Steve Winwood, Because With You I'm Stronger

Bass, tambourine, drum, then kick into an almost psychedelic organ, it sure didn't sound like most of the other stuff on the radio. But wait, let's get into the opening line... "HEY"

And that voice, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but I was instantly in love with it. The song was "Gimme Some Lovin" by the Spencer Davis Group, and the voice belonged to little "Stevie" Winwood, who was still a teenager at the time he first made his mark in music. His tenure with the Spencer Davis Group also included a song which would be a hit not only for himself, but for every garage band playing at that time. "I'm A Man," was later covered by Chicago for their first album The Chicago Transit Authority.

Next career step for Winwood was not too shabby. Along with Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and Chris Wood, Winwood formed Traffic. Let's not even start on their vision and influence on rock music. Think "Feelin' Alright," or "Dear Mr. Fantasy," or "Pearly Queen," or the entirety of John Barleycorn Must Die and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.

So where do you go from there? Well, I guess it's time to form a supergroup. Let's pull in some friends by the names of Ric Grech, Ginger Baker and oh, how about Eric Clapton, and see what happens. One album was what happened, the self-titled Blind Faith album. Without that album, we might never have heard "Can't Find My Way Home," and wouldn't our lives have been a bit less joyful, if we hadn't.

It was then time to take a break from the intensity of a major band, so Winwood did session work, got together with various incarnations of Traffic, even recording John Barleycorn during this period. Approaching the 1980s, Winwood went solo, not a bad career move at all. The timing could not have been better. First the Arc of a Diver album, followed by Talking Back to the Night and the extremely successful, Back in the High Life.

Steve Winwood was a boy when he began his professional music career. Today he turns 66.

Happy Birthday.

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An Easy Ride Today...Just A Little Traffic

Forty-five years ago today, one of rock's most interesting, talented and influential bands made their first live appearance. On September 24, 1967, Traffic played at the Saville Theatre in London.

Traffic was not one of those 3-minute wonder British bands. Their music was diverse, complicated and full of surprises...both melodically and lyrically. Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and Steve Winwood...not a bad lineup, don't you agree? Over the years, the line-up changed, but the core four created a legacy which still stands the test of time.

A few tastes today...a bite from a few different albums.

From their first album Mr. Fantasy, reflecting the sound of the time...heavy organ and of course, some cowbell.... "Coloured Rain." 

Off the 1967 release Traffic... "Pearly Queen"

From John Barleycorn Must Die, "Empty Pages"

Low Spark of High Heeled Boys has so many choices, but love Capaldi doing "Light Up or Leave Me Alone."

Ending it off with a little something from Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory. Never afraid to throw in an instrumental, "Tragic Magic" is mesmerizing.

We've lost both Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, way too young, Finding joy in their music all these years later gives testimony to their talent and vision.

Savor each little trip, with Traffic...the joy most definitely is in the ride.

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Rest And Listen Under My Little Wing

Today we will finally go through my slight obsession with one song..."Little Wing"

Don't ask me why this song so invades my musical judgement. All I know is that until yesterday, I did not think there could be a bad version of it. To me it is just magical. Jimi Hendrix it has been said, wrote the song for his mother. It has been covered countless times...wonderfully.

"Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales
That's all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind."


I've seen the original lyrics to "Little Wing" and it seems no artist has ever sung the words as written. Fine by me. The variations on the theme just make each version more memorable. So whimsical, so joyful.

"It's alright she says it's alright
Take anything you want from me,
Anything."

Then there's the guitar.
To hear the interpretations gets my head spinning in twenty directions...all of them good. Except for the one I listened to yesterday. I'm going to include it with the tastes as a cautionary tale...this is not "Little Wing", this is unrecognizable crap.

So here we go with just a few great versions, an interesting one by the Coors and one shit one by very talented Japanese guitarist Kumi Adachi. Some of her stuff is amazing, this isn't.


Kumi Adachi "Little Wing" ... I think
Stevie Ray Vaughn "Little Wing"... the ultimate instrumental version
Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood "Little Wing"... saw them do this live at MSG. Still get tears as I think about how good it was.
Sting "Little Wing"... pure vocal, not quite the guitar emphasis, but a fine blend of instruments
The Coors "Little Wing"... like you've never heard it
and...
Jimi Hendrix "Little Wing"...where it all started

Nothing's sweeter than that.

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