Traffic: Light Up or Leave Me Alone

Jim Capaldi died five years ago this week, which gives me a good reason for posting one of the few songs from Traffic's 1972 Santa Monica concert that has not yet appeared here.

Capaldi was the band's drummer, though at this stage in his career he preferred to groove with a tambourine and sing the occasional lead vocal. He was also Traffic's lyricist and recorded many solo albums, reaching no. 4 in the UK singles chart with his recording of "Love Hurts" in 1975.

This track also displays the versatity of Traffic's members. It was not just that Steve Winwood was a genius on both guitar and keyboards: here Chris Wood, who plays saxaphone on Low Spark of High-heeled Boys and flute on Freedom Rider, fills in on piano.