Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
 | By Traffic Island, 2002, Audio CD Customer Rating: 51 reviews Recommend |
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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
- Hidden Treasure - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
- The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys - Traffic, Capaldi, Jim
- Light Up or Leave Me Alone - Traffic, Capaldi, Jim
- Rock and Roll Stew - Traffic, Gordon, Jim [Drums]
- Many a Mile to Freedom - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
- Rainmaker - Traffic, Winwood, Steve
- Rock and Roll Stew, Pts. 1 & 2 - Traffic, Gordon, Jim [Drums]
Title: Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Sales Rank: 745 in Music
Artist: Traffic
Label: Island, 2002-03-19, Audio CD, 1 Disc
Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
Package Dimensions: 5.55 x 4.97 x 0.54 inches, 0.18 pounds
- 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… More reviews
- 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… More reviews
- 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… More reviews
- 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… More reviews
- 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… More reviews
