Were these guys terrific or what? Does anyone play rock n' roll like this 40 years later? How these guys managed to get so far into the stratosphere is beyond me; some say it was LSD, but you also have to appreciate their sheer talent and creativity. Stevie Winwood, Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi--unbelievable. The album this song is on, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, is one of those underappreciated classic rock albums.
I was about 20 and backpacking through Amsterdam. It was raining, I was broke, and was high as f##k. I came across a street musician playing the most amazing jazz flute and all was right with the world. Instantly brought me back to Traffic. What an iconic band and so impactful to what jam bands are today. This will always be my desert island band,
I remember seeing Traffic at Winterland in San Francisco in 1972 and it only cost me $6.00 then. Their music and albums were fantastic !!! They dont get talent like this anymore .
Such a great band,the mid 60's to early 70's was without a doubt the golden age of music of all styles.Rock,Soul,Funk,Jazz,even Country and Bluegrass were going through so many changes and so many great bands playing. I sure miss those times..especially with all the stuff that passes for music these days.
yes, i agree. Chris Wood was a great musician, very influential on Traffic's music, Traffic was not just Winwood, they were all great and did great music.
Saw Stevie open for Tom Petty last year. While I thoroughly appreciate Tom, the idea that a musical genius like Stevie would ever bill below a fairly predictable workman like Petty nearly set me to tears. A synergy in this music that was only realized in less than a handful of groups. So glad Stevie is still around and sounding great.
Roxy, I thought the same thing. Last night I went to see him again-as you probably know, this year he's playing with Steely Dan. While they're a step up from Petty, we can't be the only ones who realize he's a legend and doesn't need to share the billing with ANYone!
Seen him twice in UK 'recently'. First with his daughter as support and then with Steely Dan. He doesn't particularly like touring and does likes collaboration, so perhaps it's a career choice. Fingers crossed he's missed gigging and gets back out there. We're all waiting. On a sad note, just finished Tragic Magic the biography of the talented Chris Wood. Still feeling a bit haunted by his story a few weeks on. Worth a read.
Once in a lifetime concert Once in a lifetime tune Once in a lifetime group,,, Traffic was a blazing comet that burnt out much too soon,,, Miss you Traffic,,,
+David Doyle Lucky you to have seen them. I didn't become "aware" of Traffic until my 11th grade in High School back in 1976-77. I just started to become a Detroit "Burnout" and explored alternative music on FM radio I never knew before. This was my 1st Traffic album I procured and still have it with the purchase receipt. They sure don't make music like this any more. We are now perceived as our parents when we mocked them for what they listened to during their glory days. The circle is now complete.
+SM2-BLK-II Missile was that on WABX Detroit that you listened? There is a WABX Detroit facebook page in case you are interested. Did you go to Cass Tech? facebook.com/groups/318535481387/
+Sandy A. Sandy, Yes...WABX - DETROIT. In fact, I have an old button with Ted Nugent that has WABX logo at the bottom. You may remember. I also have W4 buttons, my original DREAD WRIF card. Do you remember CJOM? Times change but not memories of good old simple "party" daze!!
+SM2-BLK-II Missile Yes I remember the call letters but don't remember the genre of music that was played on the station. It was from Canada do you remember the # and what kind of music was on? That's cool you still have the old buttons! Did you sign up to the WABX facebook page?
this has to be the best live capture of chris, showcasing different instruments. quite a special time for traffic. yet still no rain as california, oregon, and washington are in extreme drought. rainmaker, make me some rain so the dogs and birds can drink out of every pond and puddle.
Songs like Rainmaker always stayed with me and impressed me. Because it was a part of a tradition of bringing older Celtic music into the "rock and roll stew". Traffic did this well. Chris Wood died tragically due to drug problems from what I've read. But he did add a sensitive element to Traffic. His flute part in Rainmaker still remains impressive and haunting. This should have been some of the background music in the hobbit movies! Oh well.
You don’t even need to be stoned to listen to Traffic. You definitely get high on their musical talent.. the whole band. Saw them in Philly 1972. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen…
I am fascinated with this song, especially with the sound of the flute, it is hypnotizing, as if it transported me to unknown, ancient places and times... In the studio and live they achieve a unique magic.
This song and the others on Low Spark bring me back to my youth. I bought this album when it just released and played it late at night after my folks had gone to sleep. Many a mile to Freedom ,Rock and Roll Stew,Hidden Treasure, Light up or Leave me Alone- so many gems on this record, each one bringing you to a cool,interesting place. Saw them about a year later with Free in New York. No one makes music like this anymore.
saw Traffic 5 times most recently in 1974 and finally in 1994 and they never burned out, they were always fab especially the original line up, Winwood,Wood,&Capaldi, they made awesome music, I think the 2nd album with Forty thousand headmen is one of their best and is often overlooked! I saw Traffic before 1972 and they performed most of the Mr. Fantasy Lp, Steve's vocals on Dear Mr. Fantasy were unreal and his lead guitar was better than on the original which is saying alot! I preferred their live performances over the Stones who were boring!skip alunan
I was lucky enough to see them around the time this video was shot. Fantastic band, and no, no one does music like this anymore. Back then there was no "mold" you had to fit in order to get a contract, you just had to be good and more important, different. Today it's cookie cutter pop, they may dress it up different to fit the market they've targeted but it's all the same.
+David Doyle Why would you? You can buy their cd's, download the music or listen to it on yt. They made some great music, but at some point things end. They exhausted their art. And it's a load of bs that today there aren't any good musicians. There are plenty good ones now, like there were plenty of bad musicians back then, only those no one cares about anymore, obviously.
Kazimierz Garshin Great please tell me about some of the great musicians around today especially the ones that can tune up their instruments,,,,Im all ears
David Doyle A bit late: I will, but there is no point in me naming names if you are just looking for the same kind of sound as Traffic or another comparable band from that time. You would have to have an open mind to new music. One I like very much: Joanna Newsom, especially her album Ys. More to follow.
On one hand, one could argue it's kind of sad that these days, when you look out at the audience, it's like a vast sea of glowing cell-phone zombies bootlegging the show instead of being present in the moment. But as the poster of this video pointed out, this would be the ONLY concert video, which makes the footage that much more precious.
This reminds me of when I saw them in Denver in 1972. It was in a small college’s gymnasium. Only about 300-400 people were there. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to, in my 50+ years old concerts. 👍🏻👍🏻
I’ve been a big Traffic fan since high school, especially Chris. I bought the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and remember listening to Rainmaker on repeat during our band trip to NYC. It was raining the whole trip too. I would eagerly watch 60’s Generation on VH1 Classic every Sunday cause they played “Glad” from this concert almost every week. I eventually found a DVD of this whole show on eBay. Shame what happened to Chris. I hope he is flying high and free and in no more pain.
Lyrics Rainmaker, rainmaker The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand Rainmaker, rainmaker Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall Rainmaker, rainmaker The sky is gray, the ground is so hard It's been cracked by the sun Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
EN MEMORIA DE CHRIS WOOD Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood, nace un 24 June 1944 en Quinton un suburbio del barrio obrero de Birmingham, y fallece a los 39 años en la misma ciudad el 12 de julio de 1983 y será recordado por quienes amamos la buena música por ser uno de los fundadores del supergrupo Traffic con Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, y Dave Mason. Fue un talento tanto de la pintura (se le atribuye la creación del símbolo redondo que aparece en todos los discos de la banda) y además un músico precoz que a los quince años aprendió en forma autodidacta a tocar la flauta y el saxofón que fueron la base por el cual transitó la magia de Traffic, como un ejemplo los solos de flauta John Barleycorn, Dealer, Forty thousands headmen, los saxos de Paper Sun, Medicated goo y ese maravilloso riff de flauta en Rainmaker entre otros. Destacó además como músico de sesión de varias glorias de la música contemporáneas, como por ejemplo toca los vientos en los clásicos de Hendrix Vodoo Chile y 1984, Free, Schicken Shack, etc. luego de la separación de Traffic no la pasó tan bien sufriendo adicciones de drogas, problemas con el alcohol (que afectaría su hígado) y la infidelidad de su esposa (que conoció cuando acompañaba al músico Dr., John) hicieron mella en su salud. Y en 1983, cuando se esperaba su retorno musical a lo grande ya que estaba trabajando en un álbum en solitario que iba a ser titulado Vulcan, muere de neumonía en el Hospital Queen Elizabeth en Birmingham, Inglaterra. El disco inconcluso se publica póstumamente en el 2008, pero la mejor forma de recordarlo es escuchándolo cuando formaba parte de Traffic.
I was about 13 when I first heard "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" and the rest of that great album. It blew me into next week and changed forever my appreciation of music. "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Ruby Tuesday" (these tunes were a little dated, at the time) were on the radio at the time and out of nowhere came "Low Spark" and my music tastes were instantly challenged and upgraded
Hey thanks for posting these vids! The clarity of the sound and the video resolution is incredible. Nice to see such a high-quality product from so long ago. Almost makes me feel like I'm right there.
exquisita versión en vivo que nos muestra la sensibilidad de chris wood y la voz de ensueño de stevie; preciosa canción a cargo de una institución:traffic
Ah ah ah !!! Were they knackered out, or not ???? I spent my eighteen drinking beer, smoking joints, playing darts and listening to traffic music. IT WAS A DREAM:
Bought the concert on VHS, lost the tape and was so happy when the DVD got available. Saw Steve live in Austin open air in a natural kind of amphitheater in 2005(?) and remember very well the dark clouds ... When he started Rainmaker the cloud went into a collective sigh - don't let this be successful ... And we were lucky, no rain ...
I was lucky enough to see Traffic in various line ups. This concert with the Muscle Shoals guys has a much fuller sound than the trio of 1970 but is magic all the same. I live just up the road from 'the Cottage' in merry 'ole England. Every time I look across the hills to the chalk white horse Chris's flute springs to mind....
That picture of them, inside one of their Island Records gatefold sleeves when they are all together on top of one of the ancient Ridgeway ----- or it could be at Blueburton Hill, nearby Aston Upworth ( the next village on from A. Tirrold ) ? - is - TIMELESS ENGLAND
I had the same experience, listening to FM radio in the Chicago suburbs with my antennas tilted as far out the window I could get them- I still dream of learning soprano sax!
Rainmaker, rainmaker The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand Rainmaker, rainmaker Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall Rainmaker, rainmaker The sky is gray, the ground is so hard It's been cracked by the sun Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
One of a kind Band! There are great musicians out there today, we just don't have the chance to ever get to hear them, Big business controls all of it today. Tis all about the mighty buck, it's all so sad. Today's kids get mostly shite to tickle their ears, though many kids today enjoy the classics, so this brings the old timers back to play for us and we get to relive our musical past. It's all good
I went to a concert at this time I think 71 or 72 Chris Wood was sick would go of stage to barf and come back play wonderfully as if there wasn't a problem at all and the concert was the longest concert to this day I've been to Rest In Peace Chris
Wanna see Winwood & company at their apex ? `Last Great Traffic Jam' - `94, DVD/2005. Not a concert but an investment that U replay & never tire of. Its focking transcendent ! Also concur w/your awareness that the commercial vomitus pushed today is so far down the scale from what constituted `classic rock', as to blow the mind ! Keep on rockin, dude
This stuff STILL blows away 99%of what's served to us as "music" these days. I'll listen to these geniuses ANYDAY over mainstream music because NONE OF TODAY'S MUSICIANS have anything decent to serve up. Sad but true.
Saw thes guys three times in early seventies , always great music. No smoke bombs, fancy costumes or any gimmicks, they didn't need that stuff. They could actually play thier instuments. Wonderful memories. Later.
Can't thank you enough for promoting this here in a reasonably hi-fi bitrate. Time-travelling is much better at 480 than at 240. (Tho 420 isn't bad either -- or so I hear.) Ya done good.
The very most talented man I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing 5 times and hearing most often. My Parrots, I hope will start to sound like him! I would put my bird Bubba on TV. He’s already been on TV with me. Funny funny bird. Mean as you wouldn’t believe though to men. He will run and attack. No kidding. I think he should meet ole Donnie boy
I saw Traffic in winterland San Francisco 1972 and the ticket was only $6.00 . I was only 18 years old then and pretty wasted. In this video Stevie Windwood looks like he really stoned on Acid !! I had a blast then and saw several famous artists for only $6.00 including Santana which would have cost a few hundred dollars in 2020 . I saw the Rolling stones a few months ago and was not even close to the stage but it was still worth it. I could have seen them for free in Altamont but our car broke down . Fifty years later the concert cost me $250.00 and I was not even close to the stage. Most of Traffic band except for Stevie Winwood have left this world.
Absolutely, Right from the start he created that Traffic/Fantasy sound. Why he wasn't credited on their tracks is beyond me. A talent that should be up there with Turner and Moore.
I TRAFFIC al TOP , peccato che Chris Wood ci abbia lasciato troppo presto . tre anni fa ho visto un meraviglioso concerto di Steve Winwood ( con dei musicisti fantastici ) , il quale ha iniziato con questo brano ( che fa parte del mio disco preferito del gruppo ) e mi sono reso conto di quanto fossero stati potenti all' epoca .
RightOn, LISL ! Is that Chris Wood on flute ? Sadly Chris & Jim Capaldi have passed on. Steve Winwood is one of the greatest under-appreciated musical talents on the planet. An honorary doctorate in music is long overdue.
Were these guys terrific or what? Does anyone play rock n' roll like this 40 years later? How these guys managed to get so far into the stratosphere is beyond me; some say it was LSD, but you also have to appreciate their sheer talent and creativity. Stevie Winwood, Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi--unbelievable. The album this song is on, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, is one of those underappreciated classic rock albums.
And Rick Grech from Blind Faith and Cream and I believe that's Jim Gordon on drums
And Reebop on percussion.
Winwood was a child prodigy, sheer God given talent. That has nothing to do with acid!
Ginger 'BREAD' Baker
(Wild red head....heart of fire)
Chris Wood, Sax & Flute. Lovely musician, and by all accounts by those who knew him, a lovely guy.
Chris Wood's flute was the trademark of Traffic. Such a nice mixture of Folk and Jazz.
I was about 20 and backpacking through Amsterdam. It was raining, I was broke, and was high as f##k. I came across a street musician playing the most amazing jazz flute and all was right with the world. Instantly brought me back to Traffic. What an iconic band and so impactful to what jam bands are today. This will always be my desert island band,
Gone way to soon. Rest in peace, Chris. Still missing missing you like crazy.
What an exhibition of Chris Wood! The soul in this number is deeper than most people can imagine!
The flute always adds a touch of class to a song especially with musicians as talented as these guys
shit like this made me briefly consider learning the flute (till I realized wind instruments didn't really work for me very well, lol)
I remember seeing Traffic at Winterland in San Francisco in 1972 and it only cost me $6.00 then. Their music and albums were fantastic !!! They dont get talent like this anymore .
Well, there is the cure
Such a great band,the mid 60's to early 70's was without a doubt the golden age of music of all styles.Rock,Soul,Funk,Jazz,even Country and Bluegrass were going through so many changes and so many great bands playing.
I sure miss those times..especially with all the stuff that passes for music these days.
I just love this clip, especially Chris Wood's performance. It is magnificent.
we're very fortunate because believe it or not not a lot of footage exist of Chris Through The Years even though he passed so young in the early 80s
me too...
I was privileged to see this edition of Traffic at Lancaster University's Great Hall, 26th April, 1974. Tickets were priced £1.10p.
Excellent quality especially for a live video shot in 1972... Very well preserved too!
Never underestimate the power of psychedelics and a jazz flute.
Just ask Ian Anderson.
Never underestimate the power of psychedelics, 'full stop' Heh, heh 🤭
@@gandalfshakur8235 Ian Anderson was very much anti-drug.
@@john022560 not talkin' bout Ian but talkin' bout moi
Chris Wood died of alcoholic liver disease. Saw him live a few times. Drunk as hell, tripping over cables on stage, he still played like an angel.
Chris Wood is the sound of Traffic...................love this band! Rest in Peace Chris and Jim......Rick Grech and Rebop.
yes, i agree. Chris Wood was a great musician, very influential on Traffic's music, Traffic was not just Winwood, they were all great and did great music.
Gabriele Voak Winwood didnt have challenged ego he was humble and highlighted the individual talent around him.
Quality Service
I simply adore Steve Winwood....
Gabriele 95 me too!
TRy imagining Traffic's music, especially the later stuff, w/o Chris Wood's contribution. Would not be the same.
Saw Stevie open for Tom Petty last year. While I thoroughly appreciate Tom, the idea that a musical genius like Stevie would ever bill below a fairly predictable workman like Petty nearly set me to tears.
A synergy in this music that was only realized in less than a handful of groups. So glad Stevie is still around and sounding great.
Roxy, I thought the same thing. Last night I went to see him again-as you probably know, this year he's playing with Steely Dan. While they're a step up from Petty, we can't be the only ones who realize he's a legend and doesn't need to share the billing with ANYone!
Welcome to The Machine .....
I knew in 1980 he was good,but had no idea he played in so much before this.Great,especially since now if anyone lasts 5 years,it is a miracle.
And these are real instruments that they really learned to play.No robotic sounding tape ,or flat air of atmosphere with these people.
Seen him twice in UK 'recently'. First with his daughter as support and then with Steely Dan. He doesn't particularly like touring and does likes collaboration, so perhaps it's a career choice. Fingers crossed he's missed gigging and gets back out there. We're all waiting. On a sad note, just finished Tragic Magic the biography of the talented Chris Wood. Still feeling a bit haunted by his story a few weeks on. Worth a read.
Once in a lifetime concert
Once in a lifetime tune
Once in a lifetime group,,,
Traffic was a blazing comet that burnt out much too soon,,,
Miss you Traffic,,,
+David Doyle Lucky you to have seen them. I didn't become "aware" of Traffic until my 11th grade in High School back in 1976-77. I just started to become a Detroit "Burnout" and explored alternative music on FM radio I never knew before. This was my 1st Traffic album I procured and still have it with the purchase receipt. They sure don't make music like this any more. We are now perceived as our parents when we mocked them for what they listened to during their glory days. The circle is now complete.
+SM2-BLK-II
Missile was that on WABX Detroit that you listened?
There is a WABX Detroit facebook page in case you are interested.
Did you go to Cass Tech?
facebook.com/groups/318535481387/
+Sandy A. Sandy, Yes...WABX - DETROIT. In fact, I have an old button with Ted Nugent that has WABX logo at the bottom. You may remember. I also have W4 buttons, my original DREAD WRIF card. Do you remember CJOM? Times change but not memories of good old simple "party" daze!!
+SM2-BLK-II Missile
Yes I remember the call letters but don't remember the genre of music that was played on the station. It was from Canada do you remember the # and what kind of music was on? That's cool you still have the old buttons!
Did you sign up to the WABX facebook page?
'ol Chris Wood (flute)..RIP we miss your artistry..he's a lost member of the tribe...
this has to be the best live capture of chris, showcasing different instruments. quite a special time for traffic. yet still no rain as california, oregon, and washington are in extreme drought. rainmaker, make me some rain so the dogs and birds can drink out of every pond and puddle.
Chris Wood playing flute !Very nice!
This song made me love the flute. Such a great band.
Songs like Rainmaker always stayed with me and impressed me. Because it was a part of a tradition of bringing older Celtic music into the "rock and roll stew". Traffic did this well. Chris Wood died tragically due to drug problems from what I've read. But he did add a sensitive element to Traffic. His flute part in Rainmaker still remains impressive and haunting. This should have been some of the background music in the hobbit movies! Oh well.
Chris Wood is doin something to my brain. Brilliance.
+virgorouge And me!!!! :)
It makes you high and gives peace.
You don’t even need to be stoned to listen to Traffic. You definitely get high on their musical talent.. the whole band. Saw them in Philly 1972. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen…
I am fascinated with this song, especially with the sound of the flute, it is hypnotizing, as if it transported me to unknown, ancient places and times...
In the studio and live they achieve a unique magic.
This song and the others on Low Spark bring me back to my youth. I bought this album when it just released and played it late at night after my folks had gone to sleep. Many a mile to Freedom ,Rock and Roll Stew,Hidden Treasure, Light up or Leave me Alone- so many gems on this record, each one bringing you to a cool,interesting place. Saw them about a year later with Free in New York.
No one makes music like this anymore.
how great was Chris Wood? no one could play like he did
Love this song.. Steve Windwood is a talented musician.
he certainly is. Extraordinary musician
*winwood
When I saw Traffic in Albuquerque New Mexico in 1972, I was very impressed by the rhythm change in the song.
Listening to "rainmaker" on night when we're having a tropical storm.
And lots of rain......
The good old Santa Monica Civic,,,,"cradle of great music" back in the day,,,,
saw Traffic 5 times most recently in 1974 and finally in 1994 and they never burned out, they were always fab especially the original line up, Winwood,Wood,&Capaldi, they made awesome music, I think the 2nd album with Forty thousand headmen is one of their best and is often overlooked! I saw Traffic before 1972 and they performed most of the Mr. Fantasy Lp, Steve's vocals on Dear Mr. Fantasy were unreal and his lead guitar was better than on the original which is saying alot! I preferred their live performances over the Stones who were boring!skip alunan
So much, owed by so many, to so few.! - Winwood, Traffic, - who didn’t they influence? ? ?
What city did you see them at Ashley?? I saw them in San Francisco in 1972 at Winterland.
beautiful and mesmerizing performance, as always- Chris is so gosh darn talented! :)
Great live footage of this amazing band, featuring a very young Steve Winwood. Thanks for sharing.
pure greatness...they dont make magic like this anymore...
one of my favorites..what a band..they dont make em like this anymore!
I was lucky enough to see them around the time this video was shot.
Fantastic band, and no, no one does music like this anymore.
Back then there was no "mold" you had to fit in order to get a contract, you just had to be good and more important, different.
Today it's cookie cutter pop, they may dress it up different to fit the market they've targeted but it's all the same.
We will not see another like them in our time,,,,,,
+David Doyle Sorry but you are right! It's gone...
+David Doyle Why would you? You can buy their cd's, download the music or listen to it on yt. They made some great music, but at some point things end. They exhausted their art. And it's a load of bs that today there aren't any good musicians. There are plenty good ones now, like there were plenty of bad musicians back then, only those no one cares about anymore, obviously.
Kazimierz Garshin Great please tell me about some of the great musicians around today especially the ones that can tune up their instruments,,,,Im all ears
except the suck today REALLLLLLYYYY! bad..
David Doyle A bit late: I will, but there is no point in me naming names if you are just looking for the same kind of sound as Traffic or another comparable band from that time. You would have to have an open mind to new music. One I like very much: Joanna Newsom, especially her album Ys. More to follow.
Flute play has similar bounce to Serenade to a Cukcoo. Traffic my 1st concert. 14 yrs. old, Fillmore East, N.Y.C.
there are no words to express what a profound sense of being there is in that flute
Great Live Cut from this Legendary Band!
On one hand, one could argue it's kind of sad that these days, when you look out at the audience, it's like a vast sea of glowing cell-phone zombies bootlegging the show instead of being present in the moment. But as the poster of this video pointed out, this would be the ONLY concert video, which makes the footage that much more precious.
Totally agree. It's such a shame that their isn't more visuals of this brilliant band performing.
Thanks Chris. I always appreciated them. Low spark was always one of my favorite albums.
This reminds me of when I saw them in Denver in 1972. It was in a small college’s gymnasium. Only about 300-400 people were there. It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to, in my 50+ years old concerts. 👍🏻👍🏻
such a relevant song. a masterpeace. chris, rebop and jim all gone rest in peace but steve's still magnificent. this was one of their finest concerts.
guyglowmore1 I don't
This song is so cool, a prayer...
I’ve been a big Traffic fan since high school, especially Chris. I bought the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and remember listening to Rainmaker on repeat during our band trip to NYC. It was raining the whole trip too. I would eagerly watch 60’s Generation on VH1 Classic every Sunday cause they played “Glad” from this concert almost every week. I eventually found a DVD of this whole show on eBay. Shame what happened to Chris. I hope he is flying high and free and in no more pain.
Lyrics
Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand
Rainmaker, rainmaker
Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall
Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray, the ground is so hard
It's been cracked by the sun
Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
EN MEMORIA DE CHRIS WOOD
Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood, nace un 24 June 1944 en Quinton un suburbio del barrio obrero de Birmingham, y fallece a los 39 años en la misma ciudad el 12 de julio de 1983 y será recordado por quienes amamos la buena música por ser uno de los fundadores del supergrupo Traffic con Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, y Dave Mason.
Fue un talento tanto de la pintura (se le atribuye la creación del símbolo redondo que aparece en todos los discos de la banda) y además un músico precoz que a los quince años aprendió en forma autodidacta a tocar la flauta y el saxofón que fueron la base por el cual transitó la magia de Traffic, como un ejemplo los solos de flauta John Barleycorn, Dealer, Forty thousands headmen, los saxos de Paper Sun, Medicated goo y ese maravilloso riff de flauta en Rainmaker entre otros.
Destacó además como músico de sesión de varias glorias de la música contemporáneas, como por ejemplo toca los vientos en los clásicos de Hendrix Vodoo Chile y 1984, Free, Schicken Shack, etc. luego de la separación de Traffic no la pasó tan bien sufriendo adicciones de drogas, problemas con el alcohol (que afectaría su hígado) y la infidelidad de su esposa (que conoció cuando acompañaba al músico Dr., John) hicieron mella en su salud.
Y en 1983, cuando se esperaba su retorno musical a lo grande ya que estaba trabajando en un álbum en solitario que iba a ser titulado Vulcan, muere de neumonía en el Hospital Queen Elizabeth en Birmingham, Inglaterra.
El disco inconcluso se publica póstumamente en el 2008, pero la mejor forma de recordarlo es escuchándolo cuando formaba parte de Traffic.
Chris was a great musician and he's deeply missed. Shame. His life was not a happy one.. R.I.P.
translation, someone, please!
Muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos, Victor. Fué una época que no volverá, pero que sigue con nosotros gracias a la tecnología
There is a CD of Chris Wood's - and it is indeed entitled 'Vulcan'.
Chris Wood was incredible song is beautiful
I first remember them from around 1970. Combination of Rock, Jazz, and European Folk. This is one of my favorites. Digging them still
Chris Wood is drop dead GORGEOUS! Jeanette Jacobs was a lucky girl;)
By all accounts Chris was the unlucky one with his Love.
I was about 13 when I first heard "Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys" and the rest of that great album. It blew me into next week and changed forever my appreciation of music. "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Ruby Tuesday" (these tunes were a little dated, at the time) were on the radio at the time and out of nowhere came "Low Spark" and my music tastes were instantly challenged and upgraded
David Hood, on bass, and Roger Hawkins, on drums, both from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.
Hey thanks for posting these vids! The clarity of the sound and the video resolution is incredible. Nice to see such a high-quality product from so long ago. Almost makes me feel like I'm right there.
exquisita versión en vivo que nos muestra la sensibilidad de chris wood y la voz de ensueño de stevie; preciosa canción a cargo de una institución:traffic
4:05 always gets me. Such a killer funky jam. If I ever go to a jungle region this is the song I'm gonna play.
Ah ah ah !!! Were they knackered out, or not ???? I spent my eighteen drinking beer, smoking joints, playing darts and listening to traffic music. IT WAS A DREAM:
THE 70'S-A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE--THESE GENERATIONS KNOW NOT THAT TIME OF CREATIVITY-BUT IT MAY COME AROUND AGAIN...
I saw Reebop quite often when he was living in Stockholm in the 80s. Traffic rules!
Bought the concert on VHS, lost the tape and was so happy when the DVD got available. Saw Steve live in Austin open air in a natural kind of amphitheater in 2005(?) and remember very well the dark clouds ... When he started Rainmaker the cloud went into a collective sigh - don't let this be successful ... And we were lucky, no rain ...
What beautiful music..... so much trad. English folk in this.
I was lucky enough to see Traffic in various line ups. This concert with the Muscle Shoals guys has a much fuller sound than the trio of 1970 but is magic all the same. I live just up the road from 'the Cottage' in merry 'ole England. Every time I look across the hills to the chalk white horse Chris's flute springs to mind....
That picture of them, inside one of their Island Records gatefold sleeves when they are all together on top of one of the ancient Ridgeway ----- or it could be at Blueburton Hill, nearby Aston Upworth ( the next village on from A. Tirrold ) ? - is -
TIMELESS ENGLAND
I had the same experience, listening to FM radio in the Chicago suburbs with my antennas tilted as far out the window I could get them- I still dream of learning soprano sax!
Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray just by the touch of your hand
Rainmaker, rainmaker
Make me some rain, make all my crops grow tall
Rainmaker, rainmaker
The sky is gray, the ground is so hard
It's been cracked by the sun
Rainmaker, you know my work's never done
Steve was only 12 years old here. He really kicks ass in traffic. I heard Steve was playing music inutero... I believe it.!!
LOVE Traffic! At about 4.32, watch the videographer come into the frame- and the SIZE of the camera and battery!
One of a kind Band! There are great musicians out there today, we just don't have the chance to ever get to hear them, Big business controls all of it today. Tis all about the mighty buck, it's all so sad. Today's kids get mostly shite to tickle their ears, though many kids today enjoy the classics, so this brings the old timers back to play for us and we get to relive our musical past. It's all good
I went to a concert at this time I think 71 or 72 Chris Wood was sick would go of stage to barf and come back play wonderfully as if there wasn't a problem at all and the concert was the longest concert to this day I've been to Rest In Peace Chris
Wanna see Winwood & company at their apex ? `Last Great Traffic Jam' - `94, DVD/2005. Not a concert but an investment that U replay & never tire of. Its focking transcendent ! Also concur w/your awareness that the commercial vomitus pushed today is so far down the scale from what constituted `classic rock', as to blow the mind ! Keep on rockin, dude
This stuff STILL blows away 99%of what's served to us as "music" these days. I'll listen to these geniuses ANYDAY over mainstream music because NONE OF TODAY'S MUSICIANS have anything decent to serve up. Sad but true.
Also love 💕 the river song they do. Been listening for 50 years...a mere flash in time....
Saw thes guys three times in early seventies , always great music. No smoke bombs, fancy costumes or any gimmicks, they didn't need that stuff. They could actually play thier instuments. Wonderful memories. Later.
After 7 years of flute i still couldnt play this. That is what formal lessons could do to natural abilities...take note music teachers
Can't thank you enough for promoting this here in a reasonably hi-fi bitrate.
Time-travelling is much better at 480 than at 240.
(Tho 420 isn't bad either -- or so I hear.)
Ya done good.
Chris Wood really made the sound of Traffic so special.
Steve is awesome! Love the flute also!
I love the flute this came out in 1971 the year I was born my dad had the record google riel boire
I saw them at the Tulane Auditorium in New Orleans when this music was current. Long ago and I miss those times!
Great musicians
SOOOO BEAUTIFUL !!!!!
Saw them live in 72....nothing like them before or since.
The very most talented man I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing 5 times and hearing most often. My Parrots, I hope will start to sound like him! I would put my bird Bubba on TV. He’s already been on TV with me. Funny funny bird. Mean as you wouldn’t believe though to men. He will run and attack. No kidding. I think he should meet ole Donnie boy
Flute was a big thing in 70s rock JT and Traffic many others
I wish I could turn everyone on to this band. This was when music made sense.
Love this Traffic song when I hear it always reminds me of the cartoon Clutch Cargo 😂😂😂
Musical magicians
Love Chris Wood!
These guys loved music...they'd try anything out...a flute solo in a Rock Band..a gorgeous sleeper of a song...
RIP Jim Capaldi
TRAFFIC É DO CARALHO, É UMA DAS MAIORES BANDAS PRA MIM, SÓ TEM MESTRE, COMPETENTES E CRIATIVOS PACA.
Chris Wood passed away way to soon. With his flute and sax, could be the heart and soul of the band.
Souls of Mischief "anything can happen"
Yeah, that's Chris! And I do believe Steve has an honorary doctorate already... Could be wrong, though :)
I saw Traffic in winterland San Francisco 1972 and the ticket was only $6.00 . I was only 18 years old then and pretty wasted. In this video Stevie Windwood looks like he really stoned on Acid !! I had a blast then and saw several famous artists for only $6.00 including Santana which would have cost a few hundred dollars in 2020 . I saw the Rolling stones a few months ago and was not even close to the stage but it was still worth it. I could have seen them for free in Altamont but our car broke down . Fifty years later the concert cost me $250.00 and I was not even close to the stage. Most of Traffic band except for Stevie Winwood have left this world.
There is no Traffic without Chris Wood.
Absolutely, Right from the start he created that Traffic/Fantasy sound. Why he wasn't credited on their tracks is beyond me. A talent that should be up there with Turner and Moore.
This is the one! Yes!!! NIce idea. Keep going.
and now, ten years after, here again to smell that lightness
the song's a prayer. Da
My Life in a Song.
I TRAFFIC al TOP , peccato che Chris Wood ci abbia lasciato troppo presto . tre anni fa ho visto un meraviglioso concerto di Steve Winwood ( con dei musicisti fantastici ) , il quale ha iniziato con questo brano ( che fa parte del mio disco preferito del gruppo ) e mi sono reso conto di quanto fossero stati potenti all' epoca .
RightOn, LISL ! Is that Chris Wood on flute ? Sadly Chris & Jim Capaldi have passed on. Steve Winwood is one of the greatest under-appreciated musical talents on the planet. An honorary doctorate in music is long overdue.
Chris Wood!!! Nuff said. One of a kind RiP!
Exquisite soulfull!!!
This is why I tried to learn flute!
Me, too. I taught myself how to play many years ago. Chris Wood was inspiring, for sure.
That beat change at 4:06 gets me everytime...
Also no Traffic without Jim Capaldi.