Low Spark of High Heeled Boys [Bonus Tracks]

( 1 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys marked the commercial and artistic apex of the second coming of Traffic, which had commenced in 1970 with John Barleycorn Must Die. The trio that made that album had been augmented by three others Rick Grech, Jim Gordon, and Reebop Kwaakuh in the interim, though apparently the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys sessions featured varying combinations of these musicians, plus some guests. But where their previous album had grown out of sessions for a Steve Winwood solo album, Low Spark pointedly contained changes of pace from Winwood's usual contributions of mid-tempo, introspective jam tunes. "Rock & Roll Stew" was an uptempo treatise on ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - William Ruhlmann
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys marked the commercial and artistic apex of the second coming of Traffic, which had commenced in 1970 with John Barleycorn Must Die. The trio that made that album had been augmented by three others Rick Grech, Jim Gordon, and Reebop Kwaakuh in the interim, though apparently the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys sessions featured varying combinations of these musicians, plus some guests. But where their previous album had grown out of sessions for a Steve Winwood solo album, Low Spark pointedly contained changes of pace from Winwood's usual contributions of mid-tempo, introspective jam tunes. "Rock & Roll Stew" was an uptempo treatise on life on the road, while Jim Capaldi's "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" was another more aggressive number with an unusually emphatic Capaldi vocal that perked things up. The other four tracks were Winwood/Capaldi compositions more in the band's familiar style. "Hidden Treasure" and "Rainmaker" book-ended the disc with acoustic treatments of nature themes that were particularly concerned with water, and "Many a Mile to Freedom" also employed water imagery. But the standout was the title track, with its distinctive piano riff and its lyrics of weary disillusionment with the music business. "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" was one of Traffic's greatest songs, as well as its longest up to that point. The result was an album that eventually went platinum in the U.S. In addition to offering a noticeable sonic improvement, the 2002 CD reissue resequenced the album, moving "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" to third position from fifth, and adding as a bonus a combined version of the single release "Rock & Roll Stew, Pt. 1"/"Rock & Roll Stew, Pt. 2," an edit that ran close to two-minutes longer than the album version, though it was the same recording.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/19/2002
  • Label: Island
  • UPC: 731454882729
  • Catalog Number: 548827
  • Sales rank: 512

Album Credits

Performance Credits
Traffic Primary Artist
Jim Capaldi Percussion, Vocals
Steve Winwood Organ, Guitar, Piano, Vocals
Rick Grech Bass, Violin
Rebop Kwaku Baah Percussion
Jim Gordon Drums
Chris Wood Flute, Saxophone
Technical Credits
Steve Winwood Producer, Audio Production
Rick Grech Composer
Jim Gordon Composer
Brian Humphries Engineer
Bill Levenson Reissue
Smay Vision Reissue Design
Jeff Willens Mastering
John McDermott Liner Notes
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Another Classic

    Having found the formula for making great albums as well as great songs on their John Barleycorn album they continued that greatness with Low Sparks. They seemed to have discover that their albums work better when they do fewer songs but longer versions of those songs. This is another classic album that should not be passed by.

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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Reviews