Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Despite not even charting in the band's native England, this album became a platinum-selling American hit on the basis of three enduring FM radio staples--the expansive, jazzy impressionism of the near-12 minute title track, and the more straightforward funk of the R&B charmers 'Light Up or Leave Me Alone' and 'Rock & Roll Stew.' Those disparate tracks perfectly underscore Traffic's rich musical appeal and its restless, sometimes problematic creative and interpersonal relationships. With now thrice-departed Dave Mason out of the mix and percussionists Jim Gordon and Reebop Kwaku Baah participating in the studio for the first time, the band's innate musicality truly takes wing. Winwood's familiar vocal phrasings nearly take a backseat to his fluid, dramatic guitar work on 'Rock & Roll Stew Roll' and 'Many a Mile to Freedom,' while the Tull-ish, folk-madrigal sensibilities of 'Hidden Treasure' and 'Rainmaker' are further punctuated by Chris Wood's deft flute and woodwind flourishes. Compared with the more organic John Barleycorn album, the contrast is all the more remarkable. While many contemporary bands were experimenting with various attempts at fusion, few achieved this collection's rock-jazz-folk-R&B range or level of often subtle sophistication. Digitally remastered, this edition also contains the six-minute-plus U.S. single version of 'Rock & Roll Stew, Parts 1 & 2' as a bonus track. --Jerry McCulley









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Disc 1:

1. Hidden Treasure - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
2. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - Traffic, Capaldi, Jim
3. Light Up or Leave Me Alone - Traffic, Capaldi, Jim
4. Rock and Roll Stew - Traffic, Gordon, Jim [Drums]
5. Many a Mile to Freedom - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
6. Rainmaker - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
7. Rock and Roll Stew, Pts. 1 & 2 - Traffic, Gordon, Jim [Drums]

Rating: - * Breathtaking Sound (2002 US REMASTER) ... I've had this since it came out but after spinning it this morning I was reminded of just how great it was and how deserving of a great review this release is. These US released Traffic remasters from 2002 are stunning, and hearing this album again this morning reminded me of how truly enjoyable it is to hear a modern remaster that hasn't been squashed with compression. Hats off to Bill Levenson for making sure this catalog was treated right when it was reissued in the US. One of my favorite all time albums and I think this remaster sounds gorgeous. Turn it up! Rating: - * A strange thing when most popular and most creative mix well together. ... The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Traffic's 5th album, remains to be one of their most popular albums, due to the suprising smash hits of "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys," "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone," and "Rock & Roll Stew." Yet, for all the commercial play they get, these are anything BUT regular pop singles. These are highly thought out rock & roll tunes combined with a jazz touch and African drumming. Very rarely does an album this thought out have such an impact. What gives? Well, for starters, it's all in the musicianship. Steve Winwood's organ playing never sounded better, but he also picks up the guitar quite a lot on this album, which is his most fiery and vicious playing yet. Also, where once the band was a trio, now they added 3 more members, making the music quite versatile. Ric Grech of the underrated Family and Blind Faith adds bass and a touch of violin on the Eastern-tinged "Rainmaker," Jim Gordon of the excellent Derek & The Dominoes plays drums, and Rebop Kwaku Baah plays congos and percussion, later joining the strange German psychedelic band CAN. Also, this is the sound of Traffic as a band, not heard since 1969's Last Exit. (John Barleycorn was essientially a Steve Winwood solo album.). Everyone compliments each other greatly, and there is a unity sound that has not been heard on previous releases. And, quite simply, the songs are great. Combining rock, pop, jazz, blues, and world music, this is Traffic's most expansive work to date. Songs like "Hidden Treasure" and "Rainmaker" shows the band's more Eastern side, while the title track is the best fusion that was never written by a fusion band. Chris Wood's sax adds a level of intrigue and mystery to this great song, and Winwood's organ is chilling to the touch. The most pure rock songs on here are all sung by Jim Capaldi, who has a really cool voice. Shame he didn't sing more. "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock & Roll Stew" are both jam-heavy classics with some fiery guitar playing and a great groove. All in all, this is a fantastic album by some very dedicated musicians. Get it now if you love rock and roll. Rating: - * Discovering Traffic at well into my adult years ... [Forgive the short review; this deserves better] This is my first Traffic CD, after a decades as a Steve Winwood fan (saw him in both "Arc of a Diver" and "Back in the High Life" tours.) As a prog rock fan, LSOHB is right up my alley with it's great mix of the clean and interesting guitar work, alluring lyrics and tight integration across musicians and song tracks. So now I'm shopping more Traffic works as a result. Rating: - * Winwood at his best ... I stumbled across this album late (1975) and recall being fairly floored at the time that I was not familiar with it (albeit that I had had John Barleycorn for years prior). Simply put, Steve Winwood was a genius on the emotive and exploratory edge of electric guitar, something that seems entirely lost to multiple generations of guitarists and listeners. Listen, if you will, to the trailing guitar licks on Light Up or Leave Me Alone and tell me if you don't feel the presence of something 'bigger' than the rest of all the BS garbage guitar work out there these days. And yet listeners who don't, in fact, listen will have no idea what I'm talking about... Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys (the song) sits at a level above Stairway, Gimme Shelter, and even Layla as without question one of best rock n' roll songs every written and executed. Get educated, buy this CD....But if you're lazy or oversaturated with todays overproduced crap you'll never 'get it'. Good luck. Rating: - * The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys ... Traffic-The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys **** Traffics The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys is a jazz/rock classic. It is both progressive and yet very basic simultaneously. Combining elements of prog with jazz and basic rock n' roll elements. Featuring such Traffic classics as the twelve minute title track `The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys' the blunt (not pun intended) `Light Up Or Leave Me Alone' which features a killer wah-wah guitar solo, something that Traffic became known for, and perhaps the greatest song Traffic ever recorded with the exception of `Mr. Fantasy' is the brilliant `Rock & Roll Stew.' All three went on to become rock classics and seem to still get regular air play despite their time length. The musicianship on the album is amazing as well. The guitar playing and percussion especially. Steve Winwood of course being the master mind behind the whole thing. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys is Traffics strongest album and one that at the very least deserves at least one spin in everyone's stereo.