Album
John Barleycorn Must Die
1970 · Rock
65 collectors on Gatefold own this
John Barleycorn Must Die is a Rock album by Traffic, originally released in 1970. On Gatefold: 248 pressings tracked, owned by 65 collectors.
About
Traffic's third and most exploratory LP is also regarded as the band’s accidental reunion album. Traffic had disbanded following its eponymous 1968 sophomore record. Subsequently, Steve Winwood joined up with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech for the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith before recording the soul-folk tune “Stranger to Himself” and the rootsy acid-rock ballad “Every Mother’s Son” for what was supposed to be his solo debut. But Winwood longed for collaboration, so he called on drummer Jim Capaldi and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wood, making for Traffic's inadvertent rebirth. The soulful opener, “Glad,” and the folky title track best exemplify the rich chemistry of these three musical luminaries. The latter is a reworking of the traditional English folk song “John Barleycorn,” an ode to barley-based libations. Traffic brilliantly kept its roots intact while brewing its own concoction of folk-rock similar to that of Fairport Convention, save for some exemplary flute playing by Wood. This remaster boasts crystalline fidelity while respecting the original 1970 hard-panned production values.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- A1Glad6:32
- A2Freedom Rider6:20
- A3Empty Pages4:47
Side B
- B1Stranger To Himself4:02
- B2John Barleycorn6:20
- B3Every Mother's Son7:05
Sound DNA
- Rock
- Prog Rock
- warm
- meditative
- pastoral
Between the years of 1900 and 1910, Cecil Sharpe collected a number of songs, John Barleycorn among them. The many versions of this song are said to have come from Oxfordshire, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and Somerset, and there are estimated to be between 100 and 140 versions. The earliest known copy is of the age of James 1 in the Pepoysian collection 1465 printed in black letter by H. Gorson (1607-1641). the popular interpretation is the effort of the people to give up the alcohol distilled from barley but in the last verse:
"And little Sir John with his nut brown bowl
And his brandy in the glass
And little Sir John with his nut brown bowl
Proved the strongest man at last..."
But there are many interpretations."
For USA LP's ~ Regarding label: UA labels came in many versions for this release.
1st label 1970-71-Orange and Black vertical format similar to Liberty label style.
2nd label 1971-74-Tan w/o "All Rights Reserved" in rim print.
3rd label 1975-77-Tan with "All Rights Reserved" in rim print.
4th label 1977-80-Sunrise label. This label also exists with various rim print for UA/Liberty releases and color ranges from very faded to intense.
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Chris WoodFLUTE, SAXOPHONE, PERCUSSION, ORGAN ORGAN SAXOPHONE, FLUTE, PERCUSSION, ORGAN
- Jim CapaldiDRUMS, PERCUSSION DRUMS, PERCUSSION, TAMBOURINE, VOCALS DRUMS, PERCUSSION, VOCALS
- Steve WinwoodORGAN, PERCUSSION, PIANO, VOCALS, BASS, ELECTRIC PIANO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR ORGAN, PIANO, PERCUSSION ORGAN, PIANO, PERCUSSION, BASS GUITAR, ELECTRIC PIANO, ACOUSTIC GUITAR, VOCALS
65 collectors on Gatefold own this · 248 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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