Traffic – John Barleycorn Must Die

John Barleycorn Must Die, released in July 1970, marks Traffic’s reinvention following a brief hiatus and the departure of Dave Mason. With Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood forming a leaner trio, the album blends folk, blues, jazz, and rock into a fluid and expressive sound. The opening instrumental “Glad” features dynamic piano and sax interplay, while tracks like “Freedom Rider,” “Empty Pages,” and the traditional “John Barleycorn” highlight the group’s evolving chemistry across compositional depth and improvisational space. Produced under the guidance of Winwood and Chris Blackwell, the record bridges the band’s earlier psychedelic leanings toward a more expansive, jam-inflected resonance.

Though compact in length, the album’s internal diversity feels expansive: from intimate folk readings to robust rhythmic drives, it charts a confident new chapter. “John Barleycorn” feels especially resonant, its acoustic center wrapped in subtle orchestration. Upon release it climbed to number 5 on the US chart, becoming Traffic’s highest-charting album in America. Over time it has been celebrated as a turning point, often cited in retrospectives as a core statement of their late-’60s / early-’70s evolution. Its balance of restraint, exploration, and emotional clarity continues to endear it to fans and critics alike.

“The album is a return to form for Traffic, anchored by informed playing, soulful vocals, and Winwood’s compositional ambition.” – Classic Rock Review

“A new chapter for Traffic … the trio stretch into jazz-inflected, free-form spaces without losing melodic grounding.” – uDiscover Music

“The songs from the Blackwell sessions … mix folk, soul and rock into a flavorful stew that proved far more fortifying than the psychedelic confections of earlier work.” – Progrography