THE LOW SPARK OF HIGH HEELED BOYS

The live shows featured percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, drummer Jim Gordon, bassist Ric Grech, Steve Winwood on guitar, keyboards, and vocals, Chris Wood on saxophone and flute, Dave Mason on guitar and vocals, and Jim Capaldi on drums and vocals. In contrast to the smaller lineup on their previous record, Traffic now had a big band setup with three guitarists, two drummers, keyboards, saxophones, flutes, and a talented percussionist. During this period, Traffic recorded a live album, Welcome to the Canteen, in 1971.

Steve Winwood wanted to start recording a new Traffic album, but it was not possible to count on Dave Mason, who only played six gigs with the band before leaving for good; he would never work with Traffic again.

The core of the band's sound was its ambient vibe, with percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah as a permanent member, alongside Steve Winwood on lead vocals, keyboards, and guitars; Chris Wood on saxophones and flute; and Jim Capaldi on drums, percussion, and lead vocals. The lineup was rounded out by invited members Ric Grech on bass and Jim Gordon on drums.

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

The album title refers to an inscription written by diminutive American actor Michael J. Pollard in Jim Capaldi's notebook while they were both in Morocco. Capaldi and Pollard had been planning to work on a movie that was never filmed.

The record opens with "Hidden Treasure," which sets an acoustic jamming tone for the album. The title track, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, is the longest track on the album. It begins with a gradual fade- in and ends with a slow fade-out. The signature piano starts after the fade-in. The verses are sparsely arranged and move at a slow, deliberate, contrasting with the double-time, densely layered pop choruses. The tune fades out with a dissonant melody.

This is the only Traffic album to feature two lead vocals by Jim Capaldi, on "Light Up or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock & Roll Stew." The record closes with "Rainmaker," an anthemic track that serves as a powerful ending to this remarkable album.

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is a grand folk-acoustic jamming record with great percussion and keyboards. It is both grandiose and minimalist, experimental and traditional. It's hard to categorize, but it stands as a masterpiece of Traffic. While John Barleycorn highlighted Winwood's influence, The Low Spark? is more of a band record, a reaffirmation of the Winwood/Capaldi songwriting partnership.

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