Photo: By Heinrich Klaffs [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Traffic’s first album, Mr. Fantasy, was released in 1967. The albums featured all four original members. However, Dave Mason left the band before the album was even issued. The band’s second album, Traffic, was released one year later, in 1968. Once again, it featured all four original members, and Dave Mason was invited back into the band to record their second record.
The band broke up after the release of their second album. In 1969, Island Records released an album entitled Last Exit which was a compilation of live tracks and unreleased material. In 1970, the band Traffic reformed and released the group’s most successful album. The record entitled John Barleycorn Must Die reached the number five spot on the Billboard Top 200 album charts in 1970. Many of the band’s classic rock hits that have become legendary tracks on classic rock radio were released on the John Barleycorn Must Die album.
Traffic’s fifth studio album, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, was released in 1971. Two years later, in 1973, the band released Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory. In 1974, the band released their final album of the 1970s, When the Eagle Flies.
Twenty years after the release of their final album, Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi reformed Traffic for one more album. In 1994, the album Far From Home was released. The record featured only two members of the original band. It would become the final studio ever released by the band.
# 10 – Shout Out At The Fantasy Factory
Opening up our Top 10 Traffic Songs list is a song from the band’s Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory album. In 1973, Traffic unleashed their sixth studio endeavor, Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory, a follow-up to their critically acclaimed 1971 release, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. The album, composed of five tracks, was brought to life with the collaboration of the venerable Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, including talents such as David Hood on bass and Roger Hawkins on drums, both of whom featured across the entire album. Keyboardist Barry Beckett and guitarist Jimmy Johnson added their expertise to the mix, notably on the track “Tragic Magic.”
Despite receiving a mixed critical reception, Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory managed to climb higher on the Billboard Pop Albums chart than its predecessor, peaking at number six. The album’s packaging continued the unique design tradition of its predecessor, with its jacket corners distinctly clipped.
The association with the Muscle Shoals musicians extended beyond the recording studio, as Hood, Hawkins, and Beckett joined Traffic on their subsequent tour, which was captured in the live album On the Road. This period marked a vibrant chapter in Traffic’s history, highlighting their experimental approaches and collaborations that defined their early ’70s sound. The album itself was given a fresh sheen with a remaster in 2003, ensuring its classic tracks continue to resonate with both old fans and new listeners.
# 9 – John Barleycorn Must Die
Continuing with our Top 10 Traffic Songs list, we turn to the band’s most successful album. The title track from John Barleycorn Must Die was released as the second track on the album’s B side. Steve Winwood’s vocal on this track is haunting yet beautiful. The original musical story of “John Barleycorn” the name stands as a timeless ballad steeped in English and Scottish lore, weaving the tale of its character, a vivid personification of barley and the spirits it births—beer and whisky.
The song narrates the cyclical saga of John Barleycorn, whose trials and tribulations mirror the agricultural processes that transform barley from seed to drink. Each verse is a poignant reflection of Barleycorn’s journey through the seasons: from the brutal reaping to the transformative malting, his story unfolds as an allegory of resilience and rebirth, capturing the essence of the crop that has long been a staple of both sustenance and celebration in British culture.
# 8 – Rock and Roll Stew
The song “Rock and Roll Stew” was released on the album The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys. The album was released in 1971. The song “Rock and Roll Stew” was written by Ric Grech and Jim Gordon. One word……..Groove!
# 7 – Empty Pages
The song “Empty Pages” was the first single from the John Barleycorn Must Die album. The band Blood Sweat & Tears also covered it. Fans have long debated which version of the song is the definitive classic.
# 6 – Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
The song “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone,” was the closing track on the The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys album. The song featured Jim Capaldi on lead vocals. The album was released in November of 1971.
# 5 – Glad
The John Barleycorn Must Die album is the most featured album on our Top 10 Traffic Songs list. One of our favorite Traffic Songs of all time is the simple titled Traffic Song “Glad.” Another one of those incredible piano licks to start of the sons that dances so perfectly with the bass and drums. So freaking brilliant!
# 4 – Dear Mr. Fantasy
As we get closer to the number one spot on our top 10 Traffic songs list, it becomes more difficult to sort the order of these great Traffic songs. “Dear Mr. Fantasy” is one that could not be missed. It was released on the album titled appropriately Dear Mr. Fantasy.
Traffic’s groundbreaking debut album, “Mr. Fantasy,” burst onto the scene in December 1967, showcasing the formidable talents of its members: Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason. Despite Mason’s subsequent brief departure from the band post-release, the album etched a significant mark on the rock landscape.
Recorded at the famed Olympic Studios in London, “Mr. Fantasy” was produced by the notable American producer Jimmy Miller, with Phill Brown handling the engineering duties. Reflecting on his experiences, Brown famously recalled the magic of working on the title track, “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” during a late-night session in November 1967—a moment that stands out as a highlight of his career.
The album climbed to number 16 on the UK Albums Chart and made a respectable showing in the United States, peaking at number 88 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. Its innovative sound and the dynamic synergy of Traffic helped establish the band as a significant force in the evolving rock genre, setting the stage for a legacy that would influence countless musicians and fans alike.
# 3 – Stranger To Himself
Once again, we return to the John Barleycorn Must Die album for the great Traffic Song “Stranger To Himself.” Steve Winwood is credited with playing all the instruments on the track. Jim Capaldi is credited with vocals.
# 2 – Freedom Rider
The song “Freedom Rider” was written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. The song appeared as the second track on the great John Barleycorn Must Die album. The piano introduction is one of legend. It’s such an amazing piece of music.
# 1 – The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
We could not close out our Top 10 Traffic Songs list with any other Traffic songs than the band’s classic track “The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys.” The track stands out as a monumental track from the 1971 album by British rock ensemble Traffic. Crafted by the creative minds of Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood, this song, despite its lengthy playtime, became an enduring favorite on North American AOR-format FM radio stations throughout the 1970s and continues to resonate on classic rock airwaves today.
The song’s intriguing title traces back to an anecdote involving Capaldi and the American actor Michael J. Pollard in Morocco, where they brainstormed on a never-realized film project. Pollard’s note in Capaldi’s notebook—”The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys”—encapsulated a rebellious spirit that Capaldi felt vividly represented the youth of that era. At over eleven minutes, it is the album’s lengthiest piece, celebrated for its atmospheric build-up and a haunting fade-out, anchored by a two-chord piano vamp that sets the stage for a musical journey between the sparse, deliberate verses and the densely layered choruses.
This track is notable for its expansive solos, with Chris Wood on tenor saxophone and Winwood on both piano and a distinctively fuzzed-out Hammond organ. Its composition features a unique arrangement that melds simplicity with complexity, a formula that garnered widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
Recorded live on multiple occasions, the song also serves as the opener on Traffic’s only concert video recorded in 1972, showcasing an ensemble cast including percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah and bassist David Hood. A different mix of the song was later released in Steve Winwood’s 2010 box set “Revolutions – The Very Best of Steve Winwood,” offering fans an extended version with additional instrumental flourishes.
Over the years, “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” has been covered by various artists, underscoring its lasting influence in the rock genre. It has also been performed solo by both Capaldi and Winwood in their post-Traffic careers,
Updated January 8 2025
Top 10 Traffic Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2025
