TRAFFIC

This second Traffic`s album is more "disciplined" than their first album, in the playing of the instruments and in the arrangements. Maybe it is their best album recorded with Dave Mason. It also has less influence from psychedelia, with a mixture of the most Progressive things in Traffic (represented, IMO, by Winwood, Capaldi and Wood) and the mostly Pop Rock vision of Mason. But there is a balance of both influences. They sometimes influence each other with good results. Also, the recordings are better, still with some mistakes done by the members of the band playing their instruments, but still playing and singing with feeling and joy, and some improvisation in some songs. Again produced by Jimmy Miller, who gave them a lot of freedom.The album starts with Mason`s "You Can All Join In", which is a happy Pop Rock song. I think that Mason also had in his style some Folk Music influences. "Pearly Queen" (composed by Winwood/Capaldi) is more heavy. "Don`t be sad" (Mason) is another happy Pop song."Who knows what tomorrow may bring" (Winwood/Capaldi/Wood) is a "light song" but a rocker in some way. "Feelin`Alright" (Mason) is a very good Pop song, played with acoustic guitar. Maybe this song was one of Mason`s most known songs, as it was also recorded by other artists like Joe Cocker and Three Dog Night. Maybe it is his most known hit. "Vagabond Virgin" (Mason/Wood) is a song played with acoustic guitars, flute and percussion. I think that Capaldi`s style of percusion and drums playing gave Traffic an important contribuiton to their very original music style. The same is for Chris Wood`s flute and saxes style of playing. "Forty Thousand Headmen" (Winwood/Capaldi) is another song played with acoustic guitars and percussion. It is one of the best from this album. "Cryin`to be heard" (Mason) is less Pop and better integrated with the style of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood.There is a very good harpsichord arrangement in this song.Mason and Winwood share lead vocals in this song. "No Time To Live" (Winwood/Capaldi) is a bit "dark" song with existential lyrics, very good sax atmospheres by Wood and some percussion atmospheres (with added echo) played by Capaldi. This song is also one of the best from this album. The album ends with a more happy song, "Means To An End". Some of the lyrics in this album are very good. The original L.P. release of this album had a 10 page booklet with photographs. The cover design was done by Jim Capaldi.