I remember hearing this song for the first time. Still can't get over how tight the drums and bass is... and all the other instruments. Not to mention the superb vocals 🤘🤘🤘
John Barleycorn was an archetypal character from English folklore, first recorded way back in the 1600s I think (maybe earlier). Traffic is the band Steve Winwood after he finished with Blind Faith - soulful indeed. That's him on electric piano too - bloody genius that man, and he was already a grizzled veteran in his early twenties! Traffic were a fantastic band, I heartily recommend The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, possibly their masterpiece (although it might exceed your time limit).
@@craigcraigster4999 You're right, although I'd like to say I'm not completely wrong: Traffic, which was originally Dave Mason's band, split up after their second album, then Winwood did Blind Faith, and then *reformed* Traffic, minus Dave Mason, for this album, John Barleycorn Must Die. The second incarnation of Traffic was quite different to the first.
Great reaction! Right on the money. The guy doing the keys Hammond organ and electric piano (I think s Fender Rhodes) also sings and wrote the song- his name is Stevie Winwood, a British Invasion guy whose hero was Ray Charles.
Steve Winwood's soulful voice and his Hammond organ, does it get any better?! Not to mention his electric piano solo, and the fact he's credited with playing bass on this song too! The entire John Barleycorn LP is a gem -- "Glad" (one of the greatest instrumentals ever) and "Freedom Rider" are especially good. This was a great pick, it showcases Winwood's "in-between-years" vocals, from just having left the Spencer Davis Group and later forming Blind Faith after Traffic's breakup. 💯
I agree with every single comment you made, and those are exactly the songs I would recommend. Relevant background info and nailed it on the keyboards. Thanks! I would also recommend Glad but as you would no there are no vocals. John Barleycorn was such a great album.
John Barleycorn proved the strongest one at last. He survived when everyone tried to kill him in many ways... More or less an extended metaphor about the failure of all attempts to eradicate demon alcohol. In the process of harvesting the grain that will be distilled into liquor, moving it to the mill and grinding it, they still did not succeed in killing him. They cut him off at the knees, bound him to the cart, pierced him to the heart, ground him between two stones. But the huntsman can't hunt the fox, or proudly to blow his horn, and the tinker can't mend kettle nor pot, without a little Barleycorn. Sorry, you know the lyrics, I just couldn't help myself.
@@denverexec2000 I don't think it was about eradicating alcohol, it was explaining the process for harvesting barley and making alcohol. Preserved for prosperity in an age when not every one could read. So I think it is an endorsement for the demon alcohol and how everyone from the huntsman, usually rich if they are hunting foxes with a horn and the tinker usually an itinerant low level blacksmith needed a little Barley corn.
I remember hearing this song for the first time. Still can't get over how tight the drums and bass is... and all the other instruments. Not to mention the superb vocals 🤘🤘🤘
Steve Winwood does not get the credit he deserves. The man was born a music prodigy.
John Barleycorn was an archetypal character from English folklore, first recorded way back in the 1600s I think (maybe earlier). Traffic is the band Steve Winwood after he finished with Blind Faith - soulful indeed. That's him on electric piano too - bloody genius that man, and he was already a grizzled veteran in his early twenties! Traffic were a fantastic band, I heartily recommend The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, possibly their masterpiece (although it might exceed your time limit).
Wasn't Traffic formed in '67 and Blind Faith in '69?
@@craigcraigster4999 You're right, although I'd like to say I'm not completely wrong: Traffic, which was originally Dave Mason's band, split up after their second album, then Winwood did Blind Faith, and then *reformed* Traffic, minus Dave Mason, for this album, John Barleycorn Must Die. The second incarnation of Traffic was quite different to the first.
Great reaction! Right on the money. The guy doing the keys Hammond organ and electric piano (I think s Fender Rhodes) also sings and wrote the song- his name is Stevie Winwood, a British Invasion guy whose hero was Ray Charles.
Thanks!
Steve Winwood's soulful voice and his Hammond organ, does it get any better?! Not to mention his electric piano solo, and the fact he's credited with playing bass on this song too! The entire John Barleycorn LP is a gem -- "Glad" (one of the greatest instrumentals ever) and "Freedom Rider" are especially good. This was a great pick, it showcases Winwood's "in-between-years" vocals, from just having left the Spencer Davis Group and later forming Blind Faith after Traffic's breakup. 💯
I agree with every single comment you made, and those are exactly the songs I would recommend. Relevant background info and nailed it on the keyboards. Thanks! I would also recommend Glad but as you would no there are no vocals. John Barleycorn was such a great album.
OOPs, you DID recommend Glad, sorry!
I'm 69 years old and it did my heart a world of good to see your reaction to this song that came out when i was a young man.
Wow! Glad I could do that for you
This song is actually still banned in some countries for being too funky. John Barleycorn is a personification for liquor. Great upload.
John Barleycorn personified beer and whiskey back in the day. If you had troubles with alcohol, John Barleycorn was your enemy.
John Barleycorn proved the strongest one at last. He survived when everyone tried to kill him in many ways... More or less an extended metaphor about the failure of all attempts to eradicate demon alcohol. In the process of harvesting the grain that will be distilled into liquor, moving it to the mill and grinding it, they still did not succeed in killing him. They cut him off at the knees, bound him to the cart, pierced him to the heart, ground him between two stones. But the huntsman can't hunt the fox, or proudly to blow his horn, and the tinker can't mend kettle nor pot, without a little Barleycorn. Sorry, you know the lyrics, I just couldn't help myself.
@@denverexec2000 I don't think it was about eradicating alcohol, it was explaining the process for harvesting barley and making alcohol. Preserved for prosperity in an age when not every one could read. So I think it is an endorsement for the demon alcohol and how everyone from the huntsman, usually rich if they are hunting foxes with a horn and the tinker usually an itinerant low level blacksmith needed a little Barley corn.
Steve Winwood baby!
Steve Winwood. Keep diving, to coin a phrase.