Steve will always be one of the most talented individuals in all of musical history!! Nothing compares to his genius knowledge of songwriting, and his tone👍
I used to listen to this song all the time when I was in college in the mid 1970s. I screwed in a blue light bulb and put a towel across the bottom of the door to block out the light from the dormitory hallway and went into the zone.
Incredible. I'm 58, this is still some of the greatest music out there, and I'm glad I can listen to it on a Sunday afternoon. In memory of all my friends, long gone. Love you guys. We will together soon!
What an incredible song, and what an innovative jazz / blues/ rock / fusion band way ahead of its time. Traffic is one of my all time favorite bands. Love this lineup - Winwood, and Capaldi, of course, Chris Wood on sax (sadly, left us far too soon), Rehop Kwaku Baah, and Roger Hawkins on drums and David Hood on bass, I believe.
If you see something that looks like a star And it's shooting up out of the ground And your head is spinning from a loud guitar And you just can't escape from the sound Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you We were children once, playing with toys And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound of The low spark of high-heeled boys The percentage you're paying is too high priced While you're living beyond all your means And the man in the suit has just bought a new car From the profit he's made on your dreams But today you just read that the man was shot dead By a gun that didn't make any noise But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest, was The low spark of high-heeled boys If you had just a minute to breathe And they granted you one final wish Would you ask for something like another chance? Or something sim'lar as this? Don't worry too much It'll happen to you As sure as your sorrows are joys And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound of The low spark of high-heeled boys The percentage you're paying is too high priced While you're living beyond all your means And the man in the suit has just bought a new car From the profit he's made on your dreams But today you just read that the man was shot dead By a gun that didn't make any noise But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest, was The low spark of high-heeled boys (heeled boys) If I gave you everything that I owned And asked for nothing in return Would you do the same for me as I would for you? Or take me for a ride And strip me of everything, including my pride But spirit is something that no one destroys And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound The low spark of high-heeled boys (heeled boys) ; 7 D
Funny that you use the word "heaviest." Traffic was heavy, in that they had a definite literary and profound aspect, but I wouldn't call them heavy in terms of their sound. Quite the opposite, I think of traffic as more cerebral than visceral. But, cool... We agree, I think, that they were great.
Sounds softer but u listen and it's all built around a strict foundation, freedom born out of a strong discipline and remember winwood was very very young
I have been enjoying this song for 40 years plus..Last night I realized one of the best components of this song is the simplicity. The clapping, percussions, saxophone and the lack of a lead guitar....Who writes a song with no lead guitar?? Absolute genius!
absolutely a bunch of severely gifted musicians!! Steve Winwood incredible. Where have all the musicians gone today!! It's all controlled by big business When will we take it back. Today's music aint got no soul.Thanks Traffic for the beautiful music. Cheers
+C maccusweil Nah, there’s plenty of great music out there today, way more than you have time to hear. You just have to look for it outside of the mainstream. I’m fortunate to be living in Seattle where there are many small to medium size venues featuring extremely talented musicians you won't hear on commercial radio plus we have the Earshot Jazz Festival each year. And check out podcasts of The Caravan on KBCS FM.
I agree only somewhat. Big business has so much control over the industry today.This is why the beatles created Apple.I will say though, things are starting to look brighter!!
imo as a legit geezer (74), I figure I should be complaining like you are but I find more aces music than I have time for in places like SoundCloud, et al. Fuck big biz and its corporate hit machine, digital gave everybody the chance to do their shit. My advice is to look and enjoy.
This song is not only a masterpiece but amazing, I'm in my mid 60's and have enjoyed listening this song since it came out. One of the classiest songs in prog rock, just mind blowing.
Reminds me of 1973 age 17 in the summer by the lake with coed friends and drinking some beer, smoking some weed, sitting around a campfire and listening to music like this on the radio-very good times.
Me too, I was mesmerized by all early traffic, blind faith, I'm bored to tears by most new music, except bluegrass, irish, cuban, or african. These guys were true innovators, I am as blown away today at age 51 as when I was 16 years old listening to it for the first time. Dave Mason was equally incredible with some of his songs
If you close your eyes you can imagine visions of New York City in '71 and places where the junkies night have hung. Like some movie intro and the saxophone playing is often a lonely sort of haunting sound which along with Stevie Winwood's voice lends to the entire tune having an appeal that just creates for myself incredible imagery and lost soul sort of sounds of departure from everything whole and into the darkness of a New York night screaming agony and self-machinations within some hidden alley way just outside everyone else and their normal lives... Thanks for sharing is great song with us!
One of the best of the 70's! I remember cranking up the old 100 wat Sherwood receiver/amp with a pair of Jenson speakers and Technics turn table. Sounded great back in the day!
Bringing back some wonderful memories of seventies music, thank you. It was good to see Steve Winwood have another go round later in his career and another whole generation falling in love with his music.
Had a real groovy pair of red and grey suede high heeled loafers at the time, also. They were all the rage in the 70s, along with combo denim and corduroy jeans! Wish we had young artists like this today. This was a great concert! Miss that era dearly. It was the best time of my life! Thanks for the post. It really brought back memories!
never knew a live clip of this song ever existed! Thank you SO much for putting this up for us. 70's awesomeness!! This ladies & gentlemen was a BAND. This is when music was music and a concert was an event. No flash & dazzle, no autotune, no stupid outfits or pointless dancers. You paid your 7 bucks, snuck in your beers and cheap-ass Boone's Farm strawberry wine and had the time of your life with your friends creating the soundtrack to your life. :)
Traffic= S. Winwood, Ch. Woods (r.i.p.) & J. Capaldi. If you want to hear them as their truly best please listen to "John Barleycorn Must Die". That`s a beautiful album !!!.
Memories!!! My brother and all of the gang back in the Day, listened to this a lot. Great song, thanks for sharing it MrSalzano. There is no substitute for a real piano.
I couldn't stop listening to this song when it came out in the 70's. Amazing arrangement from a musical genius who started his stardom at the ripe old age of 16 with the Spencer Davis Group. He was never afraid to expand his talents, and we were all the beneficiaries.
2012 here at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio I had the privilege of seeing Steve Winwood. What a genius and amazing artist! How amazing to see such talent these days. HE IS in a class of his own....pure CLASS.
Steve Winwood is A Talent and long career,From Young Singer//songwriter,with Hammond and Piano In Spencer Davis Group,then Traffic :) Whole Band has, as Mentioned All very Talented Musicians!! So,Thanks for Sharing!!
This band was only slightly before my time but I think Traffic is on of the most underrated bands of the early seventies. I heard an urban legend that Steve Winwood was only 15 when they went on their firs tour.
Canción extraordinaria. Primera vez que la escucho en vivo. Esta pieza de Traffic es una de mis favoritas y la tengo entre los mejores Rock clásico de todos los tiempos...
I was 4yo when this came out. I was too young. So glad good friends turned me on to this great music. RUSH, YES, and Steve, so awesome, A lifetime of good music.
I listened to this and a few other classic albums as I prepped food for the night crew in the restaurant I worked at. It was a time I'll never forget with some of the greatest music ever performed as a backdrop. Funny how the humblest times in life often provide the most evocative memories. It was a time of pure sensory pleasure....and I was as broke as could be, living on friends' sofas, with only one change of clothes and one pair of shoes. I wouldn't trade that time for anything. Glad I moved upward and onward, but grateful for the memories that this great music brings back. I can even smell the aromas in my mind.
I did a class performance for a gym modern dance class at Penn State to this song back in 1976. I played it on a tape or album. I wasn't very good but loved it. Loved the high heeled boys back in Philly around 1974.
I was around n the 60s and 70s and into music but not Traffic. Then I heard this on the radio 5 years ago and I love it. The guy said it was by Traffic. So I got home and did a search for long traffic songs and found it. Its a great song - so cool.
Yes Allman's version(I'm a Richard Betts fanatic) of Luther Allison's "You Don't Love Me" is exceptional however the British bands specialised in long classics from The Nice & Traffic to Pentangle & Fairport.
1944, Born on this day, Chris Wood, sax, flute, Traffic, (1967 UK No.2 single 'Hole In My Shoe'). Wood died on 12th July 1983!~sax on this song and happy Birthday we celebrate your life..which was cut early as was this video..
This album, but most of all the title song, brings back many memories: I was in the SJOC youth center in Holland, smoking pot and drinking beer, projecting ink on the wall, and slowly waiting for the sun to rise again. I lived daily, feeling free without worries and social media. What an era!!!!
In '72 I was living at Barber's Point NAS, Ewa HI. This was the beginning of my appreciation for Traffic after Steve Winwood left Blind Faith. What a great piece of music. Watching this always takes me back to the beaches of Oahu.
He sure was a cute kid with that long hair and small features. Always loved the song but never saw them near and in Chicago back the 70's. Thanks for sharing it with us.
"The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" If you see something that looks like a star And it's shooting up out of the ground And your head is spinning from a loud guitar And you just can't escape from the sound Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you We were children once, playing with toys And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound of The low spark of high-heeled boys The percentage you're paying is too high priced While you're living beyond all your means And the man in the suit has just bought a new car From the profit he's made on your dreams But today you just read that the man was shot dead By a gun that didn't make any noise But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest, was The low spark of high-heeled boys If you had just a minute to breathe And they granted you one final wish Would you ask for something like another chance? Or something sim'lar as this? Don't worry too much It'll happen to you As sure as your sorrows are joys And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound of The low spark of high-heeled boys The percentage you're paying is too high priced While you're living beyond all your means And the man in the suit has just bought a new car From the profit he's made on your dreams But today you just read that the man was shot dead By a gun that didn't make any noise But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest, was The low spark of high-heeled boys (heeled boys) If I gave you everything that I owned And asked for nothing in return Would you do the same for me as I would for you? Or take me for a ride And strip me of everything, including my pride But spirit is something that no one destroys And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound The low spark of high-heeled boys (heeled boys)
Boone's Farm, Gypsy Rose, Tears of Christ, Jamaican, Hawaiian and musicians and music that changed the world forever. The soundtrack of my life is so much richer because of all the concerts I went to, all the records I listened to...how sweet it was. If I close my eyes and take a toke, I can be right back there.
This is an Epic version of this classic tune. While many would argue (and reasonably so) that Traffic was one of many vehicals for Mr. Winwood; this song out of so many...stands out as one of the best of the 70's. It's a fusion tune of a generation, with an irrestable groove, to almost all Music lovers!! Much thanks for posting....
What Dad listened to, before Electronic Dance Music existed. Listen, Children: there are words involved, even if they don't make sense. Oh, and men wore high heels, too. They hurt like hell after four blocks. I had two pair: Wellington boots, and some brownish-red lace-ups. Yeesh. But the music rocked, like a shamanic experience, with some Jazz components mixt in. Then Disco came, and the Music died.
this song is music history and will live in minds of people that grew up in the 70's that today are in their 50's , 60's , 70's this song will forever put pleasure in our heart's and mind's
David I believe we around the same age. I am 60 and still rock out with my kids. We had the best music but there is some real talent around these past years, Pearl Jam is one of my favs.
Hello , I saw this about a Year later at The Spectrum in Phila. Pa. It was my first indoor Concert.What an Honor it is to say I saw Rebop Chris,Jim and Steve winwood together doing this Classic.John Martyn was Fantastic as the Opener.Free couldn't show up because Paul Rodgers had broken his Ankle.What I remember and a lot of people don't realize is that Stevie is A Superb Lead Guitar Player.I will never forget this Fantastical, Magical ,Musical Event. RIP to the Lost members + Thank You Stevie !
En Guatemala por los 70 existia una radio pirata llamada RADIO JUVENTUD en AM, y se podia oir de 16:30 a 21:00 horas un dia escuche por primera vez esta cancion y a la fecha sigue siendo una de mis favorita.
'72. I was hangin' around Rochdale College in Toronto doing what we all were doing at the time. Sex, drugs and music. Some of us never made it, going home in an ambulance or the coroners van. Life had a different meaning then.
unfortunately, drugs still can kill. young folks continue to have sex, and pop music lives on in its dotage years. (not that i would exactly classify this as "pop".) but sure, you are right too. cherish your memories, and ignore the naysayers, M. Gil!
Ich habe mich sehr gefreut, diesen Song nach über dreißig Jahren mal wieder zu hören! Es ist alles schon einmal gedacht worden - man muss nur versuchen, es noch einmal zu denken! (Goethe)
My dad smoked a bowl with me at age 15 in Daytona Beach Florida 1985. He put this song on and handed me a set of head phones and told me to look out over the Atlantic Ocean. Sorry no snappy punchline, just sharing a memory that came back to me as I checked this out.
And, Chris Wood....on sax.... all these guys are just first rate. Saw Winwood at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest around 2014, just amazingly good.
Tell me this Isn't pure beauty. Want to talk about being @ Peace. OOOOOOHHH Yeah. Thank's Winston for bringing me back to life. Peace & OOOOOOOOHHH HAPPY MONDAY.
Pure artistry. All the variety, sounds, bands, mixtures of different genre. created the peak of rock and roll. It's been on and off ever since, but nothing has matched that period.
