The Studio Albums 1967-74

Traffic were a wonderful band that covered at least three genres: old school r and b, English folk and freeform jazz. The wonderful voice and instrumental genius of Steve Winwood, alongside Jim Capaldis eccentric drumming and strong songwriting and Chris Wood's soulful wind instruments combine to create a wonderful sound. The reproduction on these albums is first class, they sound great. Also a nice touch to add a poster of the time for each album. The only gripe, as already mentioned elsewhere, is that the album sleeves are falling apart, not being properly glued, a strange thing to happen in a package of such quality otherwise.

Ok writing after only listening to Glad from John Barleycorn but it sounds magnificent warm and wide and yes Chris Wood is bonkers Now it’s Freedom Rider with Jim’s bass drum is really kinking out at you Pretty much the standard set with the Free LP box - without the graphic errors BTW a reviewer elsewhere in the media has given Shootout 2 stars as part of the set - heavens above roll right stones ! Freedom rider is really galloping now Amazing set

Traffic have always been one of my top favourites musically from the late 60's/early 70's, so this boxset has made a really nice update to my increasingly worn, battered or lost old albums and cd's. So it's great to have these albums again in replica sleeves (with posters), all presented in a nice and sturdy slipcase. And of course the music's as near perfection as ever, but... I get it that the title says "Studio Albums 1967-74" and that's what you get, fair enough. I think it's a pity tho that Island didn't go with the sequence of albums as they originally came out - thus including "Welcome to the Canteen" and "Last Exit". Imho "Canteen" is up there with any of the great live albums of the period, like "Who Live at Leeds", "Get yer Yayas Out!" or "Live Dead". Sure, I accept that "Last Exit" is a bit of a contract filler, and unlikely to be anyone's favourite Traffic album but it still has its moments (and put alongside "Canteen", display the comings and goings of Dave Mason which were always a recurring theme with the group). My personal favourites remain "Traffic" (the 2nd album) and "Low Spark", while "When the Eagle Flies" still sounds like a great group running out of steam, characterised by Steve Winwood's "Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired" - still way ahead of the competition though. This would be a great buy for anyone new to Traffic as well as old hands like me - just make sure you get "Welcome to the Canteen" as well (btw vastly superior to the later "On the Road" live set).

5 stars a superb purchase

All of The Traffic

Between 1967-1974 (with a hiatus in 1969 when Steve Winwood was in Blind Faith) Traffic produced some of the best music of the era. They never had a chart topping album and the 1967 hit single (Hole in My Shoe), which perhaps was a bit of a millstone around their necks as it coloured expectations, was kept off the top of the charts. This set of all the studio albums is pretty much perfect; the album covers are beautifully reproduced and each album comes with a poster. The box that holds the albums is substantially made and looks great. The vinyl is brilliant and the music sounds bright; the mastering is excellent. It also comes with a download code so that you can h This is obviously one for people who have both the money to afford it and have bought into the vinyl revival. If you are on a tighter budget and want a budget CD package The is also the 5 classic albums set which has all but the last album here for just £10.99 on Amazon but older guys like me who want to spoil themselves, and like the vinyl experience will go for this set and it is worth every penny. If you are tempted but worried that it might not be worth it I can tell you that it totally is.

I was very excited to receive this great box set. While Traffic has been one of my fav bands from its early inception, I have only managed to get a few of their early albums on vinyl here in New Zealand. This box set happily includes them all. The sound is crisp and clear with only the purity and great balanced sound of Traffic music coming through the speakers. Highlights for me include Traffic's debut album which includes Heaven Is In Your Mind and Dear Mr Fantasy. The golden pair The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory continue to delight with their firm mix of sharp-fuelled rock and vibrant jazzy rhythms. Still today John Barley Corn Must Die remains my favourite Traffic album followed closely by the mighty When The Eagle Flies which in New Zealand had a bad pressing. This box copy is pure and pristine sound. Each album has a poster of the album cover and by far, When The Eagle Flies is the ultimate with its line-drawing poster, suitable for framing, which is what I intend to do. Arriving weeks before its due shipping date, I must say I am very excited with this box set. And any Traffic fan needs this in their proud collection.

Finally! A box set of one of the best bands ever! Traffic was just great and John Barleycorn should be on every "best records of all time" list. Reproduction quality is outstanding. Every little detail has been respected, from different pink island labels and flaps/wrap around covers on Mr. Fantasy and Traffic to different texture on Barleycorn. The related promo posters are a nice addition. Sound is bright and comes across strong and clean, without losing that full and warm 60's/70's feeling. A minor flaw is the absence of Last Exit. Yes, more a "Best of" than an actual studio album. Still, with some songs not having been released on any UK albums at the time, it feels like that void could/should've been filled.

大変重要な、好きな、アーティストのため、評価が、厳しいことを、許してください。50年以上、リアルタイムのファンとして、がっかりします。やはり、日本が、丁寧なBOX発売を、期待します。値段の問題では無いと、思います。ジャケットが、昔の日本盤と、レベルが、違います。音にうるさいウィンウッドが、OKした、3枚のライブ盤を、何故、除外したか、わかりません。ベストオブトラフィック、音質の良いBBC、他のライブ、アウトテイク等、日本しか、製造できないと思います。このような発売は、アーティスト、購入者の双方に、失礼です。英米の伝統音楽と、日本の香りを、持つ、、ビートルズと共に、2度と出現しないグループです。尚、BOXの表紙は、4人の、ベストオブトラフィックの、裏ジャケットを、使用すると、渋いと思います。ただ、最後の作品が、メンバーの、テンションが、下がるように、思います。ともかく、ビートルズと、同様で、過去に、カバー曲を、十分に、把握したうえでの、全曲が、名曲及び名演奏の作品です。他のアーティストは、沢山、カバーしていますが、トラフィック以上は、無理です。日本人の感性に、一致します。ウィンウッドの才能開花のグループですが、クリス・ウッドの演奏に、満足しています。いろんな、音楽を、消化して、創られた音楽です。

I just got this box and I'm so happily blown away. What a beautiful presentation with heavy box board and the vinyls are adorned with the old pink Island labels!! The sound is awesome and I'm listening now while writing this and the remastering sounds great. I wonder if Steve or any of the band members were involved with the mastering. All on 180 gram vinyl resting in plastic lined sleeves. The first 3 are in appropriate gate folds. Each album also has included a very nice quality folded glossy promotional poster for the album. (I intend to frame a couple of these for my cave!!) Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with this purchase. This box was not just thrown together . . . really well done and I highly recommend this to anyone who was a Traffic fan like I was. No disappointments here!

Mi sono fatto un regalo essendo i Traffic da sempre un dei miei gruppi preferiti. Grandi dischi, ottima rimasterizzazione. Cinque stelle assolutamente. Zero stelle a Warehouse, il cofanetto è in condizioni peggiori di quanto descritto in quanto appare molto usurato come se fosse stato spedito e reso piu volte. Tutti gli angoli sono scoloriti da sfregamenti. Ma è tanto costoso, se non c'è altro, avvolgere il tutto con il classico film plastico evitando ulteriori danni visto che il prodotto non è bloccato all'interno dello scatola di spedizione? Le copertine dei dischi, interne ed esterne presentano scollamenti e strappi. I dischi appaiono miracolosamente intatti e quelli che ho ascolto non presentano difetti all'ascolto.