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Traffic — Dear Mr. Fantasy
Album: Mr. Fantasy
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2561









Released: 1967
Length: 5:29
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy
You are the one who can make us all laugh
But doing that you break out in tears
Please don't be sad if it was a straight mind you had
We wouldn't have known you all these years

Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy
You are the one who can make us all laugh
But doing that you break out in tears
Please don't be sad if it was a straight mind you had
We wouldn't have known you all these years

Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy
You are the one who can make us all laugh
But doing that you break out in tears
Please don't be sad if it was a straight mind you had
We wouldn't have known you all these years
Comments (208)add comment
I own a few Traffic CDs for the jazz-fusion sound.  But this is oh so excellent too.  At least for those of us who grew up in the period.
 wmbmorrison wrote:

OMG OMG OMG...thank you PSD button.  Saved from a Leanord Cohen and Gorillaz yawnfest and delivered into...Traffic.  Ahhhh...all is well.



A lot of RP listeners appear to have very specific tastes. The whole point of RP is to be one of the few stations with an eclectic, curated playlist designed to appeal to those who either have a wide range of musical interests or are open to and can appreciate music outside their wheelhouse. There are plenty of stations out there which cater to specific tastes. Not sure why the RP listeners who routinely trash music they don't like simply tune to another station that only plays their kind of music. 
A psychedelic rock classic. Blew my mind when I first heard it back in the day and still a straight 10 for me. I believe that's Winwood on the guitar solo. Still get a kick out of the noise jam freakout at the end with the bass/maracas combo to close things out.
that's it I know I'm officially getting old now, I used to really love this song now I can't stand the tone of EC guitar squealing
Simply a Classic!  Love young Steve's voice
 jp33442 wrote:

I remember at the beginning of avengers end game this song made the movie




Yes, set the tone to open the movie.
I remember at the beginning of avengers end game this song made the movie
 Grayson wrote:

Really is no wrong time for a Traffic song. 



Back in the day, Traffic and The Moody Blues were admired by all.  No haters then.
 skyhigh_71 wrote:

Surely Steve Winwood's finest ever performance. Stunning song and delivery. 



I dunno - hard to beat Low Spark
By today's standards, this is a basic, bog standard, garage 4 chord thrasher.
But in it's day it would have been quite special.
Also happens to be "Got the Look" by Roxette?
ah, those 4 fabulous chords.....
Inspiration for 'Teardrop'?
you see...these guys prove it

if you make a song snappy...you get a good one

i think that was written on a wall somewhere
This and low spark of high heeled boy’s i could listen too all fay
 WilliDoc wrote:
Oh for the days when bands took to their country cottages to work up their latest album...great memories. 
 
Yes, a trip to a country cottage and a whole shitload of LSD.  This band, this song and album are the results.

And to those who appreciated the guitar work, that was Dave Mason.  The real Slow Hand.
good olde days in navy, my speakers (sansui"s) and kenwoods loved this song
Oh for the days when bands took to their country cottages to work up their latest album...great memories. Takes me back to med school and our flat in Hammersmith.  Great days.
Really is no wrong time for a Traffic song. 
 Misterfixit wrote:

Mister Fantasy and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys pretty much summs up how things are going today in this 21st Century pre-Apocalyptic time.
 



Oh, Misterfixit, if you only knew that three years later...
...avevo 13 anni ed ho il padellone originale mettete a tutto volume e gioite 
Laugh and tears ? Yes, I'm a fool !
 jagdriver wrote:
One of the Top 10 best classic rock songs.
 
I agree... although i'd say there are more like 1,000 top 10 classic rock songs because i change my mind six times a day as RP reminds me of another one
 Hasan wrote:

Or maybe putrefaction!

Great song.  Great execution.  Loved it when it came out.

The thing is I have six kids, from 13 to 30.  I've bent over backwards to expose them to a lot of varied music.

The sad fact is that, when I listen with them to those long meandering lead guitar meditations, "through their ears", so to speak, I can only very feebly remember what the appeal was.

We had the leisure in the late 60s and early 70s to descend into those smoky dreams.  Our children don't.





 
Yeah those late 60's and early 70's... with icons being assassinated, burning inner cities, marching in the streets, 1000s coming home in body bags annually from Vietnam, smog, the threat of imminent MAD nuclear obliteration. 

Real simple times. 

Your view of those days is indeed smoky. 
One of my very few 10s, and should be a 50 or more!
{#Devil_pimp}zesty !
 {#Daisy}
kurtster wrote:

Open the door, Hal ...

 

Some of the most exalted guitar playing I have ever heard.
10.000  A cornerstone of my rock-n'-roll belief system! The only other stage show where the band played so seriously, deeply, and intently was, of course, Santana.-There once was a Golden Age...
 LowPhreak wrote:

More like Orwell's version here in the U.S.

 
Huxley's vision was closer. Distract, drug and entertain the masses. Convince them their type is best, discourage intellect....
Surely Steve Winwood's finest ever performance. Stunning song and delivery. 
Mister Fantasy and Low Spark of High Heeled Boys pretty much summs up how things are going today in this 21st Century pre-Apocalyptic time.
 
Wonderful.
A 9 all day long.
From 8 to 9 
  For You Dear Mr. Fantasy. {#Chef}
 wmbmorrison wrote:
OMG OMG OMG...thank you PSD button.  Saved from a Leanord Cohen and Gorillaz yawnfest and delivered into...Traffic.  Ahhhh...all is well.

 
Cheers!  (clink)
had to dash away from ELO if you can believe that crap was being force-fed to us poor wankers, aaaahh, Mr. Fantasy  (schluuurrrp, ahh!)
 oldsaxon wrote:

And why not? We let the capitalist rhetoric ensure that all they think they want is money and things. No time to dream, no time to think, just acquire things. More things, Things we think we want. Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is our gift to our children. 

 
More like Orwell's version here in the U.S.
 Hasan wrote:

Or maybe putrefaction!

Great song.  Great execution.  Loved it when it came out.

The thing is I have six kids, from 13 to 30.  I've bent over backwards to expose them to a lot of varied music.

The sad fact is that, when I listen with them to those long meandering lead guitar meditations, "through their ears", so to speak, I can only very feebly remember what the appeal was.

We had the leisure in the late 60s and early 70s to descend into those smoky dreams.  Our children don't.
 
And why not? We let the capitalist rhetoric ensure that all they think they want is money and things. No time to dream, no time to think, just acquire things. More things, Things we think we want. Aldous Huxley's Brave New World is our gift to our children. 
There is a reason we have memory.
 

Hasan wrote:

Or maybe putrefaction!

Great song.  Great execution.  Loved it when it came out.

The thing is I have six kids, from 13 to 30.  I've bent over backwards to expose them to a lot of varied music.

The sad fact is that, when I listen with them to those long meandering lead guitar meditations, "through their ears", so to speak, I can only very feebly remember what the appeal was.

We had the leisure in the late 60s and early 70s to descend into those smoky dreams.  Our children don't.






 


 katzendogs wrote:
I would love to believe this tune was played in outer space at one time. Then again. This is my moment.

  it is and will be traveling at light speed across the multiverce forever.just like the honeymooners



 katzendogs wrote:
I would love to believe this tune was played in outer space at one time. Then again. This is my moment.

 
Open the door, Hal ...
 Hasan wrote:

Or maybe putrefaction!

Great song.  Great execution.  Loved it when it came out.

The thing is I have six kids, from 13 to 30.  I've bent over backwards to expose them to a lot of varied music.

The sad fact is that, when I listen with them to those long meandering lead guitar meditations, "through their ears", so to speak, I can only very feebly remember what the appeal was.

We had the leisure in the late 60s and early 70s to descend into those smoky dreams.  Our children don't.


Kids smoke way more today.....




 

 wmbmorrison wrote:

AKA:  Purfection. 

 
Or maybe putrefaction!

Great song.  Great execution.  Loved it when it came out.

The thing is I have six kids, from 13 to 30.  I've bent over backwards to expose them to a lot of varied music.

The sad fact is that, when I listen with them to those long meandering lead guitar meditations, "through their ears", so to speak, I can only very feebly remember what the appeal was.

We had the leisure in the late 60s and early 70s to descend into those smoky dreams.  Our children don't.





Where's button for 11?
Awesome song by the best underrated band!!
lol! Leonard C I have to agree with, but Not Gorillaz lol!



 
wmbmorrison wrote:
OMG OMG OMG...thank you PSD button.  Saved from a Leanord Cohen and Gorillaz yawnfest and delivered into...Traffic.  Ahhhh...all is well.

 


I would love to believe this tune was played in outer space at one time. Then again. This is my moment.
 EssexTex wrote:
Pure perfection......
 
AKA:  Purfection. 
OMG OMG OMG...thank you PSD button.  Saved from a Leanord Cohen and Gorillaz yawnfest and delivered into...Traffic.  Ahhhh...all is well.
My favorite song from this album and one of their all time best.  A terrific debut album by a great group brimming with talent.
One of the Top 10 best classic rock songs.
Pure perfection......
Yea I never get tired of this one either.{#Clap}
WOW this song never grows old. These guys could play.
I'm proud to be among the ones for whom hearing songs like this (and the masterpiece "Low Spark") changed my life...Yup, my life was saved by Rock 'n' Roll — and I still dig this same old TRAFFIC JAM immensely!

Always one of my favorite examples of songs demonstrating that one needn't be a virtuoso musician to create great music.
 

 

I own the VERY SAME "Babouche" Dave Mason is wearing.
Great "sandals" for only 40 Dirhams!
No hole in my shoe yet - I wear them already three years 24/7.


Is there a SINGLE bad or even mediocre song by Traffic
(though "Mr. Fantasy" is certainly not their best)?
Goodbye Owlsly and thanks for the technology bump.
 
I could listen to Stevie Winwood all day.....  one note and I'm back to another place, another time.... {#Guitarist}
ALWAYS incredible to hear!



I like this song.

Traffic & Jerry Garcia - Mr Dear Fantasy, Live (1994)

"I loved Jerry, we shared diabetes, steve is great, but Jerry will be in my heart for ever."    Wrockdog

"That was super! Thanks for sharing it with us. Goosebumps for sure! "

"i only watched this because jerry was in it. probably wouldnt have checked twice.... Rest In Paradise brother! "    blessiththechily



 Zeito wrote:
I've heard this song before, but never really listened to it.  Really nice!  It is amazing how much growth there was musically between about 1964 to 1967. 
 

And how!  I'm not sure the same could be said about many other periods, like the last three years, for instance.
Synchronicity. Actually got all my Traffic albums in digital format not a month ago after a few years of not listening to them at all. And here it pops up :)

Merry Christmas all.


Traffic - Dear Mr. Fantasy, Live (1972)
TRAFFIC : LIVE 1972 IN SANTA MONICA

"Steve Winwood makes it look so easy.....the guy is such a well rounded musician...I won't say Traffic was underrated, but I think Stevie was for sure. He has a good approach to music....relax...and let it take you away :) "    econoroller

"This song never ages... nor do i ever tire from hearing it; it always takes me to a floaty, surreal place in the universe! so very very kewl! "  Gratefulbead


I just wanna pinch Li'l Stevie's cheeks! {#Arrowd}{#Heartkiss}

EP: Traffic by Peter Denton
https://www.flickr.com/photos/peterdenton/

Copyright All rights reserved
.
Steve Winwood - Dear Mr. Fantasy, Live (2007)
Steve Winwood (currently 62 years old) at the Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007

"He's been a genious ever since I heard him sing "I'm a man" in the Spencer Davis Group, he was only 17!!"

"This is a perfect example why people of this generation learned to play guitar as they did: they had awesome idols. Today, we have guitarists that play ("shred") faster than we even blink, which makes it so lame to even encourage anyone to take up the axe. I had Page, Clapton, Beck, Winwood, Garcia, etc.......and though they were "slow" by today's standard, and most admittedly so, they taught as they played......? "

About "Dear Mr Fantasy":

"Nicola James "Jim" Capaldi
(2 August 1944 - 28 January 2005), musician, songwriter, drummer and founding member of Traffic.
   
Dear Mr Fantasy
was a celebration of Jim Capaldi's life and music that took place at the Roundhouse in Camden Town, London on Sunday, 21 January 2007. Guests included
Bill Wyman, Jon Lord, Gary Moore, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, his brother, Phil and many more. Dear Mr Fantasy featured the music of Jim Capaldi and Traffic. All profits went to The Jubilee Action Street Children Appeal.

Outside his music and his environmental activism, Capaldi also assisted his wife in her work with Jubilee Action to help Brazilian street children. He remained professionally active until his final illness prevented him from working on plans for a 2005 reunion tour of Traffic. He died of stomach cancer on 28 January 2005, aged 60. He is survived by his wife and daughters."

 




Great freeking song, not as good as low spark of high heel boys, but very good nonetheless!{#Cheers}
I've heard this song before, but never really listened to it.  Really nice!  It is amazing how much growth there was musically between about 1964 to 1967. 
Who played bass on this? Love the bassline near the end.
 Chumbawamba-1984 wrote:
"Ride my see saw" would make a nice transition after Traffic. Same guitarist ? Excuse my ignorance and be a nice to me.
 

No.  Different guitarist, but same time.  Probably similar influences.

There are no stupid questions, just stupid people who won't ask.
"Ride my see saw" would make a nice transition after Traffic. Same guitarist ? Excuse my ignorance and be a nice to me.
Mine go all the way to eleven for this...blow away the neighbors....turning it up!!!!
Whatever happened to the guitar solo? {#Stupid}
Godlike....and then some.
That gets me up and moving.
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Oh that does take me back! Quintessential Traffic. There is a great version of Traffic performing this live  on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_nwbTeIN4Y

9 >> 10

I'm with HarrO....this single track pretty much defines the late '60s for me. Even more so than anything by the Fabs.


Great set Bill, thanks!
 derekd wrote:
Anyone remember "Bring me a higher love" from the 1980s? Same singer (Steve Winwood)

Anyway, if you dig this tune playing, check out Find My Way Home from Traffic. A classic...
 

Actually, Steve originally did "Can't Find My Way Home" with Blind Faith. I hear he and Eric Clapton are going out on tour together. Saw them in a televised Crossroads not long ago. They are still very, very good.
 Null_Hypothesis wrote:
Big Sugar does a good version of this.
 
Thanks for the tip. Love Big Sugar. I'll check it out.

This is one of those "Trapped on a Desert Island" tunes. If you had to pick ten, which would they be?
meh
Big Sugar does a good version of this.
What a band. Great song.
Where's the home-grown. I wanna run through a field of high corn chucking flowers in the air.{#Cool}
one of their better ones
Jim Capaldi - RIP my old friend.
 redtex wrote:
Large coffee and Traffic...not a bad way to get the day started.
 
I am reliving your moment.



 
WonderLizard wrote:

Sonny, if you really had hippie parents, Traffic would be close to the top of the heap. On a hunch, check their record rack for Helen Reddy or Barry Manilow...{#Propeller}
 
I stand corrected.

I blame it all on my French Hippie parents.

I swear to god if I hear any more Ange I'll go postal.

 palad1 wrote:
How come I never heard of traffic before?
I blame it all on my hippie parents.

{#Headache}
 
Sonny, if you really had hippie parents, Traffic would be close to the top of the heap. On a hunch, check their record rack for Helen Reddy or Barry Manilow...{#Propeller}
Anyone remember "Bring me a higher love" from the 1980s? Same singer (Steve Winwood)

Anyway, if you dig this tune playing, check out Find My Way Home from Traffic. A classic...
How come I never heard of traffic before?
I blame it all on my hippie parents.

{#Headache}
This one makes my "Top Ten Best Tunes of Rock & Roll of All Time" list.

EssexTex wrote:
Amazing song..
The best! SF bands aside, it pretty much defines the "Summer of Love."
Oh gosh ... the memories. More classic Steve Winwood, please.
WHOOOO HOOOO!!! HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!
Amazing song..
Magic
Haven't heard this one in a while. Thanks.
Yay!!!
PLEASE The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys PLEASE
Ohoops,almost blew a frontspeaker there!!
Now THIS is more like it. re: Freedom Overspill
Darrooon wrote:
Suddenly - I'm on a warm grassy hillside, after sunset, drinking Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. (and it's a good thing!)
OhMyGod, Strawberry Hill! I forgot about that crappy drink, which is probably best. Drank that a lot in early college years, before good taste developed. Cheers anyway! It's always fun to get a little blast from the past, heehee!
Excellent ! Thanks Bill.
Can't think of a better way to start my day. Thank you!!!
Large coffee and Traffic...not a bad way to get the day started.
ThankYouThankYouThankYou RP
I needed to hear Mr. Fantasy this morning. It'll help me get me going. I love this song!
"Welcome to the Canteen" live version is so good it gives me bigger goosebumps than this "10".
Dear Mister Fantasy, Play us a tune. Something to make us all happy. Do anything take us out of this gloom. Sing a song, play guitar, make it snappy. You are the one who can make us all laugh, but doing that you break out in tears. Please don't be sad if it was a straight mind you had. We wouldn't have known you all these years. Lovingly yours, Me
I like this song but I have heard it way to much
Suddenly - I'm on a warm grassy hillside, after sunset, drinking Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. (and it's a good thing!)
window wrote:
Did Traffic steal that riff from "Your Time Is Gonna Come" by LZ or vice versa?
Or even 'Ten Years Gone'... Not sure. All good stuff though.
This would rate a 10 except that the bridge sucks, so I gave it a 9. It really takes off and flies with the instrumental.