Traffic - The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys (1971)

Jazzy, folky prog in its prime from the revived lineup of Steve Windwood & co, which always gets a fair bit of summer playing from me, so why not drop it in here.  Ghanian-born percussionist Reebop Kwaku Baah, one of two 70s Traffickers who'd wind up in Can, came on board at this point, and bassist Ric Grech made his only studio appearance with the group here.  Gordon, Capaldi & Wood fill out the lineup.

After a mellow beginning in Hidden Treasure, the 11-minute title track is next.  Slowly building into a memorable snappy groove in the choruses, the lyrics are one of the better-written 'music business' gripes, and it was my instant highlight when first hearing it on a best-of.  The funky Rock And Roll Stew closes out the original LP's first side.

Side two contains another three tracks, all of which are fantastic.  Plenty of electric piano and flute to luxuriate in on the mid-tempo Many A Mile To Freedom, and funked-up fuzz guitar in Light Up And Leave Me Alone.  The atmospheric Rainmaker, with its central Chris Wood flute line, is my other highlight of the album, and features future Only Ones member Mike Kellie behind the drumkit.

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