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Traffic — Heaven Is In Your Mind
Album: Mr. Fantasy
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1320









Released: 1967
Length: 4:07
Plays (last 30 days): 1
You ride on the swing in and out of the bars
Capturing moments of life in a jar
Playing with children, acting as stars
Guiding your visions to heaven and heaven is in your mind


Take extra care not to lose what up feel
The apple you're eating is simple and real
Water the flowers that grow at you heel
guiding your visions to heaven and heaven is in your mind
Comments (162)add comment
 idiot_wind wrote:

yikes...

what a line up in 1967




YES!!
yikes...

what a line up in 1967
 NeilBlanchard wrote:

The lyrics say:

"Take extra care not to lose what up feel"

But I am fairly certain I heard "Take extra care not to lose what you feel"



There's another mistake-can you find it?
 DanFHiggins wrote:

Well yes - yes we did


Indeedidooddoo
 Montreal_Mort wrote:

Ok, I know I’m going to get some sh@t about this, but I think the Three Dog Night version is better …




Everybody has different tastes and a right to an opinion.  ...And, you were polite about it!
Ok, I know I’m going to get some sh@t about this, but I think the Three Dog Night version is better …
 Eyewanders wrote:

This is what happens when you let the entire, very stoned, band into the mixing control room and don't reprimand them for touching the sliders.



GODLIKE! ...in spite of the strange recording mix!
 Edweirdo wrote:

My very first time in a recording studio the drummer said "I want everything louder than everything else".  A maxim to mix by.



LOL!!!
 Eyewanders wrote:

This is what happens when you let the entire, very stoned, band into the mixing control room and don't reprimand them for touching the sliders.


My very first time in a recording studio the drummer said "I want everything louder than everything else".  A maxim to mix by.
The lyrics say:

"Take extra care not to lose what up feel"

But I am fairly certain I heard "Take extra care not to lose what you feel"
 Eyewanders wrote:
This is what happens when you let the entire, very stoned, band into the mixing control room and don't reprimand them for touching the sliders.
 Remember the audience at the time. Really great album and was 'in tune' at the time.
This is what happens when you let the entire, very stoned, band into the mixing control room and don't reprimand them for touching the sliders.
ho l'album LP originale uno dei miei primi acquisti ….a tredici anni!!! fantastico LP 53 anni portati molto bene!!! 
hello, from Genoa
Loved this song back in the day--still  diggin' it.  
Great song by traffic
derekjohnson1 wrote: This is SO much better than the Three Dog Night version (which I heard first and thought was the "original" at the time).  Three Dog Night also had a version of "Chest Fever" on that live '69 tour that rocks out pretty hard.  Nevertheless, The Band's original is also SO much better (Big Pink).

  

 capandjudy wrote:

Any respect that I had for TDN went out the window when I came to realize that they never wrote any of their own tunes.
 

Had absolutely no idea that TDN covered this or relied on songwriters...


 derekjohnson1 wrote:
This is SO much better than the Three Dog Night version (which I heard first and thought was the "original" at the time).  Three Dog Night also had a version of "Chest Fever" on that live '69 tour that rocks out pretty hard.  Nevertheless, The Band's original is also SO much better (Big Pink).

 
Any respect that I had for TDN went out the window when I came to realize that they never wrote any of their own tunes.
Lordy! Love this, perfect Friday afternoon tune. 

Clearly  am showing my age, still a favourite after all this decades. :-D
Not one of their better ones and doesn't hold up well over time, for me anyways. But big a big Traffic fan nonetheless
Had this album back then, played it to death, mean't a lot originally but now it is a part of pop culture, thanks for playing it Bill.
Um, did Imogen mix this from amazing samples? It's what she does. Hmmmm...
 lemmoth wrote:
Folks sure took a bunch of drugs back in the day.

 
Well yes - yes we did
Love it. Always loved the voice of Stevie Winwood, and I still remember his concert in Pistoia in 2004 as a great one!
i always thought this was boring
even back in '67 
This is SO much better than the Three Dog Night version (which I heard first and thought was the "original" at the time).  Three Dog Night also had a version of "Chest Fever" on that live '69 tour that rocks out pretty hard.  Nevertheless, The Band's original is also SO much better (Big Pink).
Your banana is dancing to the music on key...
 4merdj wrote:
Mwahahaha! Bill is just validating our perception of how similar to Steve Winwood Los Lobos' singer sounds (in Angel Dance, just played before this) ... Or, is that your algorithm making the choice, Bill? Cool! {#Bananajam}

 
No algorithms here.  Just humans.
Mwahahaha! Bill is just validating our perception of how similar to Steve Winwood Los Lobos' singer sounds (in Angel Dance, just played before this) ... Or, is that your algorithm making the choice, Bill? Cool! {#Bananajam}
No lie: 

Three Dog Night opened with this on their 1969 tour. 

Relive it here. 
Why Steve Winwood, as a guitarist, matters.
whoooaaaaaa!  cool tune  (no man, I'm serious)
Excellent seamless transition from Hellsongs' "Paranoid"! Cheers, Bill!
{#Yes}  ..... "Outstanding" for me
I was obsessed with the Mr. Fantasy album. Flashback..  {#Heartkiss}
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...

 
The key to this statement is the shrooms.  If you get my drift.......{#Mrgreen}
 Lazarus wrote:

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...

 
Did you forget to bring the linseed oil again?

Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all over the world...  love this song...  love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Putting the chorus in waltz time is brilliant.
And nice piano filling out the melody contrapuntally--rare in early rock.
 Lazarus wrote:


miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 

 

If I see this comment one more time....complete barf-o-rama......
 Cynaera wrote:
When I was a kid, my dad gave me an old Webcor reel-to-reel tape player, and I recorded a bunch of music from a radio station out of Salt Lake City.  This song was one of the things I recorded, but it wasn't Traffic (I don't think.)  The voices were deeper and there was a lot more bass - in fact, it sounded like the Moody Blues!  Was there another version of this song other than the 3 Dog Night version (which is pretty lame, BTW)?
 

miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
this tune couldn't have arrived at a better moment! Bless RP.
 mread wrote:

And yet... so dang good.

 
Kinda like forgiving a friend.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
How is it that people who were so young and so heavily influenced by hallucinogenic drugs could be so wise beyond their years? Now-a-days when young people do drugs they fire up the World of Warcraft and order delivery food.
 

Perceiving yourself as wise beyond your years was part of the trip.
Like old friends...this track is so welcome !!
It's 1967 at the Fillmore in Frisco, and the Owsley just hit bottom or is that the top, it really doesn't matter
as the Dead sounds  Sooo Good, Sooo Loud... and next week Pink Floyd is in town......whadda life !  

 lemmoth wrote:
Folks sure took a bunch of drugs back in the day.
 
They still do; you're just hanging out with a different crowd.
 helgigermany wrote:
Not their best:
 
And yet... so dang good.
 Sasha2001 wrote:
How is it that people who were so young and so heavily influenced by hallucinogenic drugs could be so wise beyond their years? Now-a-days when young people do drugs they fire up the World of Warcraft and order delivery food.
 
Kids today. They are why we can't have nice things.

{#Roflol}
wow that was some kind of segue there
i thought we were still listening to paranoid and they just went into a burst of 60's rock to end their song
good one 
One of the first albums I bought was Mr Fantasy (along with Cream's Disraeli Gears).  Had a different cover (without Mason) and it was definitely in stereo.  Great album.
Folks sure took a bunch of drugs back in the day.
 billybob123 wrote:
I like this.  But I also like Three Dog Night's version.
 
I second this. good vocals
Great percussion. Where has that gone? 
 Johnny-smooth wrote:

I'm with you there
 

Well, he had a moment as a pop singer but for the last ten years has been back on track.

 Check out 'About time'

In concert he still finishes with a killer version of Mr Fantasy
 Sasha2001 wrote:
How is it that people who were so young and so heavily influenced by hallucinogenic drugs could be so wise beyond their years? Now-a-days when young people do drugs they fire up the World of Warcraft and order delivery food.
 




Blame the New World Order.
 capzfan wrote:
I always post the same comment on the Traffic songs. They never put out a bad one. Every song they ever did was a gem. Especially on the albums John Barleycorn must die, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, and Shootout at the Fantasy Factory. Hard to believe that Winwood turned into a pop singer.
 
I'm with you there
This is sofa king good ...
I like this.  But I also like Three Dog Night's version.
Hooray for Traffic....timeless lyrics....love it.  Steve Winwood...where are you?
I always post the same comment on the Traffic songs. They never put out a bad one. Every song they ever did was a gem. Especially on the albums John Barleycorn must die, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, and Shootout at the Fantasy Factory. Hard to believe that Winwood turned into a pop singer.
Absolutely perfect for those long high-school hang out nights. Lots of cruisin 'n beer.
How is it that people who were so young and so heavily influenced by hallucinogenic drugs could be so wise beyond their years? Now-a-days when young people do drugs they fire up the World of Warcraft and order delivery food.
 helgigermany wrote:
Not their best:
 

Well, we are allowed to change our minds........
Very nice!
Back when Winwood was still loose. Excellent Music
I've lived long enough to understand and agree with this sentiment. {#Sunny}
Love this, but when (not IF, but When!!!) you buy this (via RP's link of course!) make sure you buy the superior U.S. remastered version called Heaven Is in Your Mind.
Dang,,,,this is taking me waaaayyyyy back!
Reminds me of Genesis, when they just started - Excellent {#Bananajam}
 

College Memories....I love this song!


F$#%ing great song. 
OK, for the rest of you old geezers out there, or for those who lived in the L.A., CA area: does anyone else remember a radio show on Sunday mornings, about things spiritual, that used this as its theme? I used to enjoy tuning that show in when I wasn't still unconscious from the affects of what I did Saturday night...
 Cynaera wrote:
When I was a kid, my dad gave me an old Webcor reel-to-reel tape player, and I recorded a bunch of music from a radio station out of Salt Lake City.  This song was one of the things I recorded, but it wasn't Traffic (I don't think.)  The voices were deeper and there was a lot more bass - in fact, it sounded like the Moody Blues!  Was there another version of this song other than the 3 Dog Night version (which is pretty lame, BTW)?
 
Traffic released 2 versions, one without Dave Mason. 3 Dog Night also did a cover of it.

When I was a kid, my dad gave me an old Webcor reel-to-reel tape player, and I recorded a bunch of music from a radio station out of Salt Lake City.  This song was one of the things I recorded, but it wasn't Traffic (I don't think.)  The voices were deeper and there was a lot more bass - in fact, it sounded like the Moody Blues!  Was there another version of this song other than the 3 Dog Night version (which is pretty lame, BTW)?
 dedawson wrote:
Never heard this one before.  Infinitely better than the Three Dog Night version. 
 
Who?!


Kewl tune! I never listened to Traffic much growing up, missed this one!{#Cheers}

 dedawson wrote: Never heard this one before.  Infinitely better than the Three Dog Night version. 
 

Uh this is side 1 track 1 of Traffic's Mr. Fantasy... if you've never heard it you need to maybe listen to a good rock record one time... I'm just saying....  =)



 kurtster wrote:

Since we only get one childhood per lifetime, I'm so glad that this music was part of mine.


 
Absolutely, Kurtster!
Never heard this one before.  Infinitely better than the Three Dog Night version. 
mine too!!

 
kurtster wrote:

Since we only get one childhood per lifetime, I'm so glad that this music was part of mine.


 


Since we only get one childhood per lifetime, I'm so glad that this music was part of mine.


dig that trippy chorus toward the end starting around 3:50.
Sounds alright to me.
 helgigermany wrote:
Not their best:
 
Seconded. It never really takes off.
Not their best:
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good for the ears...
 
Insightful! {#Rolleyes}
Great memories of a great song!  I wasn't aware of this version.
A showcase for Mr. Winwood........not to mention his cohorts!
Good to hear this one here... it's been many years.  So much good music gone with the passing of vinyl...
Great memories, great band, great album.  Loved "Welcome to the Canteen"
 Dinges,_the_Dude wrote:
5:58 amTraffic
Heaven Is In Your Mind
Mr. Fantasy (1967)7.1
5:55 amLos Lobos
Angel Dance
The Neighborhood (1990

Did I hear it correctly and does Steve Winwood sing with Los Lobos?
 
no

Bill, you are really rattling the memory bank today!!!

This is good stuff...I guess I never fully appreciated Traffic when I was younger.
 glydev wrote:


The guitar at the end, as well as the cymbal work during the chorus "...and heaven is in your mind" - also the random yells, and noises during the guitar were differend - at first i thought this was a remastered cd and that I had never heard the enitre track before.
 
Yep, very cool. I yam diggin' it! 
 WonderLizard wrote:

I'm catching that, too. Is it the difference between the British and American versions of the album? They are variously obviously and subtly different. Might the guitar solo be one of the unsubtle differences? Anyone?

 

The guitar at the end, as well as the cymbal work during the chorus "...and heaven is in your mind" - also the random yells, and noises during the guitar were differend - at first i thought this was a remastered cd and that I had never heard the enitre track before.
I liked the guitar solo on the American version better. I guess they wanted to leave something for the live performance.
5:58 amTraffic
Heaven Is In Your Mind
Mr. Fantasy (1967)7.1
 
5:55 amLos Lobos
Angel Dance
The Neighborhood (1990

Did I hear it correctly and does Steve Winwood sing with Los Lobos?
 ajlept wrote:

I believe that was Argent. Now, who did "Green Eyed Lady?" {#Think}
 
I kept thinking Meatloaf, knowing that wasn't right, alas, it was a loaf of a different persuasion- Sugarloaf - funky classic with a great bass line {#Bananajam}

 ajlept wrote:
I believe that was Argent. Now, who did "Green Eyed Lady?" {#Think}
 
Sugarloaf—one of the '70s' great one-hit wonders.

 jagdriver wrote:
And Paper Sun, and Dealer, and Dear Mr. Fantasy.... all on the same LP! But the guitar solo at the end of this version is a tad different from what originally appeared on this album.
 
I'm catching that, too. Is it the difference between the British and American versions of the album? They are variously obviously and subtly different. Might the guitar solo be one of the unsubtle differences? Anyone?

 capandjudy wrote:
Guilty moments: I first heard this song on the first Three Dog Night album at age 17 or so not realizing that they were essentially a cover band and did not write any of their own material.
  

I was a few years younger than that when Three Dog Night released this tune.  Guilty pleasures indeed, loved their stuff. Don't tell anyone! They introduced me to some great music that I ended up re-discovering in the original performances. This Traffic tune is a good example, Laura Nyro was certainly another. Light, frothy, and fun pop they were but they did choose tunes to cover well.
 suzpom wrote:
One of the best tunes of all times. Just so cool.
 

And Paper Sun, and Dealer, and Dear Mr. Fantasy.... all on the same LP! But the guitar solo at the end of this version is a tad different from what originally appeared on this album.

From the Lost 70's Gems collection. Winwood's vocals unmistakeable.
 nigelr wrote:

Ahhhh, another classic, though slightly later? Was it Manfred Mann?

 
I believe that was Argent. Now, who did "Green Eyed Lady?" {#Think}
 MsJudi wrote:
I almost expect to hear, "Hold your head uuuuup... hold your head uuuuuup..... hold your head uuuuuuuuup..."
 
Ahhhh, another classic, though slightly later? Was it Manfred Mann?

1960's Morning I see. =)
Los Lobos to Traffic was a great transition.  I was really thinking of Traffic when I heard the former, and then there it was.
 capandjudy wrote:
Guilty moments: I first heard this song on the first Three Dog Night album at age 17 or so not realizing that they were essentially a cover band and did not write any of their own material.

 
Thanks for coming clean!

Guilty moments: I first heard this song on the first Three Dog Night album at age 17 or so not realizing that they were essentially a cover band and did not write any of their own material.
YourNameHere wrote:
Ahhh... the 60's. I can almost smell the incense. Good times.
and the pot!
Ahhh... the 60's. I can almost smell the incense. Good times.
WonderLizard wrote:
Ironically, Abbey Road's "dinosaur gear" produced Sgt. Pepper's, which was and is a monumental engineering feat. I haven't read Emrick's book, but I hope he describes that album's creation in some detail.
I agree--"new tech" is great, but "old tech" has its own kind of magic.
This was always so great with the headphones on and the music swirling back and forth between the channels.
I almost expect to hear, "Hold your head uuuuup... hold your head uuuuuup..... hold your head uuuuuuuuup..."
nice. didn't suffer from as much overplay as Barleycorn or Low Spark.
jagdriver wrote:
Meanwhile, back in states, Atlantic, with Tom Dowd at the controls, was way ahead of the game. With Abbey Road's dinosaur gear, they had to repeatedly "bounce" tracks to another recorder in order to make room for another track. After so many generations of bounces, it doesn't take long to muddy up the sound. And once it's been bounced downward, it's nigh impossible to separate out of the mix. That said, my understanding is that today's digital restoration techniques are making the impossible a reality. For a good read, check out Geoff Emerick's Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles (click here). floydslips.blogspot.com
Ironically, Abbey Road's "dinosaur gear" produced Sgt. Pepper's, which was and is a monumental engineering feat. I haven't read Emrick's book, but I hope he describes that album's creation in some detail.
How cool is this? I love these songs. You ride on the swing in and out of the bars Capturing moments of life in a jar Playing with children, acting as stars Guiding your visions to heaven and heaven is in your mind Take extra care not to lose what up feel The apple you're eating is simple and real Water the flowers that grow at you heel guiding your visions to heaven and heaven is in your mind
Traffic's psychedelic album, and their first album, and perhaps their best or one of their best. Very pure and musical, the later stuff was more deliberate not that it isn't good too.
First time hearing this. Very nice!