MR. FANTASY

I am a pretty old guy but to be honest my first contact with the band was their incredible single ''Gimme Some Lovin'' in 1971 (I still own it).

The band is course overshadowed by the legendary Steve Windwood: ultra talented musician and song writer. His bluesy influences can be felt during ''You Can all Join In''.

This album might well be influential on their later work but I can't really be laudatory about it. ''Traffic'' was of course not playing in the first division as a band in those days. And their debut is a mix of some good rock (''Berkshire Poppies'') and less appealing tracks.

I have often had lots of problems in judging albums from the sixties (although I am almost contemporary being born in 1959). It will be the same for this one: I could have great feelings for ''Procol Harum'' and the likes, but with this ''Mr. Fantasy'', there is hardly one song that is truly moving me (maybe ''No Face?'').

The title track though is remarkable: it is an explosion of guitar and the rock feel is just magic. Needless to say that this is my highlight from this album. It is also by far the longest track available. An excellent song indeed.

Still, I can't be as laudatory as many other reviewers about th ealbum as a whole. In my views it is just average: it holds no real great songs that will be remembered for the decades to come (correct me if I'm wrong).

Another fine tune is the very much ''Sgt. Pepper's'' oriented ''Utterly Simple''. A nice psychedelic track with some fine sitar. One of the good tracks available on this debut album. Like ''Coloured Rain'' which is my fave: great organ and passionate vocals.

I honestly can't go over two stars to rate this work.