|
I had heard it before back in my college days, but had forgotten how good it was. Not too many tracks, but what is offered is top quality. This is the one item from the Traffic collection that I never had. Typical Traffic sound while Dave Mason was with the band, but you can hear the beginnings of what was to come with John Barleycorn. And now my Traffic collection is complete. And since I have most of the other Traffic works (from Mr. Fantasy all the way to When The Eagle Flies), I decided to add it to the collection.
I cranked up Shanghai in my car and was completely blown away by the perfection of writing, playing, singing and sound of this masterpiece. I have devoured all of the fantastic Traffic Remasters previously and Last Exit sounds as good or better than the others. I wish there was more "hidden treasure" Traffic in the vault for future release but the fact that there probably isnt only makes the available jewels even that more precious. I am a devoted Traffic fan and my love for their incredible music seems to grow stronger as time goes on. I saw the original Traffic trio perform in 1968 and still count it as one of the greatest of my live concert experiences ever.
An opportunity to understand Traffic's gift to shine in and out of the recording studio.If you missed the exit the first time around the present is as good as any to make up for lost time. Recording at the Fillmore West in San Francisco you can feel part of the festivities with Feelin' Good and Blind Man. The words come from the heart and the instrumentation provides the perfect backdrop.Medicated Goo complete with a bit of funk and lyrics that remain with you was a Album Rock radio song for numerous years (Well deserved).Taking a page from Cream's playbook the record company mixed live and studio tracks for our pleasure.
Those that are somewhat into the band or looking for songs they heard on the radio will be happy with the inclusion of Shanghai Noodle Factory and Medicated Goo. There is a certain intensity in the delivery by Steve Winwood.Something's Got A Hold Of My Toe lets the music do the talking. 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 recordings from the 60's and 70's.The record company's decision to release "Last Exit" a collection of previously unearthed Traffic studio and live tunes turned out to be an unexpected gift for all degrees of fans.The collector that must have every note could never be disappointed with the assortment of sounds that seem all over the globe and cohesive at the same time.
A clever riff and perfect improvisation makes this worthy of a repeat listen.Withering Tree has Winwood using the vocal style that would be synonymous with Blind Faith. Enjoy the music and be well,Craig FentonAuthor of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" The album opens with a wonderful bit of psychedelia called "Just For You." The vocals pay homage to the fantastic British Invasion sound circa 64-67.Shanghai Noodle Factory is one of the finest tunes that the band would leave us.
Complex and catchy at the same time.
Now about the live performances, these get ragged on quite a bit, however the new remastered version they've never sounded cleaner. Sure I wish Chris Wood was louder in the mix and Stevie Winwood's organ wasn't turned up quite so loud.
Blind Man shows how great they were at taking a blues tune and turning it into something special. Feelin' Good is wonderful and full of emotion.
Dispite some of the negitive press it gets for being thrown together by the record company, this is actually pretty good. The performances are all top notch and of songs that are not currently available elsewhere.
You'd never guess that they didn't write these two tunes. The opening song hasn't aged well but everything else is pretty great.Shanghai Noodle Factory, Withering Tree and Medicated Goo shows Traffic as about as good as they get.
The quality stems for how they were recorded-basic 2 track with no being able to fix it in the mix.
When Last Exit came out, the third, nobody knew it wasn't their last. In rock that's almost unknown. Just a fantastic CD. Something's Got A Hold Of My Toe - this is the one every reviewer gets wrong. This blather about Traffic's second album being their best because of the dynamic tension between Dave Mason and Winwood is eyewash. Steve Winwood is a total talent and a prodigy. As to Blind Man, that's the blues, big, bad, and beautiful. Big deal, not exactly uncommon.Now, the songs.
The first Traffic album is amazing. Let's begin at the beginning. Withering Tree - classic Winwood doing pretty as only he can. Medicated Goo - man, if you can't feel this one in your funky sneakers somebody gave you a soul-ectomy. Shanghai Noodle Factory - excellent funk, great to sing along, love those lyrics.
Just For You - throwaway fluff from Dave Mason, fortunately the only one of the disk. What Winwood does to Feelin' Good is simply beyond belief, he turns it inside out and puts a brand on it. That's it from the Traffic-copter, now back to the studio. Sound quality is admittedly low but this shortcoming is vastly overshadowed by the performance, absolutely the best live Traffic ever. What about the complaints that Last Exit is a dog's breakfast, odds and ends tossed together. Then the big finish, Feelin' Good and Blind Man, 18-minutes of Traffic live at the Fillmore West. You can rate him as a composer, bandleader, musical innovator, guitarist, organist, and especially singer and he comes out on top in every category.
Rather than being some random snippet of tape lying around the studio it is 2:14 of driving rock guitar and back beat that really doesn't let go of your toe. On the LP, one side was live, the other was studio. Mason is a folky annoyance.When Winwood, still a teen back then, stepped up with Spencer Davis it was clear there was a new sheriff in town. So what.
|
