    Fleetwood Mac?  
    
    Gee, a Traffic reunion would be great...maybe they could get the
    Beatles to open up  8^)
    
    							Brian