On Road

The whole album, which was originally a two disc vinyl album, is on one disc. The tracks are long and extended, and given a jazz feel; but never boring. One of the best Traffic albums ever. This was recored live in Germany. If you like traffic, this ones a real winner. It's just as exciting today, as it was the day it was released.

Backed by Muscle Shoals sidemen, Winwood, Capaldi, and Wood rock like never before. Traffic songs that were already great were transformed into extended jazzy jams with interesting interplay between all the players. A funky groove unites all the separate tracks, making this a great driving album or a soundtrack for doing housework. Too bad the sidemen split from Traffic after this, since the album promised potential future development that might have significantly altered the direction of contemporary music. As it is, it's a lesser-known gem in the rock archive that is absolutely necessary for any true music fan of 70's progressive rock.

I started going to concerts in Chicago in the Fall of 1973. The first three, all at the Chicago Stadium, were Jethro Tull, the Allman Brothers, and Bob Dylan & the Band. I never saw Traffic, which is one of my great regrets. I now know they played the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago in February 1973 on the tour documented on this album. The recordings are from Germany in April. So ON THE ROAD serves as a momento of a concert I never saw. The best tracks are "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory" (6:51) and "Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" (10:56). Both are up-tempo and both feature Winwood on guitar. He uses his wah-wah pedal to great effect on the first. The latter, with Capaldi's vocal, ends in a funky groove featuring Barry Beckett's organ. I have always maintained that Steve Winwood is an under-rated guitarist. Elsewhere, when not playing guitar, Winwood plays piano. "(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired" is good but low-key, a sad ballad sung by Winwood. Just piano, bass and drums for most of the 10:31, toward the end Winwood plays some nice guitar, making me think it was Barry Beckett of Muscle Shoals on piano the whole time. "Tragic Magic" (8:39) is also good, featuring Chris Wood on sax. "Glad/Freedom Rider" (20:35) starts at a superfast clip, but trails off and meanders, a live version that makes you wish for the studio recording. Likewise the encore number "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" (17:47), which is tepid. Chris Wood gets lots of time on saxophone, and he does nothing with it. Winwood, Capaldi, and Wood are joined here by the Muscle Shoals session musicians Roger Hawkins on drums, David Hood on bass, and Barry Beckett on piano and organ, as well as percussionist Rebop Kwakuu Baah. I only belatedly realized after all these years that drummer Jim Capaldi had hired replacements for himself! Jim Gordon played drums on the "Low Spark" album, and it never occurred to me that Gordon made Capaldi redundant. Hawkins and Hood played on the "Shoot Out" album and this following tour. Capaldi only took over the drums again for the final Traffic album, "When the Eagle Flies." Of course Capaldi was the group's lyricist, and he sang "Rock and Roll Stew" and "Light Up and Leave Me Alone." Other than that, it seems that he was reduced to the role of a percussionist. Strange. Now Gordon and Hawkins were both excellent drummers. And Capaldi presumably still got paid! The second reincarnation of Traffic without Dave Mason is one of my favorite bands. It's too bad this live document isn't better. I can strongly recommend it only to hardcore fans. Others should stick to "John Barleycorn," "Low Spark," and a compilation for the best tracks from "Shoot Out" and "When the Eagle Flies." *** *** *** I am pretty sure I never owned this album until now, but it looks familiar. I must have seen a friend's copy, but I can't think who that would have been. It was originally a 2-disc vinyl LP. Back in the day it was my understanding that "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory" was a fictionalized version of a real life event, a police raid of an LSD factory. I can find no verification of that online, but I still like the story. David Hood, the Muscle Shoals rhythm section bass player, is the father of Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers. As far as I know, this is the only recording I have of the senior Hood.

Finally arrived product was listed as new arrived used and scratched bad for business

the best traffic live album....glad/freedom rider cut...one of the best I've heard..

I like Traffic. Add David Hood and others from Muscle Shoals Alabama and I had to have it. Steve Winwood and the guys from Muscle Shoals jam. Blue Eyed soul and blues meets British rock.

Very good album. Would be nice to have more songs on it!

Get "On The Road" the drive is so good that you will want to stay "On The Road" there are not any pot holes, but there is definitely one big Traffic jam! Piano-guitar-Percussion-Bass-Sax-Flute-Drums-Keyboards. A flowing Traffic jam like none you have ever been in, get "On The Road" and experience live Traffic!

Ho consumato il vinile, e ho detto tutto.

Un incroyable groupe live. J'aurais aime etre sur place mais l'album est excellent.

UNEQUALLED, KNOCK-OUT LIVE ALBUM! A "TIMELINE" REVIEW... PLAY 1...Jazz and R'nB - what?? It doesn't sound like Traffic, I expected pop, like "Hole In My Shoe", etc. PLAY 2...No I don't get it. The tracks are too long... I don't know what's it's all about. (Have I been done?). PLAY 3...I'll play it again - you never know. Hey! I like "Low Spark" and "Glad/Freedom Rider"! (I get those two anyway!) PLAY 4...Yes, "Low Spark" and "Glad/Freedom Rider" are excellent. Wait! ...tracks 4 and 5 are al-right now! I get it! PLAY 5...Yep! Cool album, I love it all! It's terrific, what incredible musicianship, what an incredible achievement live! PLAY 6...And for the next 40 yrs...visionary...genius...perceptive...worthwhile...appreciated...I never tire of it! (etc, etc). WARNING! IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL LISTENS TO FULLY APPRECIATE THIS MORE MEANINGFUL, BETTER ALBUM! (*Get 2003 remaster).

Un disco magnífico y una compra sin problemas

excellent