Buying the albums sampled on “You Can All Join In”.
Side 2 of the LP opens with what is Track 6 on the CD, “Vagabond Virgin”, which is a Mason/Capaldi composition. It is beautiful and extremely sensitive song about the premature sexual activities of a 13 year old girl. The lyrics are actually somewhat disturbing to the modern ear, but none of this detracts from the innate qualities of the song. Unusually, Jim Capaldi, as well as playing the drums, shares the lead vocal with Dave Mason, the whole thing being sung by the two of them as a harmonised duet, apart from one or two solo phases. Dave also plays acoustic guitar and Steve plays piano and bass guitar. However, the star attraction of this one is Chris Wood, who plays flute; this bit of the accompaniment is just fantastic.
Next is “(Romain’ Thro’ The Gloamin With) 40,000 Headmen”. I was of course intimately familiar with this song, as it appeared on the next sampler “Nice Enough To Eat” [see far above], when it was the sampled track from the LP “Best Of Traffic” [see also far above]. It is unique on the album, and unusual generally, as it takes the form of a logical, but entirely surreal narrative story. It is a fine, classic Traffic song, well deserving of its inclusion on the “Best Of” compilation. It is a traditional Winwood/Capaldi composition, where Steve takes the lead vocal, which is here solo throughout, and plays guitar and organ. Jim plays the drums and Dave Mason does nothing at all. Once again, however, Chris takes the instrumental honours, playing flute, Coke tin [!] and sleigh bells.
A couple more pics from the ornate booklet inside the gatefold sleeve:
Listentomusicanywhere's Blog 
Comments