The problems associated with early live recordings of bands, particularly Rock bands, of the 60's, had mostly to do with the limitations of technology brought on by PA systems just not being able to handle the level of sound. It was very rare for an engineer at the time to actually record a band performance because, again, the limitations of technology and portable equipment were in their infancy. So a lot of early performance recordings were done by people in the audience, using battery powered reel-to-reel machines that were small enough to carry around on your shoulder, a microphone stuck in front of a stage speaker and hoping for the best because you couldn't hear anything once the band got started. And that's how the Bootleg industry was born.

Or, the local radio outlet would send a recording team and a truck loaded with equipment parked outside the venue and sometimes their own Sound system, and a decent recording was made and everybody was happy. Sometimes the band would release that live performance as an album and then the record company was happy. As time went on the technology evolved and companies such as the forward thinking Tychobrahe pioneered concert sound and the world was happy.

This weekend's Backstage is a performance that was recorded by one of those radio outlets. Sveriges Radio, the network in Sweden, sent a team to record the newly formed Traffic, who were performing in Stockholm in September of 1967.

Here is what you'll be hearing:

Traffic - Stockholm - Sept 12, 1967
Sveriges Radio

1. Giving To You
2. Smiling Phases
3. Coloured Rain
4. Hole In My Shoe
5. Feelin' Alright
6. Paper Sun
7. Dear Mr. Fantasy

Line up: Steve Winwood Dave Mason Chris Wood Jim Capaldi

Traffic during their exciting, formative period. Around the time their first album was released.

The sound is surprisingly good but a little quiet in places (particularly during announcements). But for a historic document, a wonderful glimpse into a band that went on to become a legend in Rock, whose music is still enjoyed and discovered by new fans, this is quite amazing.

Enjoy.

A radio session from Stockholm tonight. Most Likely one of the last for The Spencer Davis Group before the departure of Steve Winwood for Traffic.

Recorded for Sveriges Radio in February 1967, this session features two of the memorable hits by Spencer Davis, recorded live.

Here's the rundown for this short, but completely wonderful set:

Spencer Davis Group
Radiohuset, Stockholm, Sweden
February 1967

01. When I Come Home [2:40]
02. I''m a Man [3:31]
03. Gimme Some Lovin' [4:10]

History even comes in the form of music, especially this one.

(Traffic - at the turning point)

After their first breakup in 1969, with Steve Winwood going off to the legendary and short-lived Blind Faith, Traffic reunited in 1970 and turned out one of the milestone albums of the 70's. John Barleycorn Must Die was a huge change in direction for Traffic. With Dave Mason departing in 1968, the Pop influence they had come to be known for had been taken over by a mature, musically adventuresome outfit. Now a three-piece, with Chris Wood still on sax and flute and Jim Capaldi still on drums and percussion, this tighter unit achieved greater strides in their musical direction, melding Jazz into the mix. John Barleycorn was a critical and commercial success and established Traffic as one of the major bands coming out of the 60's into the new decade.

This track is actually two songs. Glad and Freedom Rider were always played together as one song anyway. So rather than break the flow, I've joined them together and present them just as you would have heard them if you had this album on your turntable at home . . .and it was 1970. And it was Saturday Night. And you were staring off into space. And you were preoccupied. And it was dark. And you didn't want to break the mood. And you've been trying to get him/her to your place all month.

Forty years later, it still sounds fresh.

(Traffic - in a word, ageless)

I realize it's totally possible there are some people who have never heard of this band. Hard as that is to imagine, Traffic were probably one of the more popular and played bands on FM radio from their start in the late 1960's until their final breakup in the mid 1970s.

They were also fantastic live and those of you who do remember and remembered seeing them, know exactly what I'm talking about.

Fronting the band was Steve (or Stevie as he was known then, or "Little Stevie" if you want to go back to his days with The Spencer Davis Group) Winwood, who is still a major artist working today. But back then it was new and by the time this album came out "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys", they had grown into a multi-layered band with a whole range of musical influences they assimilated. Because of that, they never really aged and even today, listening to this track, the track title from the album, you realize just how fresh they were and still are.

So if you aren't familiar with them, or maybe just heard about them recently, check them out. Everything has been reissued and CD's and Downloads are available.

They would make a great addition to your collection and your musical world will get just a little bigger and better off for it.

(The Waiting Game)

As the threat of war became increasingly inevitable, the evacuations started, the recall of ambassadors and non-essential personnel, packing and going home. Waiting for the next shoe to drop.

The BBC World service reported the goings on during the day of August 27, 1939.

BBC Newsreader: “Railway traffic in Germany is to be still further restricted, and in future the railways will not undertake to carry any private passengers. The German Traffic Minister in a broadcast said that this step is being taken to avoid the serious delay in bringing food to the big cities. In some places the delay is leading to great disorganization. Germany has assured Denmark and Lithuania that she will respect their neutrality.”

Nobody blinked.

(Freedom - sadly neglected but never ignored)

While I am knee deep in sifting and editing the pressing history of the day, I thought I would take a break and offer up a little sadly neglected psychedelia from 1968. Freedom was an interesting band with a steller, but somewhat short-lived history. I came to know them via their second incarnation and an album issued on ABC Records in 1971 - but this was their first incarnation formed in 1967 and their debut single for Mercury featuring ex-Procol Harum members Bobby Harrison on drums and Ray Royer on Guitar with Steve Shirley on bass. When I first heard it I thought it was a mislabeled previously unknown Traffic single, but "Trying to Catch A Glimpse Of You" was the B-side of their initial 45 release on May of 1968. It only seems fair to offer the A-side at some point soon.

Fans of the Mellotron - rejoice!