Precocious talent Stevie Winwood had already made his mark in the music world, fronting the successful Spencer Davis group as a teenager. Feeling the need to branch out on his own, he recruited three friends Dave Mason (guitars and vocals), Jim Capaldi (drums) and Chris Wood (reed instruments). Alongside Winwood's prodigious keyboard and vocal talent, the newly formed Traffic's unusual instrumentation and sound brought them to the attention of the young Island label. The band attempted to work as a co-operative, living and working together, and released two succesful singles Paper Sun (1967) and Hole In My Shoe (1967). But Dave Mason's songwriting prominence caused turmoil in the band, and he had left by the time the debut album Mr. Fantasy (1968) had appeared. The band struggled as a trio for a while, but finally resolved their differences with Mason who contributed to the sophmore Traffic (1968) album and wrote the hit single Feelin' Alright (1968). Touring the U.S. to promote the record, Mason was fired by the rest of the band and at the tour's end, Winwood dissolved the group. Struggling to complete a solo album, Winwood recruited Capaldi and Wood to help and the resulting John Barleycorn Must Die (1970) was released under the Traffic moniker, proving to be a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic. They expanded their line up on the consequent tour, with Ric Grech (bass), Jim Gordon (drums) and Reebop Kwalu Baah (percussion) joining the fold. Following the release of the Low Spark On High Heeled Boys (1971) album, the group disbanded while Winwood recovered from Peritonitis. By 1973 they were back in the studio, recording Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory at the famed Muscle Shoals location. They were to release one more effort When The Eagle Flies (1974) before disbanding without fanfare. Winwood, Mason and Capaldi pursued solo careers. Chris Wood succumbed to liver failure in 1983.

Selected Discography