(Traffic - at the turning point)
After their first breakup in 1969, with Steve Winwood going off to the legendary and short-lived Blind Faith, Traffic reunited in 1970 and turned out one of the milestone albums of the 70's. John Barleycorn Must Die was a huge change in direction for Traffic. With Dave Mason departing in 1968, the Pop influence they had come to be known for had been taken over by a mature, musically adventuresome outfit. Now a three-piece, with Chris Wood still on sax and flute and Jim Capaldi still on drums and percussion, this tighter unit achieved greater strides in their musical direction, melding Jazz into the mix. John Barleycorn was a critical and commercial success and established Traffic as one of the major bands coming out of the 60's into the new decade.
This track is actually two songs. Glad and Freedom Rider were always played together as one song anyway. So rather than break the flow, I've joined them together and present them just as you would have heard them if you had this album on your turntable at home . . .and it was 1970. And it was Saturday Night. And you were staring off into space. And you were preoccupied. And it was dark. And you didn't want to break the mood. And you've been trying to get him/her to your place all month.
Forty years later, it still sounds fresh.
