The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Studio album by Traffic
Released	26 November 1971
Recorded	September 1971
Studio	Island, London
Genre	Progressive rock, jazz fusion
Length	40:11
Label	Island (worldwide except as noted); Polydor (Canada);
Producer	Steve Winwood
Traffic chronology
Singles from The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
	"Rock & Roll Stew"; Released: December, 1971 (US only);

The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is the fifth studio album by English rock band Traffic, released in 1971. It was their first studio album to feature percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, and the only studio appearance of drummer Jim Gordon and bassist Ric Grech. Grech had previously worked with Traffic singer/multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood in the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith while Gordon had played with another former Blind Faith member, Eric Clapton, in the similarly short-lived Derek and the Dominos. Drums on the track 'Rainmaker' are played by Only Ones drummer Mike Kellie.

As with other Traffic albums, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys featured varied influences, including jazz, folk music and Classical. The name of the album's title track was suggested by the actor Michael J. Pollard.

The album features the minor hit "Rock & Roll Stew" and the title track, which received heavy FM airplay. This is the only Traffic album to feature two lead vocals by Jim Capaldi ("Light Up or Leave Me Alone" and "Rock & Roll Stew"). His only other lead vocal on a Traffic album was "Dealer" from Mr. Fantasy (1967).

The LP's front cover is notable for its top right and bottom left corners being clipped, giving the illusion of a three-dimensional cube. On original pressings of the UK and some European versions, the title of both the album and song are shown as 'The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys' (with a hyphen) on the record labels.

The album was certified gold less than a year after its release in the United States, and eventually certified platinum in 1996. It was remastered and reissued with one bonus track on 19 March 2002.

It was voted number 625 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000). ^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	B^[3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[4]

Critical retrospectives on the album are generally positive. AllMusic was overwhelmingly approving in its assessment, praising the variety brought by the non-Winwood/Capaldi compositions and the power of the lengthy title track, and claiming the album "marked the commercial and artistic apex of the second coming of Traffic".^[2] In addition, Robert Christgau commented on the band's growth from previous efforts, stating that while the group is "devoid of intellectual thrust," they're "onto something," and "when it works, it suggests a nice paradox—relaxed and exciting at the same time."^[5] Pop Matters offered yet another viewpoint, calling it "an album that's easy to listen to over and over, but one that seldom shows up on 'best of' lists." It commented that most of the songs are highly underrated and require multiple listens to appreciate.^[6]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hidden Treasure"	Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi	4:11
2.	"The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"	Winwood, Capaldi	11:41
3.	"Rock & Roll Stew"	Ric Grech, Jim Gordon	4:23

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
4.	"Many a Mile to Freedom"	Winwood, Anna Capaldi^[7]	7:16
5.	"Light Up or Leave Me Alone"	Capaldi	4:48
6.	"Rainmaker"	Winwood, Capaldi	7:52
Total length:			40:11

2002 bonus track
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Rock & Roll Stew Parts 1 & 2"	Grech, Gordon	6:07

Note: This is different from the "Rock & Roll Stew Part 1" and "Part 2" recordings on the single. It is a previously unreleased version which is the most complete studio performance of the song. The album version fades earlier than this version. Part 1 on the single is an edit (with shortened instrumental break) of the album version. Part 2 (side B of the single) fades in at a point past the album version's fadeout. This is also the version of "Rock & Roll Stew" that appears on the Gold compilation.

Personnel

Traffic

Steve Winwood – lead vocals (1, 2, 4, 6), backing vocals, acoustic piano, organ, guitars
Chris Wood – saxophones, flute
Ric Grech – bass, violin
Jim Gordon – drums (1-5)
Jim Capaldi – percussion, lead vocals (3, 5), backing vocals (6)
Rebop Kwaku Baah – percussion

with:

Mike Kellie – drums (6)^[8]

Production

Steve Winwood – producer
Brian Humphries – engineer
Tony Wright – cover art
Richard Polak – photography

Charts

Chart (1971/72)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[9]	38
United States (Billboard 200)^[10]	7

Certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – USA	Gold	7 February 1972
RIAA – USA	Platinum	3 March 1996

Notes

Both LP and CD pressings exist with “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” as the third track of the album instead of the fifth. The other tracks are in the correct order.

References

^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 207. ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.
^ ^a ^b The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys at AllMusic
^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 16 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
^ Traffic reviews, Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
^ Lankford, Ronnie D., Jr. (30 May 2002.) Album review, Pop Matters.
^ As shown on the original LP label and in the "BMI database".. Later releases credit Jim Capaldi instead of Anna, as does the ASCAP database.
^ "Steve Winwood website".
^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 312. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
^ "Billboard 200 - Traffic". Retrieved 20 September 2017.

[Larkin-1] Colin Larkin, ed. (2000). All Time Top 1000 Albums (3rd ed.). Virgin Books. p. 207. ISBN 0-7535-0493-6.

[AllMusic-2] The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys at AllMusic

[CG-3] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 16 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[4] Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.

[Christgau-5] Traffic reviews, Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

[6] Lankford, Ronnie D., Jr. (30 May 2002.) Album review, Pop Matters.

[7] As shown on the original LP label and in the "BMI database".. Later releases credit Jim Capaldi instead of Anna, as does the ASCAP database.

[8] "Steve Winwood website".

[aus-9] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 312. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[10] "Billboard 200 - Traffic". Retrieved 20 September 2017.

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v t e Traffic
Steve Winwood Jim Capaldi Chris Wood Dave Mason Ric Grech Jim Gordon Rebop Kwaku Baah Roger Hawkins David Hood Barry Beckett Rosko Gee Randall Bramblett Michael McEvoy Walfredo Reyes Jr.
Studio albums	Mr. Fantasy Traffic Last Exit John Barleycorn Must Die The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory When the Eagle Flies Far from Home
Live albums	Welcome to the Canteen On the Road The Last Great Traffic Jam
Compilations	Best of Traffic Gold
Songs	"Paper Sun" "Hole in My Shoe" "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" "Dear Mr. Fantasy" "40,000 Headmen" "Feelin' Alright?" "John Barleycorn" "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys"
Related articles	Discography Blind Faith Ginger Baker's Air Force
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