Traffic was an English rock band fronted by singer–keyboardist Steve Winwood. They appeared with the 1967 psychedelic album Mr. Fantasy and the hits “Paper Sun,” “Hole In My Shoe,” and “Coloured Rain.” Songwriter Dave Mason, an on-off early member, contributed four songs to their 1968 second album Traffic, including the much-covered “Feeling Alright?” In 1969, […]
The Spencer Davis Group was an English R&B/beat band from Birmingham, fronted by teenage singer–keyboardist Steve Winwood. Signed to Fontana, they released three albums during 1965–66 comprised mostly of blues and soul covers. Though the band was democratic, they made guitarist/singer Spencer Davis their namesake because he was the only member willing to field journalists. […]
Blind Faith was an English rock band that released a self-titled album on Atco in 1969. The band are noted as one of rock’s first supergroups due to the high-profile backgrounds of its four members: vocalist–keyboardist Steve Winwood (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic), guitarist Eric Clapton (Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream), drummer Ginger Baker (Graham Bond […]
Steve Winwood (born May 12, 1948) is an English vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter from Birmingham who emerged as the voice of the Spencer Davis Group, which he joined in 1963 at age 15. After four years, three proper albums, and assorted singles with the band — including the soul-rock evergreens “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m […]
Mr. Fantasy is the debut album by English psych-rockers Traffic, released in December 1967 on Island. The album was issued stateside the following year on United Artists with a revised tracklist to accommodate then-current shortplayer sides. Tracklist (UK version): A1. “Heaven Is in Your Mind” (4:19) A2. “Berkshire Poppies” (2:58) A3. “House for Everyone” (2:04) […]
Traffic is the self-titled second album by the English folk/psych-rock quartet, released in 1968 on Island. Tracklist: A1. “You Can All Join In” (3:40) A2. “Pearly Queen” (4:21) A3. “Don’t Be Sad” (3:25) A4. “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring” (3:15) A5. “Feelin’ Alright?” (4:20) B1. “Vagabond Virgin” (5:22) B2. “Forty Thousand Headmen” (3:14) B3. […]
Blind Faith is the lone album by the namesake English supergroup, released in 1969 on Polydor/Atco. Tracklist: A1. “Had to Cry Today” (8:49) A2. “Can’t Find My Way Home” (3:17) A3. “Well All Right” (4:28) A4. “Presence of the Lord” (4:56) B1. “Sea of Joy” (5:22) B2. “Do What You Like” (15:20) Credits: Steve Winwood […]
Waves is a 1975 album by New Age/exotica combo Jade Warrior. The album is the band’s fifth chronological studio release and the second in their Island Records quadrilogy. The wave depicted on the cover is adapted from The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a 19th century woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai. Keyboards on the album are played […]
Go is a collaborative album between Japanese avant-garde/classical percussionist Stomu Yamashta, English jazz-rock/soul keyboardist/vocalist Steve Winwood, and American jazz-funk/rock drummer Michael Shrieve, with contributions from German electronic musician Klaus Schulze and American jazz-rock guitarist Al Di Meola. The album was released in 1976 on Island. Musically, the album synthesizes various elements of the recent works by […]
John Barleycorn Must Die is the third proper album by English folk/jazz-rock band Traffic, released in 1970 on Island. Conceived as a Steve Winwood solo album, the project soon netted Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood into a regrouped three-piece lineup. The frontman was fresh off a stint with short-lived rock super-group Blind Faith. Tracklist: A1. […]
Ginger Baker’s Air Force was an English jam-rock big band, formed by drummer Ginger Baker after serving in the Graham Bond Organization and the supergroups Cream and Blind Faith. Air Force released two albums in 1970 on Atco and Polydor. The first, Ginger Baker’s Air Force, is a live double-album with Steve Winwood and Ric […]
