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Track Listings
| 1. Glad |
| 2. Freedom Rider |
| 3. Empty Pages |
| 4. I Just Want You To Know |
| 5. Stranger To Himself |
| 6. John Barleycorn (Must Die) |
| 7. Every Mother's Son |
| 8. Sittin' Here Thinkin' Of My Love |
| 9. Backstage And Introduction |
| 10. Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring |
| 11. Glad |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Traffic's third studio album is also its third best, ranking below the band's superb second record (1968's Traffic) and its psychedelic debut (1968's Mr. Fantasy). The depth of those albums came from having two superior songwriters, Steve Winwood and Dave Mason; by John Barleycorn, Winwood was leading a trio that included Chris Wood on horns and Jim Capaldi on drums. Winwood now supplied guitar as well as keyboards, and songs like "Glad" and "Freedom Rider" reflected the trio's fondness for instrumental jams. But the 1970 album is remembered most for the title tune, a traditional folk tune blessed with one of the finest vocals of Winwood's long career. --John Milward
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This album found the Traffic trio of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood at their creative best and represents a peak in their musicianship as three players whose chemistry really found it's collective muse here post their initial disbandment. For me, not only is this one of the best albums of it's era but it's one of the best of any era.The re-mastering on the first disc of the original John Barleycorn album re-release does a great job of seperating the instruments and the clarity of Chris Wood's flute and sax and Steve Winwood's guitar, piano and organ work really does provide a new dimension for the stand out tracks within this fine album. It has always been a really innovative piece of work with Glad merging mellifluously into Freedom Rider as the opening two tracks but some of the bass muddiness on the original release has been overcome here particularly on Empty Pages and Every Mother's Son.Steve Winwood's virtuoso organ playing on the latter has never sounded better than it does here in a travel song that takes you on a real musical journey with lyrics that match the quality of musicianship "The back door to the universe, That old moon dust..." "Stranger to Himself" features excellent lead guitar work by SW which sounds better than ever. As for the title track itself, these three guys could be playing in your living room the sound is that good and it's a great version of the traditional English folk song with outstanding acoustic guitar and vocals from Steve and Jim Capaldi with flute work by Chris Wood that is quite exquisite.The Berkshire Downs and Cotswolds countryside permeates through the music as a tangible influence upon the sound created between the three players.... Read more ›
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Juan Mobili
Format:Audio CD
Times had changed by 1970 ... Dave Mason was off to a full solo career, Chris Wood had joined Ginger Baker's Airforce, and Capaldi was not so sure what he wanted to do, but had not yet decided to quit the drums and be a singer.
This is how this album begins, with only Stevie Winwood in the studio, having already penned a couple of songs -"Every Mothers Son" and, only included in this remastered version, "Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love"- and ready to record a solo album.
Anyway, that was the plan but was not what ended up happening. Instead, whatever the real reason was -several stories are told- soon enough Capaldi and Steve's brother, Chris Wood, joined him and this became Traffic third studio album.
Although Mason was gone -his contribution to Traffic's original sound and the two gems they recorded together can never be acknowledged enough- Winwood had enough music, feeling and ideas to carry the load and make "Barleycorn ..." a classic in its own right.
It can be said that although this is very much a Traffic album, it is more heavily dominated by Winwood's musical vision and playing than its predecessors.
There are two strong musical courses, running through Winwood's veins, coming naturally to a crossroads here, the ever-present Jazz/R&B that Winwood had been feeding off since the Spencer Davis Group's days, and his connection to the English Folk tradition.
Actually, when you think that it was recorded over thirty years ago, it is even a more astounding example of how "ahead-of -its-times" Traffic was and, even more conclusively, what a tremendous composer Winwood had already become at 22.
Traffic, as a whole, and this album in particular are, to this day, one of the beacons of popular music that has ever been recorded, even today.
This is how this album begins, with only Stevie Winwood in the studio, having already penned a couple of songs -"Every Mothers Son" and, only included in this remastered version, "Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love"- and ready to record a solo album.
Anyway, that was the plan but was not what ended up happening. Instead, whatever the real reason was -several stories are told- soon enough Capaldi and Steve's brother, Chris Wood, joined him and this became Traffic third studio album.
Although Mason was gone -his contribution to Traffic's original sound and the two gems they recorded together can never be acknowledged enough- Winwood had enough music, feeling and ideas to carry the load and make "Barleycorn ..." a classic in its own right.
It can be said that although this is very much a Traffic album, it is more heavily dominated by Winwood's musical vision and playing than its predecessors.
There are two strong musical courses, running through Winwood's veins, coming naturally to a crossroads here, the ever-present Jazz/R&B that Winwood had been feeding off since the Spencer Davis Group's days, and his connection to the English Folk tradition.
Actually, when you think that it was recorded over thirty years ago, it is even a more astounding example of how "ahead-of -its-times" Traffic was and, even more conclusively, what a tremendous composer Winwood had already become at 22.
Traffic, as a whole, and this album in particular are, to this day, one of the beacons of popular music that has ever been recorded, even today.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By redrx7
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I got the original vinyl of this a couple of years ago and its good to hear that this Deluxe CD Edition tries hard to keep close to the warmth,rhythm and space of the original analogue sound, allowing the songs to breath and groove without any hint of digital compression.
So why only 4 stars then?
Well the problem is the second disc.
The various alternate takes are well worth a listen but at the expense of the full track listing from one of the 2 Fillmore East shows? I think not.
These shows are easily available and have superb sound quality -see Wolfgang's Vault to listen- and are always more interesting to fans than a slightly different take on familiar songs.Indeed,the improvisations and jams during Traffic live shows were surely one of the defining features of the band.
But yet again, unearthing rehearsals or alternate takes is the preferred option for the record company types who must source a lot of these so called "extras" e.g
the complete waste of space that the recent Rainbow and Queen re-issues represent.
This is much, much better than those but would have been perfect with a complete Fillmore Set!
So why only 4 stars then?
Well the problem is the second disc.
The various alternate takes are well worth a listen but at the expense of the full track listing from one of the 2 Fillmore East shows? I think not.
These shows are easily available and have superb sound quality -see Wolfgang's Vault to listen- and are always more interesting to fans than a slightly different take on familiar songs.Indeed,the improvisations and jams during Traffic live shows were surely one of the defining features of the band.
But yet again, unearthing rehearsals or alternate takes is the preferred option for the record company types who must source a lot of these so called "extras" e.g
the complete waste of space that the recent Rainbow and Queen re-issues represent.
This is much, much better than those but would have been perfect with a complete Fillmore Set!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well anyone who loves this album obviously won`t be disappointed. What makes this DeLuxe Edition the business is that we have the LP on one disc & all of the extra tracks on disc 2. So you can listen to the album or the extras. Manufacturers take note. This is the way to make a DeLuxe Edition. Oh you won`t be disappointed by the extra tracks either.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Pink Robert
Format:Audio CD
I would hate myself if I would sound as someone who has the intention to let down this most excellent edition of so dear album to all of us. My comments regard the second disc i.e.. Fillmore East concert. The tape was in circulation among collectors for ages so a lot of Traffic fans knew it very well, including myself, and it was hard to imagine the reasons to exclude five tracks from the concert tape: Pearly Queen, Heaven Is In Your Mind, John Barleycorn, Means To An End and Dear Mr. Fantasy, all great performances. The whole concert lasts around 70 minutes, so it would fit the second disc, while the outtakes could fill the first disc that lasts mere 35 minutes. Something else bothers me even more: two live tracks were "shorten" about one minute each, in both cases some solos were cut short which is really a shame because I could not find the reason for that.
Again, I love Barleycorn-era Traffic and I would recommend everyone to treasure their every album, including this edition, but I could not help myself not to mention this.
Again, I love Barleycorn-era Traffic and I would recommend everyone to treasure their every album, including this edition, but I could not help myself not to mention this.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Album
The only debate on this on is whether this or 'Low Spark' is the best Traffic album. Steve Winwood at his finest.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Clifton Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Grumpy old git
How is this a deluxe edition. Another case of the record companies squeezing our lemons until our pips squeak. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Geoffrey Parkes
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Fairly Essential Album
I remember listening to this album in a record shop in Edinburgh in 1970 and not being convinced enough to buy it. Time has changed my opinion. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Colin Inverarity
5.0 out of 5 stars
BRILLIANCE
I saw them debut this at Mothers in Erdington. This remains my most played album of all time. And to put that in context, I love The Beatles. RIP Chris and Jim.
Published 22 months ago by SIMON
4.0 out of 5 stars
Barleycorn mustn't die
Good to hear this again. Some regard it as Traffic's best but, personally I prefer the rawness of Mr Fantasy and the much overlooked second album. Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2011 by C. R. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome improvement
I first purchased this album way back when it was first released. The music was excellent but you could not say the same about the pressings in Australia. Read more
Published on 26 April 2011 by Gerard A. Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Barleycorn Lives
This is a rather excellent remaster of "John Barleycorn Must Die". That's a rare thing in itself.
It is true that the CD2 doesn't really match the new clarity of this... Read more
It is true that the CD2 doesn't really match the new clarity of this... Read more
Published on 15 April 2011 by JW
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not The Traffic I Had Expected!
I understand that Traffic had disbanded in the late 1960s, however Steve Winwood had got them back together for John Barleycorn Must Die which was released in 1970. Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2011 by J. Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Traffic John Barleycorn Must die
Originally a Stevie Winwood solo album entitled Mad Shadows but became a Traffic CD. I bought this as a present as I already owned the Vinyl and have a CD copy of my own. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2010 by Mr. James K. Hunter
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