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John Barleycorn Must Die

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For the song and character John Barleycorn, seeJohn Barleycorn.

John Barleycorn Must Die
Studio albumby
Traffic
ReleasedJuly 1970(1970-07)
RecordedFebruary–April 1970
StudioIslandandOlympic,London
Genre
Length35:06
Label
ProducerChris Blackwell,Steve Winwood,Guy Stevens
Trafficchronology
Last Exit
(1969) 		John Barleycorn Must Die
(1970) 		Welcome to the Canteen
(1971)
SinglesfromJohn Barleycorn Must Die
  1. "Empty Pages"
    Released: July 1, 1970 (US only)

John Barleycorn Must Dieis the fourth studio album by English rock bandTraffic,released in 1970 asIslandILPS 9116 in the United Kingdom,United ArtistsUAS 5504 in the United States, and asPolydor2334 013 in Canada. It marked the band's comeback after a brief disbandment, and peaked at number 5 on theBillboardTop LPschart, making it their highest-charting album in the US,[2]and has been certified agold recordby theRIAA.In addition, the single "Empty Pages" spent eight weeks on theBillboardHot 100,peaking at number 74.[3]The album was marginally less successful in the UK, reaching number 11 on theUK Albums Chart.[4]

Background and content

[edit]

In late 1968, Traffic disbanded, with guitaristDave Masonleaving the group for the second time prior to the completion of theTrafficalbum. In 1969,Steve Winwoodjoined the supergroupBlind Faith,while drummer and lyricistJim Capaldiand woodwinds playerChris Woodturned tosession work.Wood and Winwood also joined Blind Faith's drummerGinger Bakerin his post-Blind Faith groupGinger Baker's Air Forcefor their first album,Ginger Baker's Air Force(1970).[5]

At the beginning of 1970, after the demise of Blind Faith, Winwood returned to the studio ostensibly to make his first solo album, originally to be titledMad Shadows.He recorded two tracks with producerGuy Stevens,"Stranger to Himself" and "Every Mother's Son", but yearned for like-minded musicians to accompany, inviting Wood and Capaldi to join him. Thus Winwood's erstwhile solo album became the reunion of Traffic (minus Dave Mason), and a re-launch of the band's career.[6]Mad Shadowswould go on to be the title ofMott the Hoople'ssecond album,also produced by Guy Stevens, and the new Winwood/Traffic album took its title from one of its tracks and becameJohn Barleycorn Must Die.

The album featured influences fromjazzandblues,but the version of the traditional English folk tune that provided the album's title, "John Barleycorn",also showed the musicians attending to a modern interpretation of traditional folk music in the vein of contemporary British bandsPentangleandFairport Convention.Whereas previous Traffic albums had been dominated by more concise song structures,John Barleycornsaw the group develop into a looser,jam-orientedprogressive rockandjazz fusionstyle, setting the tone for their subsequent output in the 1970s.

The album was reissued for compact disc in the UK on 1 November 1999, with five bonus tracks, including three recorded in concert from theFillmore Eastin New York City. In the US, theremasteredreissue of 27 February 2001 included only the two studio bonus tracks.

Steve Winwood oversaw a deluxe edition that was released on 15 March 2011,[7]featuring the original studio album, digitally remastered on disc one, plus a second disc of bonus material, including more of the Fillmore East concert, with alternate mixes and versions of album tracks.

Cover

[edit]

The originalLPrelease of the album had the front cover design on a background consisting of a photograph ofburlap.Later LP copies had the design on a grey background. The cover is displayed prominently during a party scene in the 1971 movie byDario Argento,Four Flies on Grey Velvet.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
American Songwriter[9]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[10]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[11]
The Great Rock Discography7/10[12]
MusicHound4.5/5[13]
PopMatters9/10[14]
Record Collector[15]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[16]
Uncut[17]

Retrospective reviews of the album have been mixed.AllMusiccriticised the vocal sections as "excuses for Winwood to exercise his expressive voice as punctuation to the extended instrumental sections", but made note of how the album took the band's jazz/rock leanings beyond mere jamming.[8]Village VoicecriticRobert Christgausaid the departure of Mason hurt Traffic's songwriting on the album, leaving the band to depend on Winwood's "feckless improvised rock, or is it folksong-based jazz?"[10]

However,John Barleycorn Must Diewas voted number 369 inColin Larkin'sAll Time Top 1000 Albums3rd Edition (2000).[18]It was also included inThe MOJO Collection: The Greatest Albums of All Time,which described it as "a magnificent album" that provided "a remarkable showcase" for Winwood's gifts.[19]The album was also included in the book1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[20]

Track listing and personnel

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)PersonnelLength
1."Glad"Steve Winwood
Personnel:
6:59
2."Freedom Rider"Winwood,Jim Capaldi
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, organ, piano, percussion
    • Wood — saxophone, electric saxophone, flute, percussion
    • Capaldi — drums, percussion
6:20
3."Empty Pages"Winwood, Capaldi[nb 1]
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, organ,electric piano,bass guitar
    • Wood — organ
    • Capaldi — drums, percussion
4:47
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)PersonnelLength
4."Stranger to Himself"Winwood, Capaldi
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, all instruments
    • Capaldi — vocals
4:02
5."John Barleycorn (Must Die)"traditional;arranged by Winwood
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
    • Wood — flute, percussion
    • Capaldi — vocals, tambourine
6:20
6."Every Mother's Son"Winwood, Capaldi
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, all instruments other than drums
    • Capaldi — drums
7:05
Total length:35:06

Previously unreleased studio bonus tracks 4. ( "I Just Want You To Know" ) and 8. ( "Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love" ) are solo demos by Winwood. The live tracks, recorded on 18/19 November at theFillmore East,comprise what was to have been side one ofLive Traffic(ILPS 9142), presumably shelved in favor ofWelcome to the Canteen.

1999 reissue
No.TitleWriter(s)PersonnelLength
1."Glad"Winwood6:59
2."Freedom Rider"Winwood, Capaldi5:30
3."Empty Pages"Winwood, Capaldi4:34
4."I Just Want You to Know"Winwood, Capaldi
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, all instruments
1:30
5."Stranger to Himself"Winwood, Capaldi3:57
6."John Barleycorn"traditional; arranged by Winwood6:27
7."Every Mother's Son"Winwood, Capaldi7:08
8."Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love"Winwood, Capaldi
Personnel:
    • Winwood — vocals, all instruments
3:33
9."Backstage and Introduction" (live; introduction byBill Graham)Winwood, Capaldi1:50
10."Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring" (live)Capaldi, Winwood,Chris Wood
Personnel:
6:56
11."Glad" (live)Winwood
Personnel:
    • Winwood — Hammond organ
    • Wood — saxophone
    • Grech — bass guitar
    • Capaldi — drums
11:29

Island Records 314 548 541-2, also includes the previously unreleased tracks "I Just Want You to Know" and "Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love".

2001 US remastered reissue
No.TitleLength
1."Glad"6:57
2."Freedom Rider"5:29
3."Empty Pages"4:38
4."I Just Want You to Know"1:33
5."Stranger to Himself"3:57
6."John Barleycorn"6:26
7."Every Mother's Son"7:08
8."Sittin' Here Thinkin' of My Love"3:24
2011 deluxe reissue disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stranger to Himself" (alternative mix)Winwood, Capaldi4:09
2."John Barleycorn Must Die" (first version)traditional; arranged by Winwood5:05
3."Every Mother's Son" (alternative mix)Winwood, Capaldi7:03
4."Back Stage and Introduction"1:44
5."Medicated Goo" (live)Winwood,Jimmy Miller4:17
6."Empty Pages" (live)Winwood, Capaldi4:47
7."Forty Thousand Headmen" (live)Winwood, Capaldi4:30
8."Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring?" (live)Winwood, Capaldi, Wood5:16
9."Every Mother's Song" (live)Winwood, Capaldi7:00
10."Glad" / "Freedom Rider" (live)Winwood / Winwood, Capaldi14:30

Tracks 4–10 recorded on 18–19 November 1970 at theFillmore East.

Personnel

[edit]

Traffic

  • Steve Winwood– acoustic piano (1, 2, 5),organ(1, 2, 3), percussion (1, 2), vocals (2-6), electric piano (3), bass guitar (3), all instruments (4), acoustic guitar (5), all other instruments (6)
  • Jim Capaldi– drums (1, 2, 3, 5, 6), percussion (1, 2, 3), backing vocals (4, 5),tambourine(5)
  • Chris Wood– percussion (1, 2, 5), saxophone (1, 2), electric saxophone (1, 2),flute(1, 2, 5), organ (3)

Production

[edit]
  • Chris Blackwell – producer (1, 2, 3, 5)
  • Steve Winwood – producer (1, 2, 3, 5)
  • Guy Stevens – producer (4, 6)
  • Brian Humphries – engineer
  • Andy Johns– engineer
  • Lee Hulko – mastering
  • Mike Sida – album design
  • Richard Polak – photography

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1970-1971) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[21] 14
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[22] 6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[23] 5
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] 15
UK Albums(OCC)[25] 11
USBillboard200[26] 5

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000^

^Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^Murphy, Sean (29 March 2017)."The 100 Best Classic Progressive Rock Songs: Part 4, 40–21".PopMatters.Retrieved19 May2019.... and a more jam-based jazz-rock on the masterful (but not-proggy) John Barleycorn Must Die
  2. ^"Billboard 200 – Traffic".Billboard.Retrieved19 September2017.
  3. ^"Empty Pages" Chart History,Billboard.com. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. ^Traffic in the UK ChartsArchived20 November 2011 at theWayback Machine,The Official Charts. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  5. ^Nick Logan and Bob Woffinden, editors.The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia of Rock.New York: Harmony Books, 1977, p. 234.
  6. ^John Barleycorn Must Die,1999 reissue Island Records IMCD 266 546499-2,liner notesp. 3.
  7. ^Progressive Rock with a Capital P.–PopMatters.
  8. ^abAllMusic: Traffic –John Barleycorn Must Die(1970) album review by William Ruhlmann
  9. ^Horowitz, Hal (30 March 2011)."Traffic:John Barleycorn Must Die:Deluxe Edition ".American Songwriter.Retrieved28 April2024.
  10. ^abChristgau, Robert(1981)."Consumer Guide '70s: T".Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies.Ticknor & Fields.ISBN089919026X.Retrieved16 March2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  11. ^Larkin, Colin(2007).Encyclopedia of Popular Music(5th ed.).Omnibus Press.ISBN978-0857125958.
  12. ^Strong, Martin C.(2004). "Traffic".The Great Rock Discography(7 ed.).Canongate Books.p.1557–59.ISBN1-84195-615-5.
  13. ^Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). "Traffic".MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide.Visible Ink Press. p.1162.ISBN1-57859-061-2.
  14. ^Murphy, Sean (6 May 2011)."Progressive rock with a capital P: Traffic'sJohn Barleycorn Must Die".PopMatters.Retrieved28 April2024.
  15. ^Needs, Kris (20 March 2011)."John Barleycorn Must Die:Deluxe Edition ".Record Collector.Retrieved28 April2024.
  16. ^Evans, Paul (2004). "Traffic". InBrackett, Nathan;Hoard, Christian(eds.).The Rolling Stone Album Guide(4th ed.).Simon & Schuster.pp.821.ISBN0-7432-0169-8.
  17. ^Young, Rob (April 2011). "Traffic:John Barleycorn Must Die:Deluxe Edition ".Uncut(167):94.
  18. ^Colin Larkin,ed. (2000).All Time Top 1000 Albums(3rd ed.).Virgin Books.p. 143.ISBN0-7535-0493-6.
  19. ^Jim Irvin, ed. (2000).The MOJO Collection: The Greatest Albums of All Time.Mojo Books. p. 223.ISBN978-1841950679.
  20. ^Heatley, Michael (2006). "Traffic:John Barleycorn Must Die".In Dimery, Robert (ed.).1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Universe Publishing.p.213.ISBN978-0-7893-1371-3.
  21. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 312.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  22. ^"Top RPM Albums: Issue 4196".RPM.Library and Archives Canada.Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  23. ^"Dutchcharts.nl – Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die"(in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  24. ^"Norwegiancharts.com – Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die".Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  25. ^"Official Albums Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  26. ^"Traffic Chart History (Billboard200) ".Billboard.Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  27. ^"American album certifications – Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die".Recording Industry Association of America.Retrieved20 June2024.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^The 2011 reissue credits both the studio and live versions of this song to Winwood alone.
[edit]
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