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  1. Mason never ever fitted in Traffic.
    The contrast between his songs and Winwood & Capaldi’s was plain to see.
    They had a choice between two distinct directions and they didn’t choose his. It’s pretty obvious, really.

    • I wasn’t inferring either Winwood or Mason was in any way superior to the other.
      Just that there wasn’t sufficient compatability between their styles.

      • I didn’t take your comment that way, and sorry if that was the implication. I actually like the differences and thought it made for an interesting mix, but you are quite right in that one couldn’t imagine that carrying on.

        We mustn’t forget that Traffic broke up after the second album and Winwood formed Blind Faith, which presumably was intended to last longer than it did. John Barleycorn started as a solo project before Capaldi and Wood came on board and it became a Traffic set. Traffic then seemed to have a shifting population around the core 3, with Mason even coming back for a tour!

  3. I’d consider myself a Traffic fan (Low Spark and Shootout being my faves), but I’d also consider myself a much greater Mason fan.

    Winwood always struck me as someone too far up himself to be collegiate; maybe that’s the result of having ridiculously early success at the age of, what was it, 16 or 17?

    I’ll be buying Mason’s book for sure. It’s just a shame the Graun can’t organise themselves to the extent that you can click through from that article and actually buy the thing from them as suggested at the foot of the piece. Obviously that’s one step too close to competency.

    • I commented on another recent thread that Steve Winwood (whose music I really like) had no interest in doing any sort of Spencer Davis Group reunion. Spencer was quite wistful when he talked about SW in that conversation I had with him – he was clearly disappointed that they had no contact. Of course, SW did exactly the same to him as to Dave Mason, thinking about it.

  6. Have to say that I just don’t “get” why Steve Winwood would be a good match for a post- Walter Becker Steely Dan, on tour.
    Interesting idea on paper, but a bit odd on stage.
    What ‘Dan material is Winwood actually needed on, when it comes down to it? His voice certainly won’t fit.
    What Winwood material are the ‘Dan band going to suit playing on? Nothing from the Spencer Davis, Traffic or Blind Faith years, to my mind.

    • I saw the Dan with SW a few years ago and he was just the support act. He did an hour of Traffic/BlindFaith/SDG stuff and hardly any solo stuff, oddly.

      I’m a Man (The Spencer Davis Group song)
      Them Changes (Buddy Miles cover)
      Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith song)
      Had to Cry Today (Blind Faith song)
      The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic song)
      Keep On Running (Jackie Edwards cover)
      Higher Love
      Dear Mr. Fantasy (Traffic song)
      Gimme Some Lovin’ (Spencer Davis Group Song)

      • No. Quite.
        Same mistake that most Steely Dan cover artists make. The singer should be doing it with virtually no frills. It’s not material for showing off your vocal technique.

        • The one who can do it is Joe Jackson, who Becker and Fagen often said they liked. JJ has the piano chops to play it live too. Of course JJ has the Fagenesque sneer built in.

  8. Rock stars eh..? He’s airing a few grievances about being snubbed, and in another breath snubs Chris Wood. I feel like this is a bunch of people who should never have been in a room together, but somehow briefly managed to stop from killing each other to produce some good stuff.

    Plus he’s sniffy about his artistic integrity, but, Fleetwood Mac..? Was that part of his plan..?

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