The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys | 
 enlarge | Artist: Traffic
Label: Universal (ECM & Island)
Category: Music
List Price: $6.98
Buy New: $6.63
You Save: $0.35 (5%)
New (15) Used (3) Collectible (1) from $5.55
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 33009
Format: Soundtrack
Media: LP Record
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 12.1 x 12 x 0.1
UPC: 042284277914
EAN: 0042284277914
ASIN: B00008FKFC
Release Date: September 23, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days
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| Tracks:
| • | Hidden Treasure | | • | The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys | | • | Rock and Roll Stew - Traffic, Gordon, Jim [Drums] | | • | Many a Mile to Freedom | | • | Light Up or Leave Me Alone - Traffic, Capaldi, Jim | | • | Rainmaker |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) paper sleeve pressing of this classic album from the British Rock band led by Steve Winwood, originally released in 1971. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Includes one bonus track. Universal. 2008.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Traffic at a crossroads July 13, 2008
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, proved to be, in some ways one of Traffic's most successful albums , partially because it was one of the few Traffic albums that was able to mix both intrigueing melodies from their earlier years and at times creative improvisations. The Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys combined simple pop/rock tunes such as the famouse " Rock and Roll Stew" and " Light Up or Leave Me Alone" with moderatly complex melodies more charecteristic of their later albums, such as " Hidden Treasure" and " Rain Maker".
The first tune on this album is " Hidden Treasure" . The lyrics to this song are inspiring without being too preachy ( as they often are on " Shoot out at the fantasy factotry"). Chris Wood contributes beatifully on this piece, the flute giving a truely natural and crisp feel to the bluesy melody and Steve Windwood's mysteriouse echoeing vioce. This tune is a rare accomplishment for Traffic where there is not too much, and not too little. The effect of this is astonishing, since Traffic is full of wonderful musicians, who just had some trouble getting their sound to be exatly right. The second tune on this album ( as well as its namesake) , and in my opinion, the most over appreciated tune on this album, is " The low spark of high heeled boys". When first released, it became a FM radio classic. It seems to me, however, that what Traffic trys to accomplish with this moderatly pleasant melody is just simply unnesseraey. I am personally a large fan of jazz and blues, and perhaps that is why the imporvisations and experiments that are done in this piece seem unsuccessful to me. The musicians in Traffic are not capable of leading an improvisational jam, in a jazzy style for over 5 minutes, and it feels as if they just do not even want to do it in the first place. This hit could have been relatively good, if traffic had not tried to be something that they are not. The third tune on this album is titled " Rock and Roll Stew". This tune's immeadiate appeal is due to the mixture of both funk and blues to portray the life of a rock and roll musician. Though this is not one of my favorite tunes of Traffic, this song earned them a bit of fame and radio play. It is in some ways, the opposite of the title track. " Rock and Roll Stew" is one of Traffic's more simple tunes, reminding me, surpiringly of " Feeling Alright" from traffic's album titled Traffic. Though it is immeadiatly appealing due to it's simple groove that is hard not to appreaciate, there is some depth missing to the song. The fourth tune on this recording is " Many a mile to freedom", one of my favorites on this album. The melody is intrigueing and catchy ( not to an annoying degree) , and it seems almost exotic, in the way it takes you away. The lyrics are wonderful, and are full of the unknown. A way to make this tune better would be to add even more imporvisation from Chris Wood, an often underestimated woodwinds musician. The fifth tune on this recording is " Light up or leave me alone", which is a rather slow tempo, average rocker. It does not seem to lead anywhere however, and it is all on the same note. The tune is quite uncharecteristic of Traffic, who like to compose long, intricate melodies. However, in some ways it is not so bad, considering the fact that the song is a transistion point between the more complex " Many a mile to freedom" and " Rainmaker". " Rainmaker" is the last tune on this recording and the most abstract. Traffic combined elements of folklore and jazz, to create a mysteriouse jazzy tune, marked by Chris Wood's distinct melody, which repeats throughout, creating an almost haunting effect. " Rainmaker" reminds me of some of Traffic's future recordings, with intricater melodies that seem useless at first but can turn to something magical when you listen closer. Although the improvisations in " Rainmaker" are quite creative, it gets to be a bit repetitive, because the improvisations consist for the most part of repeating the melody in many variations.However, as you listen deeper into this tune, you began to realize how meaningful it can really be.
Overall, this recording feels like a transistion album between the more scattered tunes of the past and the intricate and complex tunes of the future. The variety of styles and melodies is not overwhelming, partially due to the fact that there are only six songs ( which is for this specific traffic album, a realtively good thing) . The largest reason, perhaps is that it is actuelly rather exciting and engaging. Steve Winwood trys new things vocal wise. Chris Wood makes some of his largest contributions to date in this album, in beatiful tunes about nature, which fit his mysteriouse sound perfectly such as Hidden treasure and Rainmaker.At times however, the tunes seem a bit too shallow for Traffic's normally multileveled melodies, such as on " Rock and Roll Stew" and " light up or leave me alone", which seems qite odd considering the fact that Traffic tends to overdevelop and try a bit too hard to make the songs as complex and as difficult to listen to as possible ( although that is probabley not Traffic's goal in the first place) At other times however, we see a glimpse of Traffic's often unsteady musical future filled with long, deliberate ideas that have potential but are never quite able to completely play themselves out, such as in " The low sparks of high heeled boys" and " Rainmaker" , ( in my opinion, one of their best jazzy tunes). This recording is a way to see all the sides of Traffic, and although it is at times a rocky ride, this album successeds in showing that however unstable and controversial Traffic's legacy may be, there is something about this band that is and always will be timeless and most of all unique. The Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys is one of the best examples of that.
Traffic at a crossroads July 13, 2008
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, proved to be, in some ways one of Traffic's most successful albums , partially because it was one of the few Traffic albums that was able to mix both intrigueing melodies from their earlier years and at times creative improvisations. The Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys combined simple pop/rock tunes such as the famouse " Rock and Roll Stew" and " Light Up or Leave Me Alone" with moderatly complex melodies more charecteristic of their later albums, such as " Hidden Treasure" and " Rain Maker".
The first tune on this album is " Hidden Treasure" . The lyrics to this song are inspiring without being too preachy ( as they often are on " Shoot out at the fantasy factotry"). Chris Wood contributes beatifully on this piece, the flute giving a truely natural and crisp feel to the bluesy melody and Steve Windwood's mysteriouse echoeing vioce. This tune is a rare accomplishment for Traffic where there is not too much, and not too little. The effect of this is astonishing, since Traffic is full of wonderful musicians, who just had some trouble getting their sound to be exatly right. The second tune on this album ( as well as its namesake) , and in my opinion, the most over appreciated tune on this album, is " The low spark of high heeled boys". When first released, it became a FM radio classic. It seems to me, however, that what Traffic trys to accomplish with this moderatly pleasant melody is just simply unnesseraey. I am personally a large fan of jazz and blues, and perhaps that is why the imporvisations and experiments that are done in this piece seem unsuccessful to me. The musicians in Traffic are not capable of leading an improvisational jam, in a jazzy style for over 5 minutes, and it feels as if they just do not even want to do it in the first place. This hit could have been relatively good, if traffic had not tried to be something that they are not. The third tune on this album is titled " Rock and Roll Stew". This tune's immeadiate appeal is due to the mixture of both funk and blues to portray the life of a rock and roll musician. Though this is not one of my favorite tunes of Traffic, this song earned them a bit of fame and radio play. It is in some ways, the opposite of the title track. " Rock and Roll Stew" is one of Traffic's more simple tunes, reminding me, surpiringly of " Feeling Alright" from traffic's album titled Traffic. Though it is immeadiatly appealing due to it's simple groove that is hard not to appreaciate, there is some depth missing to the song. The fourth tune on this recording is " Many a mile to freedom", one of my favorites on this album. The melody is intrigueing and catchy ( not to an annoying degree) , and it seems almost exotic, in the way it takes you away. The lyrics are wonderful, and are full of the unknown. A way to make this tune better would be to add even more imporvisation from Chris Wood, an often underestimated woodwinds musician. The fifth tune on this recording is " Light up or leave me alone", which is a rather slow tempo, average rocker. It does not seem to lead anywhere however, and it is all on the same note. The tune is quite uncharecteristic of Traffic, who like to compose long, intricate melodies. However, in some ways it is not so bad, considering the fact that the song is a transistion point between the more complex " Many a mile to freedom" and " Rainmaker". " Rainmaker" is the last tune on this recording and the most abstract. Traffic combined elements of folklore and jazz, to create a mysteriouse jazzy tune, marked by Chris Wood's distinct melody, which repeats throughout, creating an almost haunting effect. " Rainmaker" reminds me of some of Traffic's future recordings, with intricater melodies that seem useless at first but can turn to something magical when you listen closer. Although the improvisations in " Rainmaker" are quite creative, it gets to be a bit repetitive, because the improvisations consist for the most part of repeating the melody in many variations.However, as you listen deeper into this tune, you began to realize how meaningful it can really be.
Overall, this recording feels like a transistion album between the more scattered tunes of the past and the intricate and complex tunes of the future. The variety of styles and melodies is not overwhelming, partially due to the fact that there are only six songs ( which is for this specific traffic album, a realtively good thing) . The largest reason, perhaps is that it is actuelly rather exciting and engaging. Steve Winwood trys new things vocal wise. Chris Wood makes some of his largest contributions to date in this album, in beatiful tunes about nature, which fit his mysteriouse sound perfectly such as Hidden treasure and Rainmaker.At times however, the tunes seem a bit too shallow for Traffic's normally multileveled melodies, such as on " Rock and Roll Stew" and " light up or leave me alone", which seems qite odd considering the fact that Traffic tends to overdevelop and try a bit too hard to make the songs as complex and as difficult to listen to as possible ( although that is probabley not Traffic's goal in the first place) At other times however, we see a glimpse of Traffic's often unsteady musical future filled with long, deliberate ideas that have potential but are never quite able to completely play themselves out, such as in " The low sparks of high heeled boys" and " Rainmaker" , ( in my opinion, one of their best jazzy tunes). This recording is a way to see all the sides of Traffic, and although it is at times a rocky ride, this album successeds in showing that however unstable and controversial Traffic's legacy may be, there is something about this band that is and always will be timeless and most of all unique. The Low Sparks of High Heeled Boys is one of the best examples of that.
 Better than you might think December 21, 2007
Sax Lover
Sure, this is the second reincarnation of Traffic, but it's better than you might think at first. As an album, it's not the greatest sequencing of songs; but for its innovations, it deserves merit, as do the players.
Some reviews speak of Dave Mason's guitar, but unless he's a guest artist, it's Steve Winwood (he's not only a vocalist/keyboardist) playing guitar on the albums after Mason's departure. (Listen to Winwood trading guitar licks with Eric Clapton on Blind Faith's 'Had To Cry Today'). I beg to differ with the reviewer who trashed Steve's piano solos; it's not Rachmaninoff or Art Tatum, but it fits the music to a tee.
The other core members are often overlooked. Jim Capaldi wrote most of the lyrics with a deeper-than-pop poetic heart. Chris Wood's innovations with electric sax effects are often mistaken for Winwood's organ or guitar, and they bring a looser jazz element into what might otherwise become pop or rock instrumental passages.
Like many albums of the era, it's hard to listen to from start to finish, but if you take the gems from a few albums and string them together in a sequence that helps the flow & transitions, you've got a real winner.
awesome August 10, 2007
B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania)
Traffic is truly a fantastic little rock band. I say "little" because they were popular enough to win over many fans, but unfortunately not popular enough to be remembered by millions today in the year 2007. A shame really, because when it comes to excellent songwriting talent and having a distinct and memorable rock and roll sound and style, Traffic were one of the best bands around. I think Steve Winwood moving past the band and having a successful solo career made people forget about the amazing talent of Traffic. This is one band that should NOT be forgotten.
From the peaceful flute playing in the opening song, to the Eric Clapton-like vocal melody in "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" to the really good electric guitar playing on "Rock and Roll Stew", this album is great. The title song rules as well, though it may be a bit overlong, I can promise you that's the only thing that might drag my enjoyment down ever so slightly. On second thought, no. I love it just the way it is. "Many a Mile to Freedom" rules as well. It features a really beautiful vocal melody that only Winwood would be able to pull off. The enchanting "Rainmaker" is a lengthy track that ends the album on a super high note. Great stuff.
It's "Many A Mile To Freedom" but only another minute on Amazon to get the remaster with the bonus track July 21, 2007
Craig Fenton (Airplaneville, New Jersey)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
Released in February 1971, "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" would enthrall the listener for the duration of the forty-minute journey. It wasn't another record to play but one to study, digest, and rarely file away.
From the opening notes of the beautiful "Hidden Treasures" Traffic had captured our attention. As they commandeered the ride, nobody was looking to escape. The title track is twelve minutes but the message lasts forever. Remember the first time the lyrics hit you between the eyes without warning?
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.
"Rock And Roll Stew" changes the direction. The tune is upbeat and full of power and passion. With a great mix, you can enjoy Winwood's tremendously tasty guitar.
"Many A Mile To Freedom" isn't only track four of the recording but one of the most overlooked songs of the era. The lyrics are delivered with the skill of a master artisan and the music blends flawlessly. If your original vinyl copies had holes in the grooves, you were not alone!
"Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" is well constructed. The musicianship is clearly detected. Although Dave Mason wasn't part of the session, the band took anything but a defeatist attitude.
"Rainmaker" unfortunately is the finale. The lyrics and music seem to create majestic visions. Listen intently to understand how Chris Wood enhances the recording.
The remaster with the bonus track gives you the single version of "Rock And Roll Stew." Call it a midnight snack after a 5 Star meal. If the version doesn't show a bonus, look a bit further!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
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