Few could be more deserving of the lavish box set treatment than Jim Capaldi, best known as Traffic’s drummer, but also a hyperactive lyricist, collaborator, solo artist and environmental campaigner. This glowing four-disc tribute, overseen by widow Aninha, strives to present a balanced picture of Capaldi’s career, from early 60s beat group origins to rehearsing for Traffic’s 2004 induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame, the year before Capaldi succumbed to stomach cancer.
Born in 1944 to Italian immigrant parents in Evesham, Worcester, the teenage Capaldi played drums in local bands, forming The Helions with future Traffic guitarist Dave Mason in 1963 (and releasing three unsuccessful singles, here represented by 1965’s Daydreaming Of You). The struggling band changed their name to The Revolution in 1966, then the psychedelicised Deep Feeling (both given a track apiece).
Named by Capaldi, Traffic stemmed from early 1967 jam sessions at Birmingham’s Elbow Room club between Mason, Steve Winwood and flute-sax maestro Chris Wood; the four famously retired to a Berkshire cottage to write their debut album, Mr Fantasy. They announced themselves to the world with the non-album Paper Sun which, like much of the LP, Capaldi had a heavy hand in writing, but they’re here represented by the ethereal Dealer and epic title track, while 40,000 Headmen and otherwise-omitted second album’s Pearly Queen come from 1973’s Eric Clapton And Friends concert.
1970’s landmark John Barleycorn Must Die is totally ignored in favour of 1971’s Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, and that’s it for this wonderful band until a track from 1994’s one-off reunion with Winwood on Far from Home (Wood having died in 1983).
The rest is a hefty trawl through Capaldi’s solo albums, beginning on fine, funky form with 1972’s Oh How We Danced, continuing with 1974’s Whale Meat Again (with the unmistakable Muscle Shoals rhythm section smouldering) and 1975’s Short Cut Draw Blood, featuring Capaldi’s Top 10 revamp of The Everly Brothers’ Love Hurts. But, as Disc Two proceeds, songs fall into that familiar pattern, where 60s-spawned artists (even Winwood) mined the lucrative US AOR market, awash with booming drums draped in soft-focus electric pianos.
Capaldi made several albums during this time, characterised by 1981’s Let The Thunder Cry, rendering Disc Three the most dated-sounding disc. Even from the windswept bombast of 1988’s Some Come Running, however, he’s joined by Clapton and George Harrison for a heartfelt take on Parliament’s moving racial statement Oh Lord, Why Lord, showing that Capaldi’s soul could still blaze beneath the sheen.
In the mid-70s, Capaldi married Brazilian-born Aninha, moving to Brazil. As British folklore and world music imbued his earlier work, the country and its culture manifested in tracks such as Favella Music (along with ill-fitting disco excursions), while daughters Tabitha and Tallelulah were both blessed with delicate ballads included here. Capaldi’s last years saw him enjoying reverence from his peers, with 12th solo album Living On The Outside featuring the likes of George Harrison, Paul Weller, Gary Moore and Winwood. Capaldi grew particularly close to Harrison, collaborating on Love’s Got A Hold, recording Song For George after the former Beatles’ death in 2001.
Capaldi’s rare compassion and lust for life could still infiltrate even the mellowest AOR ballad on this beautifully put together labour of love which, like its subject, doesn’t take the easy route. But, even in this context, more Traffic, like his time-stopping No Face, No Name, No Number, diverted in this direction would have got the balance spot on.
