John Barleycorn Must Die

Infobox Album |
Name = John Barleycorn Must Die
Type = Album
Artist = Traffic


Released = July 1970
Recorded = Feb 1970-Apr 1970
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 35:06
Label = Island
United Artists
Producer = Chris Blackwell, Steve Winwood and Guy Stevens
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:7vp1z85ajyv5 link]
*"Rolling Stone" (not rated) [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/traffic/albums/album/112613/review/5945850/john_barleycorn_must_die link]
Last album = "Last Exit" (1969)
This album = "John Barleycorn Must Die"
(1970)
Next album = "Welcome to the Canteen"
(1971)

:"For the article about the song and character "John Barleycorn", see John Barleycorn.

"John Barleycorn Must Die" is a 1970 album by English rock band Traffic. As did most of their albums, it featured many different genres of music including art rock, jazz rock, and many psychedelic influences.

The album was initially intended by Steve Winwood to be a solo album, but when Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi joined him, it became Traffic once more. The album was originally dubbed "Mad Shadows".

After recording the album early in 1970, it was released by Island Records and United Artists in July 1970. It became the first Traffic album to reach gold status.

Track listing

#"Glad" (Winwood) 6:59
#"Freedom Rider" (Winwood/Capaldi) 5:35
#"Empty Pages" (Winwood/Capaldi) 4:47
#"Stranger To Himself" (Winwood/Capaldi) 4:02
#"John Barleycorn" (traditional-arr. Winwood) 6:20
#"Every Mother's Son" (Winwood/Capaldi) 7:05

2001 U.K. Remastered CD re-release track listing

#"Glad (Winwood)" 6:59
#"Freedom Rider" (Capaldi/Winwood) 5:30
#"Empty Pages" (Capaldi/Winwood) 4:34
#"I Just Want You to Know" (Capaldi/Winwood) 1:30
#"Stranger to Himself" (Capaldi/Winwood) 3:57
#"John Barleycorn" (Traditional/Winwood) 6:27
#"Every Mothers Son" (Capaldi/Winwood) 7:08
#"Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love" (Capaldi/Winwood) 3:33
#"Backstage and Introduction (live)" (Capaldi/Winwood) 1:50
#"Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring (live)" (Capaldi/Winwood/Wood) 6:56
#"Glad (live)" (Winwood) 11:29

The first two bonus tracks (4 & 8) appear to be demos left over from when Winwood was still planning to make this a solo album. While they are co-credited to Capaldi, it is unclear whether he actually had anything to do with them. The live bonus tracks comprise what was to have been side 1 of a lost 1970 Traffic live album. Side 2 remains unreleased. These feature the transitional lineup of Winwood, Capaldi, Wood and Rick Grech. The 2001 remastered CD released in the U.S. does not have the live bonus tracks, only the studio ones, #4 and #8.

Miscellanea

*Original LP copies of the album had the front cover design on a background consisting of a photograph of burlap. Later LP copies had the design on a gray background.

*The song "Freedom Rider" is playing during a restaurant scene in the movie "True Believer (1989 film)", starring James Woods

*The song "Stranger To Himself" features Steve Winwood playing all the instruments, with Jim Capaldi adding backing vocals and was covered by the British blues-rock band Firebird.

References