Last Exit (Traffic album)

Untitled

Last Exit, released in May 1969, is the third album by English rock band Traffic. It is a collection of odds and ends collected by Island Records after the initial breakup of the band. The first half of the album consists of studio recordings, while the second half was recorded live at the Fillmore West. The album reached number 19 in the American Billboard 200 chart.

Cover

As implied by the cover photos, the album features the original lineup of Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, and Dave Mason, though Mason does not actually appear on most of the songs. The original American LP released by United Artists Records has different cover artwork. The US front features a different picture of the band cut up into the shape of the band's logo with a black background.

Songs

Many of the studio recordings of this album were originally released on mono singles. The versions that appear on the album are re-mixed for stereo.

"Just for You" was previously released in February 1968 as the A-side of a UK Dave Mason solo single. Conveniently for its use on this album, other members of Traffic backed up Mason on this track. (The B-side was "Little Woman" which did not include other Traffic members.) The single was released after Mason left Traffic the first time, following Mr. Fantasy.

"Medicated Goo" and "Shanghai Noodle Factory" were the A and B-sides, of a UK Traffic single released in December 1968. Mason does not appear on these tracks. The single version of "Medicated Goo" is a different edit with false ending that is not heard on the stereo album. The song would become a staple of the re-formed band's live performances in 1970-71.

"Something's Got a Hold of My Toe" is an instrumental and appears to be an outtake not originally intended for release. It is unclear why producer Jimmy Miller (a lyricist elsewhere on the album) gets a co-writing credit on this. "Withering Tree" was previously released as the B-side to "Feelin' Alright" (September 1968), although the version on the LP is slightly different from the single. Dave Mason does not appear on this although it was probably recorded while he was still in the band. The two live recordings that make up the second half of the album do not feature Mason.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

AllMusic's retrospective review said that Last Exit, though weaker than its two predecessors, "isn't bad as profit-taking products go." They complimented most of the studio tracks as highly appealing works, and praised the cohesive jamming on the live tracks.

Track listing

Side One

1. "Just for You" (Dave Mason) – 2:18
2. "Shanghai Noodle Factory" (Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Jimmy Miller, Larry Fallon) – 5:06
3. "Something's Got a Hold of My Toe" (Winwood, Mason, Miller) – 2:14
4. "Withering Tree" (Winwood, Capaldi) – 3:04
5. "Medicated Goo" (Winwood, Miller) – 3:36

Side Two

1. "Feelin' Good" (live at Fillmore West) (Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse) – 10:40
2. "Blind Man" (live at Fillmore West) (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) – 7:06

Personnel

Traffic

• Steve Winwood – organ, lead vocals (all but 1, 3), piano, bass, guitar (2, 5)
• Dave Mason – guitar (1, 3), lead vocals (1)
• Chris Wood – flute, saxophone, organ
• Jim Capaldi – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Technical

• Guy Stevens, Mike Sida - art direction
• Francine Winham, Raymond Ross, Richard Polak - photography

Release history

Year	Type	Label	Catalog #
1969	LP	United Artists	UAS-6702
1969	LP	Island UK	ILPS 9097
1988	CD	Island	7 90925-2
	LP	Island	422-842 787-1
	CS	Island	422-842 787-4
1990	CD	Island	422-842 787-2
2001	CD	Polygram	548540
2001	CD	Island	548540