Mr Fantasy [Import]

Track Listings

1. Heaven Is In Your Mind

2. Berkshire Poppies

3. House For Everyone

4. No Face No Name No Number

5. Dear Mr Fantasy

6. Dealer

7. Utterly Simple

8. Coloured Rain

9. Hope I Never Find Me There

10. Giving To You

11. Paper Sun

12. Giving To You

13. Hole In My Shoe

14. Smiling Phases

15. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese limited edition reissue of 1967 album, packaged in a miniature LP gatefold sleeve featuring 15 tracks. Island. 2003.

Tracks:

Heaven Is In Your Mind
Berkshire Poppies
House For Everyone
No Face, No Name, No Number
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Dealer
Utterly Simple
Coloured Rain
Hope I Never Find Me There
Giving To You
Paper Sun
Giving To You
Hole In My Shoe
Smiling Phases
Here We Go 'Round The Mulberry Bush

Amazon.com

It's a rather druggy record, Traffic's debut; in fact, decades later, it's still possible to get a decent contact high off of it. From the stuttering, lyrically ponderous "Heaven Is in Your Mind" to the awe-inspiring psychedelic soul of "Dear Mr. Fantasy," this is Traffic's most reverb-saturated and elliptical release. This 2000 reissue is in mono, but it does finally bring the American and British versions of the record together, so that you get "Paper Sun" and other singles from 1967. Dave Mason-era Traffic was nothing if not eclectic. On Mr. Fantasy, they mix and match the art-prog of Caravan and the goofy psychedelia of Sgt. Pepper's with the mellow groove of Procol Harum, the jazz-blues fusion of Graham Bond with the blues-rock of Cream. All that and sitar, too--not to mention Stevie Winwood's riveting vocals. A sheen of silliness covers at least a third of the album; faux-frumpy songs like "House for Everyone" and "Berkshire Poppies" are not-very-witty vaudeville spoofs that are sung in stuffy British accents. Overall, this is an engaging period piece that makes one give thanks for the Program function on the CD player. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

A bridge to cross over...........2007-05-31

Many mid-60's artists, names too countless to mention here, failed to bridge the gap from the R&R/soul based music of that day to the more experimental stylings which followed. Not so with Mr. Winwood, who jumped from Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic with fellow headliner Dave Mason and relative unknowns Jim Capaldi (dr) and Chris Wood (woodwinds). Actually, Dave Mason often slid by the wayside allowing Winwood's influence to prevail. The US cover of this LP was a rather unimaginative photo of the group members, whereas the UK version (used here) gave us more insight as to what the music inside "looked like." This was, perhaps, evidence of the UK's head start on the dreamier elements of psychedelia. Songs like "Hole in My Shoe" and "Berskhire Poppies" utilized heavy phasing and made us hang on white-knuckled for awhile til we got the idea. Yet we also got the beautiful ballad "No Face No Name No Number" which became an oft-covered standard. A cornucopia of styles at work here, and more songs than appeared on the original releases of this LP. For example, the title tune from "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" which fits here quite well. If you are expecting the long jams of latter era Traffic, think again. A seminal work from a transitional age.

Traffic.......2007-03-17

I was going to digitalize my old "Mr Fantasy" LP but looked up to see if was available on CD, which it was. What can I say. If you you're an old guy, or girl, and you like Traffic, then you'll like this CD. Maybe even if you're not old. It's a bit corny in parts, but it's good creative rock and roll.

A Traffic must have.......2006-11-10

What can I say, except get this remaster today. If your a fan of Traffic then you know. If your a young rocker trying to discover why the music from the late 60's and early 70's was just better than now-a-days, buy this and you'll find out why. This is Traffic's 1st or 2nd album...I think 2nd, during the orginial line up and is just a crazy, beautiful blend of psycedellic blues rock and jazz progressions. Very trippy. Get it. Today.

(3.5 stars) Pretty good in some places: dated in others.......2006-11-04

This review is only based on the ten original tracks, though there are some great bonus tracks (Paper Sun; Hole in My Shoe; Smiling Phases) that would've undoubtedly boosted the rating had they been included on the original album instead of a few of the dated psychedelic songs Berkshire Poppies; A House for Everyone; Utterly Simple; Hope I Don't Find Me There; and the album-closing jam Giving to You. Psychedelia wasn't Traffic's thing, they were better off playing jazz/folk/rock songs such as Heaven is In Your Mind; No Face, No Name, No Number; Colored Rain and that unforgettable title track, arguably the best song in the Traffic canon. Plus Dealer is a good song, on the misunderstood side - the title does spell drugs, but it's really about a card dealer. A bit of an offbeat subject, but this was 1968. At its best, it's the kind of English Folke that would later inspire Jethro Tull's best work; at worst, it's psychedelic excess vaguely reminiscent of the Rolling Stones' worst work. Thankfully, they would get their sound straight on the next, self-titled album, the latter of which containing several classics (You Can All Join In; Pearly Queen; Feelin' Alright?; 40,000 Headsmen). It's the better buy, but this isn't bad at all.

Psychedelic masterpiece, but get the US version!!.......2005-05-27

The British version of this CD is called "Mr Fantasy" - it has a superior CD sleeve to the US version, but a lot of it is in badly mixed mono and sounds very flat. The same album is available in the US version under the title "Heaven is In Your Mind" - it is all in stereo, and sequenced much better - makes a BIG difference - and is far superior to the U.K. version. Both versions are great - whichever one you end up with, you're gonna love if you like psychedelic music! Because this album is a psych CLASSIC! I have both versions and I ALWAYS listen to the US version ("Heaven is In Your Mind") because it sounds better and makes more sense the way it is sequenced. I had never even heard of the album until 1 year ago. I investigated this year, and I am SURE GLAD I did!!!

Royal Lewters: Music of Henry VIII & Elizabeth I's

Average customer rating:

Music of The Royal Lewters
great CD

Royal Lewters: Music of Henry VIII & Elizabeth I's
Paul O'Dette
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Early Sixteenth Century Venetian Lute Music
Dowland: Complete Lute Works, Vol.1-5
Robin Hood: Elizabethan Ballad Settings
Baroque Lute Music, Vol. 1
John Johnson: Lute Music

ASIN: B00007BKAE
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

Pastyme With Good Companie
Fantasie
Philip's Dump
The Duke Of Somersettes Dompe
My Lady Careys Dompe
Fantasy
Sellenger's Round
A Dump
Chi Passa Per 'Sta Strada
Anthony Pavyn
A Downe
Fantasia
Pawn
A Canzonetta
Collard's Ground
A Canzonetta
The Gathering Of Pescodes
A Paven To Delight
The Galliard To Delighte
Quadro Paven
Omnino Galliard
Carmans Whistle
Passingmeasures Pavin
Walsingham
A Pavin By Mr. Johnson
Galliard
Conde Claros

Customer Reviews:

Music of The Royal Lewters .......2005-08-13

Reviewing a Paul O'Dette lute recording is a difficult task, because one runs out of superlatives so quickly. This is a CD of music written by (or "thought to have been written by") the court lutenists of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

My only quibble with this CD is that there are almost none of the more familiar English lute pieces heard here, save for Ferrabosco's "Fantasia" and Robert Johnson's setting of "Carman's Whistle". O'Dette's playing is excellent throughout, it is just a shame that the musical compositions themeselves are frequently rather weak. Still, not every English lute player was the equal to Dowland or Cutting, and this CD is a valuable historical document of representative pieces from the lesser musicians. (NB: There is an extended group of works by John Johnson here, a lutenist whom many consider quite highly. For myself, I've never been able to develop a taste for his pieces.)

I believe that this CD and "Robin Hood" are available as a 2-CD set called "Lusty Gallant"; I would recommend the double-disc for a purchase rather than the two individual CDs.

great CD.......2003-07-23

I'm a big fan of Paul O'Dette - I stumbled on vol. 4 of his "Complete Works of John Dowland" in a used record store a while back and have been enchanted with lute music ever since.
The Royal Lewters is a collection of Tudor-era lute music: lots of charming pieces by little-known composers, and for many of the selections the composer isn't known. There is a surprising amount of variety here, many different tempos, moods, etc., everything from cheerful little dance-like tunes to more solemn, introspective pieces and laments. The recorded sound is excellent, nice and spacious.

Average customer rating:

too gorgeous for words
Been there, heard it...

Elegeia

Manufacturer: Analekta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00008UE7R
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

Ich Habe Genug, Cantate, BWV 82
Ich Habe Genug, Cantate, BWV 82
Ich Habe Genug, Cantate, BWV 82
Ich Habe Genug, Cantate, BWV 82
Ich Habe Genug, Cantate, BWV 82
Balletti Lamentabili
Balletti Lamentabili
Balletti Lamentabili
Balletti Lamentabili
Ach, Dass Ich Wassers Genug Hatte
Lamento Sopra La Morte Ferdinandi III A Tre
Sachevil's Dolorosi
Sachevil's Dolorosi
So Ceas'd The Rival Crew
Fantazia In C Minor, No.7, Z.738
Draw Near, You Lovers, Z.462
The Funerals
The Funerals
Ye Sacred Muses
In Nomine

Customer Reviews:

too gorgeous for words.......2004-11-10

In the world of "historically informed" performance, this is a gem. The ensemble shapes phrases beautifully and the singing of Matthew White is lush. This quickly became one of my favorite recordings.

Been there, heard it..........2003-05-07

I own the magificent recording by Ian Bosteridge of Cantata 82. No doubt this record company was hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Bosteridge's disc or the discs of other countertenors who have already recorded these cantatas with greater sensitivity and success (Scholl, for example). Matthew White does not measure up to the current standard of countertenor and this disc disappoints. His voice lacks a variety of vocal colours and he pushes, almost muscles his way through some of the beautiful German laments with little awareness of the emotional power of this music. It does not help that he is supported by a thin and directionless chamber ensemble.

Louis Couperin Edition, Vol. 1: Preludes de Mr. Couperin [Hybrid SACD]

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Louis Couperin Edition, Vol. 1: Preludes de Mr. Couperin [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Aeolus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Galliardes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Improvisation | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000OCZC4I
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Average customer rating:

You are the one who makes us all glad
Traffic's classic debut album
Classic Traffic!
Trippy n' groovy
And Heaven is in your mind, its utterly simple!

Mr. Fantasy
Traffic
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Traffic
Traffic
Heaven Is in Your Mind
Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory
When the Eagle Flies

ASIN: B00002MHRW
Release Date: 1999-11-01

Tracks:

Heaven Is In Your Mind
Berkshire Poppies
House For Everyone
No Face No Name No Number
Dear Mr Fantasy
Dealer
Utterly Simple
Coloured Rain
Hope I Never Find Me There
Giving To You
Paper Sun
Dealer
Coloured Rain
Hole In My Shoe
No Face No Name No Number
Heaven Is In Your Mind
House For Everyone
Berkshire Poppies
Giving To You
Smiling Phases
Dear Mr Fantasy
We're A Fade You Missed This

Album Description

24 bit remastered reissue of the 1967 debut by this legen dary British psych/ prog rock group that featured Steve Winwood, Dave Mason & Jim Capaldi as members. As a bonus, it includes all 12 tracks from the original U.S. mono album, 'Paper Sun', 'Dealer', 'Coloured Rain', 'Hole In My Shoe', 'No Face, No Name, No Number', 'Heaven Is In Your Mind', 'House For Everyone', 'Berkshire Poppies', 'Giving To You', 'Smiling Phases', 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' and 'We're A Fade You Missed This'. 22 tracks total. Also features the original cover art. 1999 releas

Album Details

Remastered Reissue of Landmark 1967 Release from the Steve Winwood, Dave Mason and Jim Capaldi Supergroup. Includes Rare Mono Mixes and Deluxe 12 Page Booklet with Unseen Photos.

Customer Reviews:

You are the one who makes us all glad.......2006-12-16

This is Traffic's first album with both the English stereo and the American mono versions. This in general is a very great album. A very far out album but still very accessible. They're are some songs on here however that haven't aged all that well. Other songs like Heaven Is In Your Mind, Dear Mr Fantasy, No Face No Name and No Number are all as good as it gets and the sound here is execellent. Definately worth the price of admission.

Traffic's classic debut album.......2005-06-25

Mr. Fantasy (1967.) Traffic's first album.

One of the great classic rock supergroups of the late sixties and early seventies was Traffic. The group combined the talents of former Spencer Davis Group member Steve Winwood with that of the equally-talented Dave Mason, along with a cast of other talented musicians. Like most classic rock supergroups, Traffic didn't last too long, mostly due to tension in the band, most of which went on between the band's two songwriting geniuses, Winwood and Mason. The first group that the band released was NOT their self-titled album (that one came second), but Mr. Fantasy, released in 1967. Read on for my review.

This is by no means the best Traffic album, but it served as an excellent way for the band to introduce their stylings to the world. The band combines a number of genres and subgenres of music, making for an excellent listening experience. Though a mildly psychedelic rock album, for the most part, there is a lot of blues and jazz influence. These external influences only strengthen the band's sound. The big hit to come off of the album was the title track, which remains a classic rock staple to this day. Coloured Rain and Heaven Is In Your Mind achieved minor popularity, but were nothing less in the quality department when compared to the release's big hit. No two songs on this album sound alike. In the end, it stands an excellent debut album from an excellent classic rock band.

There are a few choices you have when you purchase this album. There's the American release, which was released under the name Heaven Is In Your Mind, which has a slightly varied tracklist along with some bonus tracks not on the original UK version. The original UK version on CD maintains all of the original tracks, and adds those extra songs from the US album on as bonus tracks. Among the bonus tracks is the non-album smash, Paper Sun. Whatever version you get is entirely up to you, but I myself got the UK version because I prefer my albums to be as the band originally intended them.

Traffic's debut is a solid one, indeed. It was just a premonition to what the band would become. Even so many years later, we still look back on this album as a masterpiece of classic rock - and with good reason. If you're a fan of the band, or any of its members, this is well worth purchasing.

Classic Traffic!.......2004-09-12

Traffic's first two albums from 1967 and 1968 are both timeless. "Mr Fantasy" was their debut; their second was simply called "Traffic"

Steve Winwood had left Spencer Davis Group in early 1967 to form a new band with Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. Both Winwood and Mason were extremely talented songwriters, and they each wrote a single hit for the band prior to the release to this album. Both great singles ( "Paper Sun" and "Hole in My Shoe" ) were included on the original US mono-version of the album, which makes up the second half of this CD-release

Traffic succeded in combining Winwood's jazzy/bluesy style and Mason's melodic songwriting style with the new pshychedelic trends of which the band themselves were very much a part of.

The album is perfectly produced by Jimmy Miller, and though these recordings are nearly forty years old, they sound as fresh and crisp as ever.

Most songs were written by Steve Winwood in collaboration with Capaldi and Wood; and their songwriting is incredibly inspired. Songs like the opener "Heaven is in Your Mind", the moving "No Face, No Name, No Number", "Mr Fantasy" ( terrific guitar solo from Steve ) and "Coloured Rain" are classics. They also show a humouristic free and easy attitude on tracks like "Berkshire Poppies" and "Giving to You"; which gives the album the variety that is needed to make it a classic.

Dave Mason wrote 3 songs, all tracks are fine, but his contributions here are not so significant as on the follow-up album, which included his classics "Feeling Alright" and You Can All Join In". They are all more or less in the same vein as "Hole in My Shoe", though none of them not nearly as catchy.

Before the album was released in the US Dave Mason had left the band ( there were some disagreements over the musical direction ), so two of his songs were excluded from that release and exchanged with the 4 songs from their 2 singles. This made the American 12 tracks version an even stronger album. The B-side "Smiling Phases" was another great Winwood/Capaldi/Wood composition that deserved being included in the first place.

There are some interesting differences between the mono and stereo versions. The guitar-solos on the two mixes of "Heaven is on Your Mind" are completely different; funny that they exchanged the great solo on the UK version with an obviously less inspired on for the US release; could be a mistake? Minor differences can be on most tracks.

Interesting that Dave Mason isn't even credited as band member on the US album cover. Mason returned later to record the follow-up album with Traffic.

Trippy n' groovy.......2001-08-14

This cd is a combination of the U.K. release (mono) and the U.S. (stereo) release of Mr. Fantasy. Very psychedelic in the likes of Sgt. Pepper etc. but also has some jazz funk moments as in track 10 'Giving to you".If you like Steve Winwood you will get a huge kick out of this album as it was cut prior to his joining up to form the Spencer Davis Group. A worthwhile purchase.

And Heaven is in your mind, its utterly simple!.......2000-05-04

Of all the bands and albums of late that have been given the re-mastering treatment no band has deserved this more than Traffic regardless of the incarnation that you care for(1st incarnation w/D.Mason constantly acting as the revolving door, or 2nd incarnation wherein Winwood/Capaldi/Wood were the remaining core). Of all of the catalog, either Mr. Fantasy, which is a true masterpiece of the period or the "Traffic" self-titled second album, are highly recommended over the current American label offerings.

The Remastering of the first two albums was done with such care as to not sound to bright or harsh as digital processing has a tendency to do. "Heaven is in your mind", "Dear Mr. Fantasy", "We're a fade you missed this", "Smiling phases" and "Coloured rain" all open up aurally as never before heard. The sharpness of the guitar passage in 'Mr. Fantasy' especially are worth the price of the listen. Jim Capaldis' drum kit also sounds more forward in the mix than previous offerings, but the nicest suprise is the general ambience or nuances that were originally recorded into the mix but which were lost to the original vinyl releases not to mention the waste of time straight transfer disc offerings that record companies always seem to offer first.

The contributions of four musicians can be clearly heard throughout instead of mush with Steve Winwood clearly crying to be heard over the mix.

Buy this and the other import remasters to hear what was really a step ahead in modern music for the times.

Tracks:

Pavan A 6
Galliard A 6
Browning A 3
Go From My Window A 6
Lachrimae Antiquae
Come To Me, Grief, For Ever
Lachrimae Coactae
Lasso Vita Mia
Mr John Langtons Pavan
Ye Sacred Muses
Pavan A 5 In C Minor
Fantasy A 6
The Honie-Suckle
The Fairie-Round
The Earl Of Essex Galliard
Mr Henry Noell His Galliard
In Nomine A 5
Fantasy A 6 In F Major
Aire A 6 In F Major

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-02-12

The group 'Fretwork', after a year of thorough preparation, gave its first concert in July 1986 in the Wigmore Hall. Their goal was to restore the full wealth of the repertoire for viol consort. They have come a long way to achieve all of this. Often a singer, such as Michael Chance joins them as one of the foremost exponents of the English vocal tradition.. This CD portrait is devoted to English music of the golden period of Elizabeth I,James I and Charles I, which was a period of extraordinary greatness in music in terms of both quality and quantity. I'm giving this disc 5 stars because the quality of the music and its performance is very good. But I am very annoyed at Fretwork who likes to put out albums with Michael Chance's name on it and gives him only a few songs on the recording. On this one ( in spite of the above track listing) he has only 3 songs: "Come to me Grief Forever","Lasso vita mio" and "Ye Sacred Muses". Then all we hear are viols for the rest of the album. This is true of all their albums on which they list Chance; so be warned that's the way it is. I think Fretwork is a talented group, but a little more variety would be appreciated!!!

Average customer rating:

Mr.Fantasy

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000F6YPUK
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Armada: Music from the Courts of England and Spain

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
Excellent and Pleasurable

Armada: Music from the Courts of England and Spain

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004TQR4
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Rejoice Unto The Lord
Diferencias Sobre El Canto
Fantasia
Morenica Dame
Browning A 3
The Carman's Whistle
Gome To Me, Grief, For Ever
Recercada Segunda 'Sobre Canto Llano'
Susana Un Jur
Fantasia De Redobles
In Angel's Weed
Dulce Memoria
Diferencias Sobre La Gallarda Milanesa
Recercada Tercera
Pour Down, You Pow'rs Divine No Grief Is Like To Mine
Fantasia A 4
Quiente Hizo
In Nomine A 5

Tracks:

Almain: The Honeysuckle
Pavan: Paradizo
Coranto: The Fairie-Round
Fantasy A 5 'Two In One'
M. Bucton His Galiard
Captaine Digorie Piper His Galiard
Fantasy A 4
Pavan: Lachrimae Antiquae
M. Nicholas Gryffith His Galiard
In Nomine A 5
In Nomine A 5
Fantasy A 4 For The 'Great Dooble Base'
Aire: Pavan Of Alfonso
Aire: Almaine Of Alfonso
A Fancie in C
Fantazy
Paven
Almaine

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-03-08

This is indeed a good representation of music from England and Spain and it is a bargain to get 2 cds for this price, CD 1 includes music by:William Byrd,Elway Bevin,Antonio de Cabezon,Hernando de Cabezon,Esteban Daza,Miguel de Fuenllana,Lopez,Diego Ortiz, Robert Parson,Picforth,Robert White. But please know that Michael Chance sings only 6 songs on CDl and none on CD 2. And only 4 of the 6 are "new", so know that before you purchase this disc if you are buying it only to hear him. Of course, the 4 new songs are quite interesting and I probably would buy it at this price to get them in my collection. The new songs are: "In Angel's Weed; "Pour Down,You pow'rs divine";"Morenica dame"; and "Quiente hizo". The 2 known songs (to Me) "Rejoice unto the Lord" and "
come to me Grief Forever". CD 2 includes music by: John Bull,William Byrd,John Dowland,Alfonso Holborne, William Lawes. The tunes that Chance sings are very attractive and he sings them with his usual expertise. Moreover, Fretwork is a talented experienced performing group, so when you combine them with the "golden" voice of Michael Chance, you know you have good listening in store.

Excellent and Pleasurable.......2001-01-31

This album contains the work of a great many composers, mostly from Spain and England, spanning several genres and two musical periods. For all that, the works complement one another extremely well, there are no jarring transitions, and nothing sticks out unpleasantly. The liner notes leave much to be desired, however. Still, this 2-disc set is a bargain. Fretwork is a masterful ensemble and all of the pieces are skillfully performed. You won't be disappointed by this pleasant listen.

Average customer rating:

the first fantasy
MR FANTASY
Solid album, one of Traffic's best.
half-great
Fresh Sounding Debut

Mr. Fantasy
Traffic
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Traffic
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic
461 Ocean Boulevard

ASIN: B000001FV3
Release Date: 1990-06-15

Tracks:

Heaven Is In Your Mind
Berkshire Poppies
House For Everyone
No Face, No Name And No Number
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Dealer
Utterly Simple
Coloured Rain
Hope I Never Find Me There
Giving To You

Amazon.com

In 1967, when still teenaged keyboardist Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group (for whom he'd sung lead on hits like "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "I'm a Man") to start a new band with guitarist Dave Mason, few observers thought their idea of blending pop, rock, and jazz would work. Immediately, though, Traffic scored giant UK hits with Winwood's east-meets-west "Paper Sun" and Mason's acid-jazzy "Hole in My Shoe." Between those songs, the smoking-guitar driven title track, the swinging instrumental "Giving to You" and the haunting ballad, "No Face, No Name, No Number," Traffic's debut established both players as elite members of the new guard of late 60s British rock. --Billy Altman

Customer Reviews:

the first fantasy.......2005-01-23

There is another version of this disc floating around out there, a ten track replica of the original vinyl release. I suppose the version I have is a 1980's release, since the version you've clicked on here is from 1990, and includes some interesting bonus tracks, which I'm missing. I'll be mentioning those bonus tracks here, but I won't be incorporating them into my review, or taking into account in my rating.

'Traffic' was formed when Steve Winwood decided to exit 'The Spencer Davis Group'. He took along with him Dave Mason, who had earned some recording credits by adding to the din of percussion instruments on Spencer Davis classics such as 'I'm a Man' and 'Gimme Some Lovin'. 'Mr. Fantasy' was the band's debut album, released in December of 1967. The band however had been front-and-center since their May of 1967 release of 'Paper Sun', which didn't crack the Top 40 in the states, but topped out at number 5 on the UK charts. Oddly enough that tune, along with two other Top 10 UK hits for the band, 'Hole In My Shoe' (#2) and 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush' (#8) were not included on the original vinyl release. 'No Face No Name No Number', which does appear on the vinyl version, hit number 40 on the UK charts in March of 1968.

It's easy to see why Island Records found it appropriate to include these UK single releases on reissues of 'Mr. Fantasy'. The album has not aged well, with it's psychedelic underpinnings, unlike those of The Beatles 'Sgt. Peppers', now sounding superficial and cheesy. This is particularly true of the Dave Mason tracks, 'House For Everyone', 'Utterly Simple', and 'Hope I Never Find Me There'. These songs are devoid of meaningful melody and lyrical message, relying on sound effects and sitar meanderings that come off as stereotypes of psychedelia. It's really a wonder that Winwood would allow inclusion of these tracks rather than filling out the disc with some of their single successes. Luckily, Mason's mimicing of others would give way in the later part of the decade to some of the finest rock composing of the era, but he certainly had a long way to go, and some baggage to dump along the way. Unfortunately, 'Mr. Fantasy' was his first landfill.

The compositions by Winwood, percussionist Jim Capaldi, and jack-of-all-trades Chris Wood fare better. 'Heaven Is In Your Mind' (also released as a single in 1968), a song better known to many by the 'Three Dog Night' cover, along with the title track, are classic psychedelia. 'Coloured Rain' and 'Giving To You' are also worthwhile compositions, especially notable for Mason's extraordinary guitar work and Winwood's instantly recognizable organ stylings. 'No Face No Name No Number' is the only love ballad, this one of the unrequited variety. 'Berkshire Poppies' is a miss however, for the same reasons Mason's fare failed, and 'Dealer', the only composition entirely Capaldi's, is an odd mix of Spanish calypso sounds merged with an anti-drug dealer message. Steppenwolf's 'The Pusher' does a much better job of getting the mood right.

'Mr. Fantasy' is the left-hand bookend to two "fantasy" albums that serve as touchstones for Traffic's most productive years. 'Shoot Out At the Fantasy Factory', the right-hand bookend, was released in 1973 as the sequel to the band's tour-de-force, 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'. Ironically, these two "fantasy albums" are probably the band's weakest studio efforts, but time has proven that anything by Steve Winwood and Dave Mason will have quality written all over it. The sound of this disc and the liner notes could be poster boys for what many people imagine the psychedelic era was all about, so if you enjoy that musical niche... go for it!

MR FANTASY.......2000-06-14

British flower power psych at its finest a must for fans of Traffic.A blend of pop,psych,jazz.Also check out the double cd release Smiling phases.Which includes their first two lps plus singles and other rarer tracks.

Solid album, one of Traffic's best........1999-02-14

Although I do acknowledge the clashing moods of some of these tracks, I would contend that it is simply a testimonial to the diversity of the members of this band. It was once hard for me to understand how Steve Winwood metamorphasized into a lame 80's pop artist, but the talents of Wood, Capaldi, and Mason cause it all to make sense.

half-great.......1998-11-21

Try skipping "Dealer" and "Coloured Rain," and you may find yourself in a bonafide psychedelic rapture. While the two songs i mention are not bad, they don't fit with the rest of the songs as i hear them. "Dealer" is too jaded and "Coloured Rain" is not pulled off with the buoyant spirit that it needs. "Barkshire Poppies" and "No Face No Name and No Number," polar opposites in mood, stand right alongside "Gimme Some Lovin'" as Steve Winwood masterworks. All the Chris Wood songs are picturesque, playful, and compelling, and the opening and closing tracks frame the entire work with an uncanny sense of time and place.

Fresh Sounding Debut.......1998-11-01

Whereas this recording is not Traffic's best work, it is very unique with the blending of many different flute, sitar, harp, organ, and more. Not to forget the superb Guitar work by David Mason. The song arrangements aren't as developed as on the classic John Barley Corn and Low Spark Recordings but the elements of folk, jazz, and rock make this a very listenable record.

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The Musicality of Berlin
Irving Berlin
Manufacturer: Jay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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1. Heaven Is In Your Mind
2. Berkshire Poppies
3. House For Everyone
4. No Face No Name No Number
5. Dear Mr Fantasy
6. Dealer
7. Utterly Simple
8. Coloured Rain
9. Hope I Never Find Me There
10. Giving To You
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12. Giving To You
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15. Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush