Complete List Of Traffic Songs From A to Z

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Steve Winwood, fresh from his success with the Spencer Davis Group, joined forces with Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason to form a band that would soon redefine what British rock could sound like. Their early songwriting sessions took place in a secluded cottage in Aston Tirrold, Berkshire, a setting that allowed them to experiment freely with diverse styles, fusing rock, jazz, folk, and psychedelia into something unmistakably their own.

Their debut album, Mr. Fantasy, was released in December 1967 on Island Records and immediately set them apart from their contemporaries. Produced by Jimmy Miller, the record featured Steve Winwood’s commanding vocals and multi-instrumental skill, Chris Wood’s rich saxophone and flute textures, Dave Mason’s inventive guitar and songwriting, and Jim Capaldi’s steady rhythmic drive. Early Traffic recordings including “Paper Sun,” “Hole in My Shoe,” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy” showcased the group’s innovative use of melody and improvisation. The album reached number sixteen on the UK Albums Chart and number eighty-eight in the United States, marking the beginning of a career defined by fearless musical exploration.

By 1968, Traffic had evolved rapidly, releasing their self-titled second album, Traffic, which contained the Dave Mason composition “Feelin’ Alright?” The song became one of their most enduring works and was later covered by Joe Cocker and many other artists. Mason’s relationship with the band remained unsettled, and Traffic continued for a time as a trio, maintaining a rich and layered sound that leaned more heavily on improvisation and complex arrangements. Their live performances gained a reputation for unpredictability and creative freedom, reflecting the band’s commitment to musicianship over commercial trends.

After a brief disbandment in 1969, Steve Winwood began recording a solo project that soon evolved into Traffic’s fourth studio album, John Barleycorn Must Die, released in 1970. The album blended rock, folk, and jazz influences into a cohesive and mature sound, highlighted by “Glad,” “Freedom Rider,” and “Empty Pages.” The record reached number five on the Billboard 200 and number eleven in the UK, reestablishing Traffic as one of the most sophisticated and musically accomplished bands of the era.

In 1971, Traffic followed with The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, an album that further cemented their legacy. Featuring the title track, a sprawling and hypnotic piece that became a signature of the band’s live performances, the record also included “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” and “Rock & Roll Stew.” Winwood’s leadership, Capaldi’s writing, and contributions from Rick Grech, Jim Gordon, and Reebop Kwaku Baah created a sound that was both ambitious and accessible. The album reached number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in the United States.

Traffic continued to evolve with Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973) and When the Eagle Flies (1974). The personnel surrounding Winwood, Capaldi, and Wood shifted during this period, with musicians including David Hood, Roger Hawkins, Barry Beckett, Rosko Gee, and Reebop Kwaku Baah contributing to the band’s expanding musical vocabulary. Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory reached number six in the United States, while When the Eagle Flies climbed to number nine.

The band’s initial run came to an end in 1974 after years of extensive touring and recording. Steve Winwood embarked on a highly successful solo career, while Jim Capaldi released a series of albums as both a performer and songwriter. Traffic reunited in 1994 for Far from Home, recorded primarily by Winwood and Capaldi, and followed the album with a world tour that introduced their classic songs to a new generation of fans.

Traffic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Chris Wood died in 1983, Jim Capaldi died in 2005, and Dave Mason died in 2026. Their recordings continue to document a band that repeatedly changed shape without surrendering the improvisational freedom and musical curiosity at the center of its identity.

Complete List Of Traffic Songs From A to Z

The following list includes Traffic’s studio recordings, non-album singles, B-sides, officially released alternate mixes, reissue bonus tracks, and selected live performances.

“Am I What I Was or Am I What I Am” – Traffic (1968)
“Berkshire Poppies” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Blind Man (live at the Fillmore)” – Last Exit (1969)
“Coloured Rain” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Cryin’ to Be Heard” – Traffic (1968)
“Dealer” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Dear Mr. Fantasy” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Don’t Be Sad” – Traffic (1968)
“Dream Gerrard” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Empty Pages” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“Evening Blue” – Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
“Every Mother’s Son” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“Every Night, Every Day” – Far from Home (1994)
“Far from Home” – Far from Home (1994)
“Feelin’ Alright?” – Traffic (1968)
“Feelin’ Alright? (mono single mix)” – Traffic (1968)
“Feelin’ Good (live at the Fillmore)” – Last Exit (1969)
“Freedom Rider” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“Gimme Some Lovin’ (live)” – Welcome to the Canteen (1971)
“Giving to You (album version)” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Giving to You (mono single version)” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Glad” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“Graveyard People” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Heaven Is in Your Mind” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Here Comes a Man” – Far from Home (1994)
“Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush (stereo version)” – Traffic (1968)
“Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (single version)” – non-album single (1967)
“Hidden Treasure” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“Hole in My Shoe” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Holy Ground” – Far from Home (1994)
“Hope I Never Find Me There” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“House for Everyone” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“I Just Want You to Know” – John Barleycorn Must Die reissue (1999)
“John Barleycorn (Must Die)” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“Just for You” – Last Exit (1969)
“Light Up or Leave Me Alone” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“Love” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Many a Mile to Freedom” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“Means to an End” – Traffic (1968)
“Medicated Goo (album version)” – Last Exit (1969)
“Medicated Goo (mono single version)” – non-album single (1968)
“Memories of a Rock n’ Rolla” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Mozambique” – Far from Home (1994)
“No Face, No Name and No Number” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“No Time to Live” – Traffic (1968)
“Nowhere is Their Freedom” – Far from Home (1994)
“Paper Sun” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Pearly Queen” – Traffic (1968)
“Rainmaker” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“Riding High” – Far from Home (1994)
“Roamin’ Thru’ the Gloamin’ with 40,000 Headmen” – Traffic (1968)
“Rock & Roll Stew” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“Rock & Roll Stew Parts 1 & 2” – non-album single (1971)
“Roll Right Stones” – Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
“Sad and Deep as You (live)” – Welcome to the Canteen (1971)
“Shanghai Noodle Factory (album version)” – Last Exit (1969)
“Shanghai Noodle Factory (single version)” – B-side to “Medicated Goo” (1968)
“Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory” – Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
“Shouldn’t Have Took More Than You Gave (live)” – Welcome to the Canteen (1971)
“Sittin’ Here Thinkin’ of My Love” – John Barleycorn Must Die reissue (1999)
“Smiling Phases” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Some Kinda Woman” – Far from Home (1994)
“Something New” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Something’s Got a Hold of My Toe” – Last Exit (1969)
“(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired” – Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
“State of Grace” – Far from Home (1994)
“Stranger to Himself” – John Barleycorn Must Die (1970)
“The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” – The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
“This Train Won’t Stop” – Far from Home (1994)
“Tragic Magic” – Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory (1973)
“Utterly Simple” – Mr. Fantasy (1967)
“Vagabond Virgin” – Traffic (1968)
“Walking in the Wind” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“We’re a Fade, You Missed This” – Heaven Is in Your Mind (1967)
“When the Eagle Flies” – When the Eagle Flies (1974)
“Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring” – Traffic (1968)
“Withering Tree (album version)” – Last Exit (1969)
“Withering Tree (stereo single mix)” – B-side to “Feelin’ Alright?” (1968)
“You Can All Join In” – Traffic (1968)
“You Can All Join In (mono single mix)” – Traffic (1968)