| Identifier | 4551533 |
| Created At | Tue May 23 2023 23:54:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) |
| Media Type | CDR |
| Media Count | 1 |
| Note | *Digi-noise during track #6 (John Barleycorn)
The first nine songs were recorded @ The Andersen Theater in NYC 11/23/70. Personnel includes SW, CW, JC, and Rick Grech. This disc is most notable for the inclusion of Rick Grech to the group near the latter part of their 70 tour. Along with playing bass, he also lends a hand with lead guitar. The disc finds a group which had been on the road for awhile bolstered by a new member to add new flavors to their arrangements. For fans of the 70 Tour this disc offers a rare glimpse of Traffic as a quartet, with the additional freedom offered by another member. The disc starts with an Intro by none other than Bill Graham. Medicated Goo is a bit disjointed although Winwood is in fine voice, and plays a lead somewhat reminiscent of Stranger to Himself from earlier in the tour. A nice version of Pearly Queen is next, with Grech on hand to lend support to the rhythm section, Chris's organ fills break loose a bit to add some color. For fans of the LP version of Empty Pages, this concert version is among the best I've heard. Steve's vocals and keyboard work (sounds like a Fender Rhodes or RMI electric piano) are top notch and the band seem to catch a good groove with this tune. An updated version of Heaven replete with a lovely jam with Chris on sax playing off a vamping Winwood organ to finish off the song, adds new insight to some older material. A change of pace highlights the next tunes. Forty Thousand Headmen offers some lovely flute work by Chris, and John Barleycorn is welcome for a version not marred by lyrical snafus as found in other versions from earlier in the tour. Who Knows finds Grech trying his hand at lead and rhythm guitar. The addition of guitar adds greatly to the feel of the tune, fleshing it out, adding more texture and spark. Steve's soloing is especially tasty and the song offers good ensemble playing. Every Mothers Son is a highlight. Other versions of this song lacked the lovely guitar riff that accompanies the opening keyboard parts. Although the addition of guitar to the song is welcome, Grech is unable to provide the caliber of playing that was on the studio version. One wonders if the reason the live 11/70 release was shelved because the band wasn't comfortable with Grech's guitar work. (That was one of the reasons given for the non-release of the material recorded just days before this gig. See The "Lost" Live Album.) Nevertheless this is a wonderful version of Every Mothers Son, with great tension built up by the dual piano, organ combo and not to be missed. The disc end uneventfully, with a version of "Freedom Rider" without "Glad" preceding. Shootout and Low Spark from On the Road are added as filler. The sound quality of this disc is excellent. These tapes may have been from a "Grateful Dead" soundboard of this show. At any rate well beyond typical bootleg sound! Rating A Review by GA 1/2/98 |
| Trades Allowed |
Performance
| Traffic 1970-11-23 Anderson Theatre, New York, NY | |
|---|---|
| Set 1 | Medicated Goo
Pearly Queen Empty Pages Heaven Is In Your Mind 40,000 Headmen John Barleycorn Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring No Time To Live Every Mother's Son Glad/Freedom Rider |
| Set 2 | |
| Set 3 | |
| Comment | Personnel includes SW, CW, JC, and Rick Grech. This show is most notable for the inclusion of Rick Grech to the group near the latter part of their '70 tour. Along with playing bass, he also lends a hand with lead guitar. |