John Barleycorn Must Die

Occupation

• Steve Winwood
• Jim Capaldi
• Chris Wood

John Barleycorn Must Die is the fourth studio album by British rock band Traffic. It was recorded in London in 1970 in the Iceland and the Olympic Studios and released in the same year. It reached number 5 in the United States and was the most successful album of the band. In the UK, it came in at number 11

Formation

After the departure of guitarist Dave Mason and the resolution of Traffic Steve Winwood formed with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech the group Blind Faith. But for an album and a subsequent tour, the band disbanded again. Together with producer Guy Stevens Winwood began recording a solo album in which he himself wanted to play all the instruments. After recording the track Stranger to Himself the former Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi came about, and after taking a second piece, Every Mother's Son, brought Chris Blackwell, the head of Iceland Records, Chris Wood with the studio. Traffic was united as a trio again. Up to the first solo album Winwood, it should then take another seven years.

Style

Were influenced by psychedelic rock, the first albums of traffic, so there are the more jazz-rock and blues influences on John Barleycorn Must. This can be heard especially in the dominated by Hammond organ and saxophone instrumental Glad. Stylistically, this Framework which falls the album the title -giving folk-rock song John Barleycorn, a reworking of an old English folk song from the 15th century.

Tracklist and Credits

Page 1

• Steve Winwood - Hammond organ, piano, percussion; Chris Wood - saxophone, flute, percussion; Jim Capaldi - drums, percussion

• Winwood - vocals, Hammond organ, piano, percussion; Wood - saxophone, flute, percussion; Capaldi - drums, percussion

• Winwood - vocals, Hammond organ, electric piano, bass; Wood - Hammond organ; Capaldi - drums, percussion

Page 2

• Winwood - vocals, piano, electric guitar, bass, drums; Capaldi - Vocals

• Winwood - vocals, guitar, piano; Wood - Flute, Percussion; Capaldi - vocals, tambourine

• Winwood - vocals, Hammond organ, piano, electric guitar; Capaldi - drums

Track list CD 1999

1999 album with two additional studio recordings ( 4 & 8), and two live recordings from the Fillmore East was re-released,

• Announcement by Bill Graham