John Barleycorn Must Die

This album found the Traffic trio of Winwood, Capaldi and Wood at their creative best and represents a peak in their musicianship as three players whose chemistry really found it's collective muse here post their initial disbandment. For me, not only is this one of the best albums of it's era but it's one of the best of any era.The re-mastering on the first disc of the original John Barleycorn album re-release does a great job of seperating the instruments and the clarity of Chris Wood's flute and sax and Steve Winwood's guitar, piano and organ work really does provide a new dimension for the stand out tracks within this fine album. It has always been a really innovative piece of work with Glad merging mellifluously into Freedom Rider as the opening two tracks but some of the bass muddiness on the original release has been overcome here particularly on Empty Pages and Every Mother's Son.Steve Winwood's virtuoso organ playing on the latter has never sounded better than it does here in a travel song that takes you on a real musical journey with lyrics that match the quality of musicianship "The back door to the universe, That old moon dust..." "Stranger to Himself" features excellent lead guitar work by SW which sounds better than ever. As for the title track itself, these three guys could be playing in your living room the sound is that good and it's a great version of the traditional English folk song with outstanding acoustic guitar and vocals from Steve and Jim Capaldi with flute work by Chris Wood that is quite exquisite.The Berkshire Downs and Cotswolds countryside permeates through the music as a tangible influence upon the sound created between the three players.It's great to have the Traffic Live material from November 1970 on disc two,when Ric Grech joined the others having recently left Blind Faith along with Steve Winwood, although the sound quality here is not as sharp as the Studio re-master but that's probably to be expected from a concert that was recorded 40 years ago. Some good alternate versions & mix tracks accompanying the live material.All in all an excellent package and a job well done here in this release. Cannot help but feel a tinge of sadness that Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi are no longer with us but that must be some jam they are playing up there bringing that high spark to the wild blue yonder.

I can't decide if this is their best or perhaps Mr Fantasy... certainly for me, it is one of the two and it could depend on the mood I'm in as the other has some nice psychedelic songs on from Dave Mason. This is really the other side of where they were then (even though it's a 'comeback' album) so it's more straightforward pop/rock with a folky tinge on a couple of songs although it kicks of with the jazz-samba-ish Glad and then into the funkier Freedom Rider. That's about the best segue from one incredible pieces of music to another, that I've ever come across.I was addicted to this (and Mr Fantasy) for about 9 months of last year and decided to get this version as it was said to sound better than the remaster I had...and I agree that it does... more natural in my opinion. This is the early Island Masters edition and it's in the running to be one of my all-time favourite albums (and bands!) Not too easy to describe the music though - I tried a little above - and it might take a few plays for it to start to come together for you... I had a compilation years ago and that was fine, but I recently found it's only the albums that make real sense to me now.As ever, this is all held together by the fantastic Steve Winwood and if you're even slightly curious about this, why not give it a shot and it might surprise you to the extent that it makes you want to hear and buy everything under their name (and Winwood as well) just like me! :)

Even without Dave Mason, who wrote tracks like You Can All Join In, Feelin' Alright, Hole In My Shoe, Utterly Simple, Steve Windwood, Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi came up with another classic album. You have to buy the Traffic albums, Mr Fantasy, Traffic, John Barleycorn Must Die and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys if you are into really great '60s early '70s music

Saw the newly reformed Traffic in Amsterdam in the summer of 1970 just after they released John Barleycorn -one of the best concerts (of very many in the 70's) that still stays clear in the memory (the support band was Free!) - the album still seems fresh and full of energy - some tracks verging on free form jazz. Stevie Winwood's voice is spine tingling!Only down was the 3 "extra" tracks supposedly to re-sell the album - but 1 is ok and 2 are naff - wish they wouldn't do that -spoils the sequence of the original. Other than that - Highly reccomended!!

Traffic, a British rock band who recorded with various line-ups between 1967 and 1974, are in glorious form on this 1970 release. The 3 players who came on board for this venture were Steve Winwood (vocals, Hammond organ, piano, electric guitar, bass), Jim Capaldi (drums, percussion, vocals) and Chris Wood (saxophone, flute and percussion). The instrumental opener, 'Glad' demonstrates the classy virtuoso talents of the trio and segues masterfully into the first of the vocal tracks, namely 'Freedom Rider'. 'Empty Pages' is no less impressive and the relatively short 'Stranger To Himself' is an excellent rock workout. The title track 'John Barleycorn (Must Die)' is unlike anything else here; a lovely, traditional folk song delivered with subtlety and panache. 'Every Mother's Son', which closes the album, is another Traffic classic - powerful and soulful, not surprising given Winwood's supreme abilities both as a singer and musician. If you enjoy rock music with a progressive/blues feel, Traffic should tick all the boxes and provide you with 40+ minutes of excellent entertainment. Highly recommended.

.....You are in for a treat. Jazzy one minute, folksy the next. Rockin' throughout. This is one of the best musical romps in rock history.If you have already heard it, buy another copy. Buy several copies to give to friends and relations. They will all be very Glad for the wonderful gift.....

Was soll man zu der Musik noch groß sagen, sie ist auch heute noch toll und Glad ist ein echter Klassiker. Die CD ist gut abgemischt und hat zusätzlich noch ein paar live Songs zubieten, u.a. Glad. Für Freunde guter Musik ein klarer Kauftip.

Premessa: su film e musica non faccio mai recensioni sul valore artistico, perché non è questo il luogo. Ma qualche cenno, qui, a John barleycorn dei Traffic, va fatto. Si tratta di un'opera fondamentale della musica, nel passaggio dagli anni 60 ai 70 del Novecento, ma di fatto senza tempo. In questo disco si fondono temi popolari, rock, improvvisazione e temi jazz. Ho l'età giusta per avere da parte l'LP originale, allora disco di importazione che costava qualche lira, e il necessario per riprodurlo come si deve, a iniziare da una V15 Quarta. Ho preso il CD perché duplicazione e backup sono più semplici e veloci, e per favore non parlatemi di musica liquida.La prima gradita sorpresa è trovare cinque tracce inedite, oltre le sei dell'originale, tra queste una tiratissima versione live di Glad, di undici minuti. All'interno c'è un classico opuscolo formato CD con foto e la storia (in inglese) del disco e del gruppo.La realizzazione tecnica, che parte dalla rimasterizzazione in digitale del master analogico originale, è molto ben fatta, del resto pure il vecchio LP era ottimo. Qui ci guadagna la dinamica, soprattutto il rapporto segnale rumore perché non è un'opera ad altissima dinamica, senza alterare l'equilibrio cromatico già eccellente di partenza.Da aggiungere che la consegna è stata molto rapida, e nei tempi previsti. L'imballaggio è stato sufficiente, si potrebbe fare meglio, comunque la custodia è arrivata perfettamente integra.Insomma, per 9 euro e 99 è un acquisto imperdibile, per tutti quelli che sono (stati) ragazzi che come me non ci bastava i Beatles e nemmeno i Rolling Stones.

This was the first album I ever bought with my own money and John Barleycorn was the 1st full song I learned to play and sing. I decided to listen to i on youtube the other day and was surprised how great it was. This could have been recorded yesterday!!! It's worth every penny and there is a nice booklet inside....plus it came early afternoon the next day so got to hear it on my good stereo right away!

A great album in its own merits. The bonus tracks add no value though. But it's a good way to own the album.