HEAVEN IS IN YOUR MIND. AN INTRODUCTION TO TRAFFIC

In common with many of the releases in Island records "An introduction to" series, this album does not seek to be either a "Best of" or a "Greatest hits" collection. Instead, the compilers have admirably resisted the temptation to include many of the most obvious tracks in favour of a set which does indeed serve as a fine introduction to the band.

Most of Traffic's studio albums are covered, with the exception of the final album "Far from home", which was still relatively new at the time of this release, being a belated reunion of Winwood and Capaldi.

The tracks here are presented roughly in chronological order, with minor changes to make for a more satisfactory running sequence. For the early years, the compilers have avoided including potential candidates such as "Paper sun" and "Hole in my shoe" in favour of the far more representative "Pearly queen", "Heaven is in your mind" and the fine "40,000 headmen". The title track from the band's debut "Mr. Fantasy" is also present, but the version here is the extended live rendition from "Welcome to the canteen".

What is particularly rewarding is that two 11+ minute tracks from later albums are included. The title track from "Low spark of high healed boys" may be familiar, but we also have the less well known "Dream Gerrard" from "When the eagle flies". The latter is an understated, deceptively lazy piece written by Winwood in partnership with Viv Stanshall of the Bonzo's. The song features some delightful mellotron in an otherwise rather dull soft jazz interlude.

Two tracks are included from the excellent "John Barleycorn must die" album, but I would still have liked to have seen space found for my personal favourite "Every mother' son".

With so many compilations of songs by Traffic available, this introduction offers a well balanced opportunity to skip over the band's pop side, and discover in an hour or so what they were really all about.