Traffic: Freedom Rider

[ChevKen]

With a silver star between his eyes that open up at hidden lies Big man crying with defeat, see people gathering in the street You feel him, you feel him Freedom rider When lightning strikes you to the bone, you turn around, you're all alone By the time you hear that siren sound, then your soul is in the lost and found Forever, forever Freedom rider Here it comes

[ChevKen]

Like a hurricane around your heart when earth and sky are torn apart He comes gathering up the bits while hoping that the puzzle fits He leads you, he leads you Freedom rider With a silver star between his eyes that open up at hidden lies Big man crying with defeat, see people gathering in the street You feel him, you feel him Freedom Rider

[mayabelle1107]

The incorporation of classical music with jazz and rock and roll..... Stevie Winwood, Chris, Jim and crew inspired me to play music forever. Thank you.....

[dkel252]

Rock Jazz Fusion years before Becker and Fagen

[Greatmusiclover77]

Ok I think I may be able to describe the feeling I get when hearing this song... soothing, relaxing and arousing at the same time. I would say it pushes my buttons. I am sure it is the extrodinary musical talent and not just nostalgia.

[Greatmusiclover77]

Forgot how much I love this song.. can't even describe the feeling I get hearing it.

[p6b9ut8]

Gotta luv that Sax

[vicmc4444]

Yup.......visions of sitting alone in my upstairs room....first few times stoned.....n i c e.....

[jsphjohnson]

I think of KRST in Albuquerque 1973 & A Long Gone Friend Mark Plamondon...Good Memories of a less complicated life.

[monk22yrs]

i used to listen to this song while all fucked up.

now at age 52 listening to yuoutbe while wasted on wine.

[BBQFanNo1]

Brings back memories of the Summer 1970.

[jwsnow47]

I saw him in Hawaii about the time Arc of a Diver came out. That was a wonderful show. Higher Love had a special meaning to me then. My favorite Traffic song is Low Spark of HIgh Heel Boys. I saw Winwood last year in Columbus, Ohio, with Eric Clapton. They did the Blind Faith material, along with a lot of each's older stuff. I could not understand any of the lyrics, even though I was familiar with everything they did. Really bad acoustics in Schottenstein Center.

[kris242]

I don't think enough people appreciate the amazing music that the band came out with. They're one of my favorites

[Peruanas0]

4 morons were never musically free

[DOMSTRAW]

traffic is a funny place !

[LindaRudolph]

I have the best of Winwood's 4 CD collection and I was listening to it yesterday. It's still in my CD player. Weird that you should pick that one. I absolutely love Winwood and loved Traffic. I wish they had made more albums.

[mickeymousebiker1]

This tune harkens to a time when keyboards actually sounded soulful --real -- not plastic. There's no true match for a well-played piano or an old Hammond B-3. The flute is a throwback to a time when poetry and color were all around. The Beats/Jazz infused with a bit of psychedelia. This is King Tone!

[oxhart3]

OCCUPY 2011

[luvtotruck]

I WOULD GLADLY SIT IN THIS TRAFFIC AND NOT FUCKING COMPLAIN. RIP CHRIS AND JIM CAPULDI:-(

[mchikos]

Loved this since I was a kid. Also, 40,000 Headmen.

[zippermann2u]

right f'n on

[blackandtanful]

"ｼﾞｮﾝ･ﾊﾞﾚｲｺｰﾝ･ﾏｽﾄ･ﾀﾞｲ"～当時ﾛｯｸ仲間­の愛聴盤～トラフィック"ﾌﾘｰﾀﾞﾑ･ﾗｲﾀﾞｰ"～ｸﾘｽの­情感あるﾌﾙｰﾄソロとサックスリフが耳から離れない!

[slimshadyrealrealrea]

@blackandtanful what the hell?

[plemochoe]

One of the best rock songs ever written...one of the best songs period...the way the instrumental intro winds into the verse is VERY WEIRD - emotionally you'd say the song is a reaction to that feeling. Sadness, ominousness, mystery in that sax line and the flute like a madly warning bird overhead.

Stop nitpicking, haters, it's rock legend, how much of that did you ever make.

[naturelover1957]

Today's music will never ,ever come close to touching something like this!!!

[KiwiZepFan87]

Beautiful! 

[hughbo52]

Love this entire album, but I'm still partial to the song "Love Spark of High Heeled Boys"; that song just, and the band, just put me into a trance. Glad the music lives on.

[danielnordeen]

This album was Grace! So far removed

[nippegmt]

Christopher Gordon Blandford 'Chris' Wood (24 June 1944, in Harborne, Birmingham – 12 July 1983, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham)

[plangentmusic]

This album is Windwood's greatest work. Absolutely brilliant.

[freedumb2003]

@plangentmusic

Not just Winwood, but in this album, Chris Wood (who died too damn young) DEFINED rock flute. Nothing to be taken away from Ian Anderson (Tull), but Wood was to the flute as Hendrix was to the guitar.

I taught myself overtones based on this cut (and the title track). It is one of the joys of my life when I get a chance to play along -- and let myself be smoked by Woods anyway ;)

[zu0832]

@freedumb2003 Make no mistake, Wood and Tull worshipped Rhassan Roland Kirk,.

[DYNODRUM]

"Fillmore East N.Y.C. 1971-"My memory serves me well. Earth and Sky are Torn apart . Jethro Tull ,opened for them [1st U.S.tour] and Cat Stevens, 2nd -TRAFFIC Was Incredible, just the Three... Barleycorn Tour...Miss them Dearly

[danielnordeen]

@DYNODRUM Wow what a concert I am jealous!

[DYNODRUM]

@danielnordeen Well, was not out to be envious -But they were Rare Times ,Only Wish it were lke that Now..By the way, they Played the Whole Barleycorn L.P.-.Peace...

[Burt472]

Beautiful like all the tracks on that Masterpiece Album.

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

I seen traffic on the john barleycorn must die tour, in june 1970 at the cincinnati rock festaval. they headlined for the event which also featured mountian,the bob seger system ,the stooges, amoung many others. great days great times,you should have been there.

[bunnymize]

@TheBabyboomkidof53

You lucky person!!!!!!

oh my Lord, the stooges AND Traffic, I would just die..

cool.

[TheBabyboomkidof53]

@bunnymize Iggy was young and outragous. he wore tore genes, no shirt ,and womens silver evening gloves with a red studded dog collar around his neck. it was the first time he walked on peoples upraised hands stageside while smearing peanut butter on himself and singing now "I wanna be your dog".......should have been there!

[SimonThe1st]

One of the greatest albums of all time. RIP Chris Wood (ex Stourbridge Art College) and Jim Capaldi. I saw Traffic at Mothers Club in Erdington when they debuted this. It's a pity the brilliant Steve Winwood sold out for a time but at least he now appears to be back on track.

[StrangeArrangements]

Kinda... Jethro Tull meets Steely Dan. Dig it. 

[bunnymize]

@StrangeArrangements

true!!!!

[rainbowkeys711]

Pure brilliance........

[bud4207]

Traffic a very good, one of a kind band. Their will never be onother band like them thats for sure!

[jesbeard]

The double tracking of Chris Wood on flute is what makes this song. Fantastic sound. It was just the three of them -- Wood, Capaldi and Winwood. Wonderful example of multi-tracking. When I bought this album, I had never heard of them, or any song they had done. I simply thought the name of the album was "cool." Sometimes you are just lucky with your decisions.

[Vape4life]

this song kicks ass...on my list for top 100 of all time...

[limont1]

Definitivo!



[holdersteven]

The were at this point Traffic was very "grown up" to my crowd.Now I would say ahead of their time

[cinebeatl]

My favourite Traffic album. Thanks for uploading this!

[spacemouse1]

These guys were musical geniuses !!!

[MrCatfish212]

@spacemouse1 all good things come to an end ,I loved everyone of their songs



[sparkyization]

Let us all have ... sax! !;-)

[richbonnie220]

@sparkyization and ...Flute-atio!

[mclearyb]

released July 1970.....In 1970, after the demise of Blind Faith, Winwood returned to the studio ostensibly to make his first solo album to be titled Mad Shadows. He recorded "Stranger to Himself" and "Every Mother's Son", but yearned for like-minded musicians. Inviting Wood and Capaldi, Winwood's solo album became the reunion of Traffic, and a re-launch of the band's career.....

[a77white]

LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELO­VELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE­LOVELOVELOVELOVELOVE

[ry54ry]

@a77white

Well helllllllllo....lol..great stuff!

[egits]

I've always thought that this song is about Che Guevara. It really seems like it especially the line "with a silver star between his eyes that open up the hidden lies." It strongly suggests the beginnings of a revolutionary, in my view.

[inHimwemove]

@egits I always thought it was about Jesus Christ

[Galantski]

@egits - Guevara was a murderer, who fought to enslave people under atheistic communism...hardly a freedom fighter.

[egits]

@Galantski LOL! thank you mr I subscribe to the Shawn Hannity theory. He was a man who saw the horrors of capitalistic leanings that enslave people who are not white and christian. Thats ok for people like you who feel that humanity must not, cannot allow the incompetence, negligence, and laziness of the uncivilized peoples to leave idle the wealth which God has confided to them, charging them to make it serve the good of all. There's a word for that it's called nazism.

[0154atv]

@egits Hey Dick-Wad...Heres'a theory for you:

You and your Tea bagger white trash RACISTS will be extinct in two years!

[egits]

@egits I think you misunderstood me, I was writing in response to another comment made by Galantski. I myself do not believe that this is a good mindframe. I was pointing out an example of some racists and how they will rationalize their beliefs with this type shit! I used the word nazism to give the most infamous example. You have to read what I was replying too, otherwise you misconstrue.

[dirrtybiggams]

that damn Steve Windwood made the sexiest fucking music!

[Kommerical]

This was one of my Dads favourite songs and he died in a motorbike accident so it only seemed right to use this in his funeral

[mickeymousebiker1]

@Kommerical Please, accept my sympathies regarding the death of your Dad. Heaven keep you.

[Kommerical]

@mickeymousebiker1 Thank you :D

[mickeymousebiker1]

@Kommerical Heaven keep you and your Dad. Music, light, peace, and joy to you both. I gave up riding here in the States. Too many drivers here in America don't care about how they drive. 

[radcam69]

@Kommerical Sad comment but what a great song to remember someone by. It reminds me of my bro when he returned for good from Vietnam.

[daven58100]

Smoking a big joint and listening to Traffic is like peanut butter and jelly. They just belong together.

[rbertagopetah13]

Song writing is a lost art, they got in and out in 5:30 seconds and left us a message...

[troddsy]

humble

[TheQuikdraw67]

40 years old and still a kick-ass album!

[ChristopherBerling]

Just perfect! Traffic is a good band!

[shelley9000]

@ChristopherBerling I do believe that you meant to say great!!!! Just a guess....

[ChristopherBerling]

@shelley9000 I will try to do it better next time, my dearest. Thank you so much for correcting me. But I sincerely hope you don’t correct everybody on their grammar mistakes on YouTube, because there are many people out there who sometimes just go bananas on some music tracks. I just wrote some lines down in my excitement and didn’t read it back before I posted it as a comment, just like my response now

[shelley9000]

@ChristopherBerling Oh I wasn't correcting you on grammar!!! I was trying to be funny. I figured since you even listen to Traffic, you would have to know about their greatness!!!  LOL!!!!

[ChristopherBerling]

@shelley9000 Ohh, haha, my bad, English is not my first language, so I didn’t get the funny element! I totally agree with you that traffic is just awesome! I just love this band.

[PrinceofAvalon]

One of those great bands that came and went like a flash, yet had a huge influence on musicians everywhere. 

[DWORSKYMUSIC]

@PrinceofAvalon

True That

[paperboy6996]

great sound quality  thanks

[2faatcaats]

GREAT SOUND, my friend. Some of the other channels don't have the same quality. Thnx!

BTW, do you have Memories of a Rock 'n Rolla?

[rcmacdonald2010]

The sax is intentional: the restrained notes, the breathing. It is unworldly, beautiful. Listen to Stan Getz, same technique.

[NoGunnersAllowed]

@rcmacdonald2010 Listen to you - how pretentious! "The sax is intentional"? How does one play sax by accident?

[barkape]

@NoGunnersAllowed why dont you stop hating you bitch

[Racoonzzz]

nicht gut...

[rileysteve]

Four-way hit of Windowpane, the black-light on, showing all the beautiful posters , Allen Hendricks' room was the bomb back in '72. Pass the bong please-----

[delironarcosist]

heyyy it s amazing this song

dazzling i dare say!

[acdcfreak94]

i love traffic soo much, a lot of people think im weird for listening to it since im only 14.....

[WeepingZeeGuitars]

@acdcfreak94 not weird- great taste!

[RabidBearpig]

1:27 - I think that note impregnated me. I'm a man.

[2faatcaats]

@RabidBearpig haha, that's a funny way to put it! The flute'll take you away ;)

[soddyduniam]

liking it a lot but not sure about the vocals..

[molinmusic]

LOVE this track, wore out the groove on this classic album I bought when it was first released! FREEDOM RIDER, FREEDOM WRITERS, thanks for posting this vital song to my development as an artist and human being! Blessings, more love!

[gijackie]

Instrumentals!!

[Airsoftslave]

@ KingofMars62

thanks for uploading all those songs

[ChicagoBoomBoom]

Bone chilling piano and sax riff this one! Freedom Rider and Glad are just musical masterpieces that are so hauntingly unique. Like good wine, this song gets better through the years. The lead break is sad and happy continuously at the same time! Like I said, this song is so unique. Great tune, melody, lyrics etc. So good.

[vindicatorSS]

Love that Sax love winwood love traffic

[fletchdies]

Anyone have a link,video,mp3 of Blind Faith's- do what you like ?

I cannot find that song for the life of me and just thought people who have ears for Traffic would be into Blind Faith as well. Thanks in advance.

[Bluesdirections]

Winwood on bass.

[1960gal]

I must have been one of the few 10yr old gals who loved this album - thanks to the raids on one of my sisters' vinyl collections!! She was instrumental in unwittingly nurturing my very eclectic taste in music. Ta x

Now have on CD and listening to this takes me way back then :)

[orangetown67]

dont blame you baby haha. i ve been listening to these tunes since i was still in the womb - thanks to my parents the 60s are always with me :)

[970162cango]

@1960gal No, I was right there with you! Born in '62, my friends thought I'd lost my mind. My older sister turned me on to it too. WORE IT OUT!! My sister's no longer with us, but she was a huge musical influence on me and I just kick back and listen and I know she's listening too!

[1960gal]

@970162cango -Greetings from London, UK. Its what maps us you know, all our influences, good and bad! Also still love 'Glad' in a big way. Always liked SW's voice.

(BTW, see you also like KD Lang's version of 'Hallelujah'. Saw her sing this live in Glasgow a few yrs ago with my ol' man. Think we both had tears in our eyes. She has such a pure voice)

Another band I sorta liked 'cos of my sister : 'Family' (Roger Chapman??). Wot a funny 10yr old I was lol!

Nice to think of yr sister too.

[970162cango]

@1960gal Hello, UK! I agree with you about our influences. Having 9 older brothers and sisters I had so many (as my profile suggests) lucky me. KD Lang could make you cry singing the ABC's! Brilliant! Never heard of Family - just gave them a listen. He's got quite the vibrato - an interesting 10 yr old for sure. Love Scotland - big fan of AWB, among others. Think of her every day - music never dies and grateful for that.

[1960gal]

@970162cango 10 kids in a house - I thought it was bad with 5 of us lol!

Being an out-an-out English Gal on the Scotish issue: they hate the English, unfortunately! But I love a Scottish voice: really husky and throaty (eg. James Dewer RIP - sweetest voice ever).

Have a nice day. Believe it or not, we're expecting 29 degrees today! No peace for the wicked: just gotta render some First Aid & TLC to the ol' man. Yep, a typical DIY weekend in London, UK lol! C u all in A&E!

[970162cango]

@1960gal You know us Italians! Why have 5 if the wife can pump out 10? We're expecting 105 (Farenheit) - like living in the pits of hell. What I wouldn't give for "a foggy day in London town". Took a look at your profile and we've a lot of the same stuff (Dame) Joan Armatrading, Temper Trap (hey-they're even new), etc. Nice chatting with you London Girl. Lol!

[cicastle]

I LOVE TRAFFIC!!!

[maustrin]

Meravigliosa..quanti ricordi..

[66aviv66]

the best part was the flute solo!!!!

[blackrocknutt]

s'funny--folk used to cpmpare steve's voice to ray charles at the beginning of his career but his phrasing on this album is so lnina simone-esque itt's scary. one of the great 70s soul albums--back when soul music meant any kind of musical mixed-marriage could happen in pursuit of modernity and the holy ghost. stevie,marvie, minnie ripperton, rotary connection, early earth wind and wire, rufus and chaka khan, traffic, all on the same frreeform funky path.

[molinmusic]

LOVED this its release!!!!!

[molinmusic]

Thank you SO much for the freedom ride today, thanks for posting!

[TonyJenRock1]

fore runners in their field and these .......interesting original classical tunes were created and played.....during a period of great musical growth.

[intrepidad]

You cant separate "Freedom Rider" from"Glad", its like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich without the jelly. Hammond organ, Piano, guitar and the most amazing and distinctive voice on the planet. Winwood is THE MAN. I was lucky enough to see Traffic in concert live twice in the early 70"s. Unlimited talent that Winwood has .

[animal90sFreak5]

Great classic,I love the title to this song,fits it well so good.

[anitashelby]

What A Fantastic Song!!! 5*s Thankyou....Anita..

[ECWaxman]

Makes me think of being in Manhattan at night, especially the Upper West Side.

[animal90sFreak5]

Wow awesome Jazz rock,geez what a band,way to go Traffic.

[florsails]

psychedelic jazz!

[funk67]

Always, ALWAYS. Trust a band that has a hammond organ!

[trh2130]

Ask Jimmy Smith!

[Karnevil717]

now that i think about it the reason the sax is rough is because this is really a flute song more than the sax because the sheet music shows the sax with a written line, but the flute is all improv

[Garyv1233]

the sax player is so amateur, not smooth , very rough

[Karnevil717]

listen to low spark and you'll understand why its rough

[NATALIESIMO]

i love this song! theres just something about it that makes me love it.

haha my dad puts this song on really loud on our surround sound and it drives our bird nuts!!!

[sdgakatbk]

I hope it isn't hurting your bird's ears, but yes, this whole album sounds better loud.

[Idolcruisefix]

cruising san fran, when i first got my license to drive, w/ coltrane too, good times and great music.

[reliantkUs]

WOOT! I totally remember this song

[gaspareleone]

this song is fantasticcc!!

[666skully]

Lucky enough to see them 3 times in Vegas opening for the Grateful Dead

[archimedesjs]

This song is enchanting.

[basketballjonesuba]

am i back in 72??

[KingofMars62]

You just might be...

[ArkanTheClean]

@basketballjonesuba 1970 !!!!!!!!

[comcasthal]

rick grech played bass on freedom rider. He also played bass on the super group with baker, winwood and clapton.

[peoj]

How do you know it was Rick Grech? I've been a fan of Traffic for years, and I knew about Grech playing with Winwood on some other stuff, but I was never able to find out who played bass on JBMD.

[comcasthal]

After listening to JBMD on the studio album I believe the bass came from a low C note from guitar and/or piano--In concert it was either Rick Grech or then Rosko Gee.

[jasbigj]

Winwood played bass on JBMD. It started out as a solo album for Winwood. Capaldi was called in to help out and later Chris Wood was called in. They just decided to make it the re formed Traffic.

[jasbigj]

Rick Grech played bass on the Low Spark of High Heeled Boys album.

[goldenvenus]

I agree with afterthefox about the bass lines. I have been captivated by it as well. I believe Winwood played them.

[afterthefox]

this album was one of my favorites of all-time.its where i discovered the bass for the first time.its so hard to understand how important and cool music was back then.traffic lives!!

[mamarketer]

Your Soul is in the LOst Abd Found....FOREVER

[bud4207]

Thanks king of mars62 i love traffic makes me wana fire 1 up and rock all day long.

[Trick6828]

ascbbbn

[bluesdues]

traffic are great...

[Peruanas0]

Thak you very much for post it

5 stars for TRAFFIC!

Long life!

[55racer]

They don't make 'em like this anymore!

[55racer]

...thinking person's rock!

[animal90sFreak5]

Indeed.

[DrWinston0Boogie]

nice, Traffic is the best

[KingofMars62]

Yeah I love Traffic Doc. Great music is timeless. This still as great as it did when I first heard it. I saw you had a vid or two posted from them also. We need more Traffic on youtube. ;-)

8)

[DrWinston0Boogie]

yea we do Traffic rules.