TRAFFIC : WOODSTOCK 1994

  1. Pearly queen

  2. medicated goo

  3. rock 'n roll stew

  4. mozambique

  5. the low spark of high-heeled boys

  6. glad / freedom rider

  7. empty pages

  8. light up or leave me alone

  9. dear mr. fantasy

  10. gimme some lovin'

Label : Octopus

Time : 75:54

Venue : Woodstock Festival 1994, Saugerties, New York, USA

Date : August 14th, 1994

Quality : Soundboard Quality (A+)

Review (Winwoodfans) : For those who saw the Traffic tour in 1994, this disc will bring back some pleasing memories. Only one complaint here - but it's a big one. There is only one track from the "Far From Home" album. The band plays an inspired version of "Mozambique" but that's it. No singles, nor songs such as "Riding High" and "Holy Ground," which were added late in the tour, are included. Perhaps this is an abbreviated version of the set, but it is 75 minutes and it would seem unlikely the band played longer on this date. The recording is seamless and there are no breaks between songs so it appears this is the entire show. Nonetheless, what is here is rewarding. The show opens with the band's two opening staples - "Pearly Queen" and "Medicated Goo." If those two songs sent a message, it was a clear one that this would be a concert in which Winwood would be up front playing a lot of guitar. And that, in addition to the chemistry of the personnel, was the attraction of this tour. Winwood's guitar playing is at its best, showing off his inventiveness and feel, which, it seems, have been forever overlooked.The band plays in a wonderful groove throughout, in no small part due to Jim Capaldi's solid drumming and Walfredo Reyes' creative percussion work. This is perhaps one of the funkiest Traffic ensembles with Rosko Gee on bass. Mike McEvoy's versatility reminds us that this is Traffic and everyone plays everything, and Randall Bramblett adds the breathe and airiness, which made Traffic's sound so distinctive in the late '60s and early '70s and illustrates it is hardly dated. The band chooses the "Welcome To The Canteen" arrangement of "Gimme Some Lovin'" to close the show, and it shows off the group's strengths: a burning groove, layered with soulful singing and extraordinary playing. The product is Italian in origin and though a mishmash, the packaging is done very professionally with some interesting photos from the Cottage days to publicity stills for this tour. There is one misidentification of McEvoy for Winwood. Highly recommended and apparently still quite available.