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Traffic — Hidden Treasure
Album: The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1247









Released: 1970
Length: 4:10
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Take a walk down by, take a walk down by the river
There's a lot that you, there's a lot that you can learn
If you've got a mind that's open, if you've got a heart that yearns

If you listen to, if you listen to the water
You will hear the sound, you will hear the sound of life


There's a million different voices, there is happiness and strife

Message in the deep, from a strange eternal sleep
That is waiting there, that is waiting there for you
Like hidden treasure
Comments (84)add comment
Wow, haven't heard this in forever. I'd totally forgotten about this tune until I heard that opening segment. 
One of the coolest songs from one of the finest and most essential Rock albums ever made! I was lucky and blessed to have heard them early and often on the cool radio stations back in the day, and never stopped loving them... Such trippy, meditative, inspirational stuff, done with talent, passion, and creativity!
An under-appreciated gem from Traffic and Steve Winwood.
 Nuance wrote:

Flutes, blech.



So, Jethro Tull completely written off?
Wow,  what a great flashback.  I'm sure I wore this album out, in highschool, in North Georgia.  Great memories.  The entire album was great.  
 MildGeorge wrote:



I'm probably as old as anyone on the list, and this is new to me - back then we tended not to cross genres. This is the value of RP to me - a late, very late, awakening! Wonderful new-to-me tune.

Cool!  That is why we come here.  Thanx RP!  
there are no bad traffic songs.  when I was in college we had all of them played frequently. Excellent!!!
 waterwench21 wrote:

Really?  Well you may be a hell of a lot younger than me.  So glad RP turned you on to it.  Ain't RP grand?



I'm probably as old as anyone on the list, and this is new to me - back then we tended not to cross genres. This is the value of RP to me - a late, very late, awakening! Wonderful new-to-me tune.
 pbouchar wrote:

A new one for me.


Really?  Well you may be a hell of a lot younger than me.  So glad RP turned you on to it.  Ain't RP grand?
A new one for me.
EXCELLENT!  I bought this album right after it was released. I was 17yrs old.  It brings back fond memories.   Thanx RP!  
Incredible how Steve Winwood made it at the very young age of 14 and went on to become a premiere artist for the ages .
A true musical jewel!

Maybe you had to be there. I was. A listen to the water 9....
Despite the dreadful flute-playing and often out-of-tune vocals, I've always loved this groovin' song and album!
 Kmulli wrote:
thought I might need to break out the traffic album for a little while.. {#Think}
 
Yea. I just pulled out the vinyl in the funny hexagon jacket. I went through a few really bad pressings of this record to find one that had decent bass and wasn't so noisy as to be unlistenable. (That search too place in the time when Goodwill sold records for 3/$1, fortunately). What a great album though- beginning to end. I sorta' forgot how deeply recorded in the grooves of my brain this record was.
thought I might need to break out the traffic album for a little while.. {#Think}
If there's any treasure in this song, it's very well hidden indeed.... {#Crashcomp}
Lordy, don't like this stoner stuff much.  Even when I used to get wasted this wouldn't have kept me awake.
 Emwolb wrote:

It's a not so hidden treasure...Stevie W at his most ethereal 
 
Am wishing it would stay hidden. I like Traffic, but this feels kinda labored.
Cheney still rules - and CHRIS WOOD had to die!
10 - just because it's TRAFFIC!
{#Arrowd}  (see below, scroll down)   

"Never trust anyone over 30"   >>>>>>>>   worst quote ever.  

I was a drunken idiot in my 20s, and I probably not much smarter now, but puh-lease.  Look at the 20 somethings burning our cities now.  Give me a break.   IDIOTS
 Giselle62 wrote:
i'm kind of re-discovering this album right now.

 
It's a not so hidden treasure...Stevie W at his most ethereal 
i'm kind of re-discovering this album right now.
Nice!
 unclehud wrote:
This album is my favorite for top-down motoring on the remote National Forest dirt roads nearby.  Seems appropriate for the green canopy and quiet surroundings.
 
oooo... I just got chills thinking about queuing this up for ride thru Big Sur.
 unclehud wrote:
This album is my favorite for top-down motoring on the remote National Forest dirt roads nearby.  Seems appropriate for the green canopy and quiet surroundings.
 
Yes, I Can see that!       {#Daisy}
Flutes, blech.
 fredriley wrote:
Bring out the Hobbits and mini-Stonehenge...
 
Okay, I admit it: This is great
This album is my favorite for top-down motoring on the remote National Forest dirt roads nearby.  Seems appropriate for the green canopy and quiet surroundings.
 cherjr wrote:
soooo CSN-ish! :)
 
Exceptional talents all but Steve Winwood is in another league compared to Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Bring out the Hobbits and mini-Stonehenge...
This album was released and purchased by me in 1971, it is still most excellent and one of my favorite albums.
I am pleased to hear it is still enjoyed by others as well, thanks for including it in your RP play-list Bill.
soooo CSN-ish! :)
 suddenchad wrote:
Do you all realize that this is original post is over five years old now? So the author—if he's still even listening to RP—is much closer to being an old guy himself now. I wonder if he feels differently now that some of his favorite bands of 2002 might be considered out of fashion?
 
Yeah, the poster's actually 40 years old now! 

 unclehud wrote:

Never trust anyone UNDER 30.  Meanwhile, light up or leave me alone.
 
Say, Uncle Hud, maybe we can work out a deal. How about if neither of us trust anybody over 70 or under 50 (unless they somehow managed to get enlightened in spite of their generational context). I'm willing to bargain on the age limits.
 suddenchad wrote:
Do you all realize that this is original post is over five years old now? So the author—if he's still even listening to RP—is much closer to being an old guy himself now. I wonder if he feels differently now that some of his favorite bands of 2002 might be considered out of fashion?
 
crack me up! a comment worthy of framing (and repeating).

Ditto!!!  Traffic rocks,  RP rocks!!! 

boober wrote:
This "Old Guy" likes what he likes...my ears don't differentiate by the artist or the year it came out.
That's exactly why I listen to this station
 


This "Old Guy" likes what he likes...my ears don't differentiate by the artist or the year it came out.
That's exactly why I listen to this station
 Otomi wrote:
 prophetzarquon wrote:
never trust anyone over 30  , 40 , 50, 60
 
It's currently at 70!
 
Never trust anyone UNDER 30.  Meanwhile, light up or leave me alone.
Good stuff!
WOW!
tiggers wrote:
With this sort of drivel being played it should be under 'Tuneless hippy nonsense'

Ha Ha!  Aw - not tuneless, surely?   Personally, I drifted back into the 70s and though I was listening to the Incredible String Band: I was well away. 7


 petercroob wrote:

I thought it was under eclectic?
 
With this sort of drivel being played it should be under 'Tuneless hippy nonsense'

 Harvan wrote:
Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played.
 
This says more about iTunes than it does about RP, which eludes categorization.

It says even more about Harvan, but he appears to have left the building.

 prophetzarquon wrote:
never trust anyone over 30  , 40 , 50, 60
 
It's currently at 70!
Old Balding Hippie   never trust anyone over 30  , 40 , 50, 60

One of the great albums of the 70's, by one of the greatest artists of all time... Steve Winwood. But the title track is the piece de resistance.
Yeah, well I'm an old guy and the old guy crap is killng me too. The great thing about RP is that it soon will pass.
beautiful
Harvan wrote:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played. Cut the OLD GUY crap PLEASE!!!!
Do you all realize that this is original post is over five years old now? So the author--if he's still even listening to RP--is much closer to being an old guy himself now. I wonder if he feels differently now that some of his favorite bands of 2002 might be considered out of fashion?
Leslie wrote:
This song is so incredible. It brings back so many great memories for me. I have to rate it a 10.

Kinda, have to agree,even thou my memory is blank.Must have had lots of fun!

songbirdfemme wrote:
Im young, but i like old guy music. thank god radio paradise is more eclectic than just "modern".
Old Guy Music?? I resemble that remark.
They just don't make music like this anymore. 9 of 10.
Im young, but i like old guy music. thank god radio paradise is more eclectic than just "modern".
Harvan wrote:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played. Cut the OLD GUY crap PLEASE!!!!
I thought it was under eclectic?
what great music, but i'm kinda old. thanks to all who helped Harvan see the light, as i notice a very loud silence.
DownHomeGirl wrote:
my cue to switch channels
Oh well - more bits for the rest of us.
Mugro wrote:
I thought this post was interesting, as did many other people. If there were not a kernel of truth to this, people would not be so upset. I think that there is such a thing as "Old guy" music, but what the definition of that is in the eye of the beholder. Just because an album is released before you were born, does that give you the right to call it "old guy music?" I don't know the answer to this question. It is a matter of personal taste, I guess. I know one thing, though: I saw Traffic at Woodstock (no, not the 1969 one!! The one in 1994), and they definitely ROCKED! They held their own against other bands that were on the bill that were "young guy" bands like the Chili Peppers and Green Day. But, I guess there are some listeners that would call the Chili Peppers "old guys" now, right? So I guess that makes me an "old guy", then?? Well, I am about to have a kid, and I have reached that ripe old age of 35 (beyond the age that the old guy hippies could trust way back then) so I guess I am an old guy. I better eat my prunes and stuff.... By the way, thanks for going beyond the classic rock hits for this tune! I like it!
I'm not so sure about interesting... I think it was just some dude trolling for a new internet station and thought the description sounded cool. They play Traffic and he just doesn't get it. His response to this song is just amazing. I'm 30... I listen to Outkast, NERD, Metallica, Led Zeppelin and Robert Johnson. Maybe he'd consider some of that "old guy" music... maybe not. Am I old? Maybe... maybe not. All I know... is this sort of response to a wonderful song from one of the greatest albums in history... just tells me he doesn't really 'get' music.
Harvan wrote:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played. Cut the OLD GUY crap PLEASE!!!!
I thought this post was interesting, as did many other people. If there were not a kernel of truth to this, people would not be so upset. I think that there is such a thing as "Old guy" music, but what the definition of that is in the eye of the beholder. Just because an album is released before you were born, does that give you the right to call it "old guy music?" I don't know the answer to this question. It is a matter of personal taste, I guess. I know one thing, though: I saw Traffic at Woodstock (no, not the 1969 one!! The one in 1994), and they definitely ROCKED! They held their own against other bands that were on the bill that were "young guy" bands like the Chili Peppers and Green Day. But, I guess there are some listeners that would call the Chili Peppers "old guys" now, right? So I guess that makes me an "old guy", then?? Well, I am about to have a kid, and I have reached that ripe old age of 35 (beyond the age that the old guy hippies could trust way back then) so I guess I am an old guy. I better eat my prunes and stuff.... By the way, thanks for going beyond the classic rock hits for this tune! I like it!
DownHomeGirl wrote:
my cue to switch channels
cool! more volume for the rest of us!
This is a real "Hidden Treasure" haven't heard this in years. Thanks
my cue to switch channels
Nice and mellow. One of my long time favorites.
I pondered this for a minute or so. There ARE folks that like Peter Framton and the Who that also like Traffic, but I think there are also folks that don't like the "oldguy" banks that also like at least some Traffic. So if you don't happen to like Traffic in genereal or a tune in particular, it is easy to write it off as being "oldguy" music and lumping it in with the other bands that many folks would agree belong in that genre. RP hoes a difficult row sometimes, mining good stuff from many places. Some times the jewels don't sparkle for me in particular, but most times they do. And I'm really grateful for the many new bands I get a taste of along the way.
What a treasure.
Old guy crap? There\'s stuff older than the crap in your pants that laid the foundation for everything you think is new and hip. There are people like you in every generation. Now THAT\'S sad.
Originally Posted by bspenc3:
Originally Posted by Harvan: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played. Cut the OLD GUY crap PLEASE!!!!
And you must be a member of the hidden away sect who thinks the world started around 1982. Some stuff is always relevant, kid. Don\'t have to be Shakespeare or Sinatra. Grow up and listen quietly.
Originally Posted by Harvan: Sad? An opinion is "sad" for you. How pathetic. You must be a member of Traffic.
I like both the old and the new. Seems like RP has a balance between the two. I\'ll admit, my Pavlovian instinct is to expect \"The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys\". But, that would sacrifice a lot of other music that I have not heard. Keep \"Hidden Treasure\"? - Yes!
Originally Posted by Harvan: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Why is this station filed under "Alternative/Modern Rock" on iTunes when OLD GUY music like this is being played. Cut the OLD GUY crap PLEASE!!!!
How sad is that. Open up your mind or change the station.
I think I burnt out 3 or 4 copies of Low Sparks of High Heel boys and Shootout at the fantacy factory. ohhh pass the bong
Great \"head\" music in it\'s day - holds up pretty well
This song is so incredible. It brings back so many great memories for me. I have to rate it a 10.