Traffic 1970

Gold is the best representation of the best of Traffic out there. It has everything you could ever want from Traffic. I mean really this covers their whole carear. From 'Dear Mr. Fantasy' to 'The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys.'…

Throughout a chequered career Arthur Brown has never been one to play by the rules and when the chart topping The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown split nobody knew what the band’s namesake would do next. When he resurfaced several years later it was with the proto-prog, avant-garde Kingdom Come, a band so way out that time is only just catching up. Eternal Messenger: An Anthology 1970-1973 collects the band’s three albums along with a rare jam session and a disc of radio sessions to make the perfect introduction to Arthur Brown’s crazy world…

A popular Peruvian rock group in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Traffic Sound had a very British-influenced early progressive rock sound along the lines of Traffic and (more distantly) Jethro Tull. These similarities were evident in the band's use of flute and saxes, all played by Jean Pierre Magnet, who could also play vibes and percussion. What is surprising is that Traffic Sound, unlike other South American groups of the period that only came to light in the Northern Hemisphere in the 1990s, do not sound exotic or primitive. They simply sound like an accomplished minor-league 1970 rock band with considerable progressive, psychedelic, and soul influences informing their original material.

For Stormbringer!, John and Beverley Martyn went to Woodstock, NY, and recorded with several local musicians, including session hands Paul Harris and Harvey Brooks, as well as the Band's Levon Helm. Very much in the mold of the electric Fairport Convention of this period, Stormbringer! sizzles with acoustic interplay and an almost jazzy feel. Highlights include "Woodstock" (not the Joni Mitchell tune) and the title track. ~ James Chrispell

This is another great, but completely underrated album from obscure UK progressive rock band. Released in November 1970 on Beacon Records, the Whichwhat's First (and last, unfortunately) album contained an eclectic mix of styles - from bluesy prog, through jazz-rock to folk ballad. That varied and (sometimes) simply stunning album will certainly appeal to the fans of early Jethro Tull, Family and Traffic - with plenty of sax and flute, nice guitar leads and very busy and inventive drumming. It's worth noting that the drummer Steve Harris played before in Woody Kern - another very underrated UK progressive band. In addition to the original LP listing, the four singles tracks has been included as a bonus. This CD has been carefully remastered from the original source and sounds better than ever!