Editing Traffic (band) (section)

===1970s: 1970–74===
[[File:Traffic are back with a new album & tape, 1970.png|thumb|left|Trade ad for ''[[John Barleycorn Must Die]]'', 1970]]
After the break-up of Blind Faith in 1969, Winwood began working on a solo recording, bringing in Wood and Capaldi to contribute, and the project eventually turned into a new Traffic album, 1970's ''[[John Barleycorn Must Die]]'', their most successful album yet. Soon after the album was released, Traffic expanded its lineup with the addition of Winwood's former Blind Faith bandmate [[Ric Grech]] on bass. In 1971, Capaldi stopped drumming and nearly left the band after his infant son died from [[SIDS|cot death]]. Drummer [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]] of [[Derek and the Dominos]] and percussionist [[Rebop Kwaku Baah]] were added, while Capaldi switiched to a role as percussionist, co-vocalist, and master of ceremonies.<ref name=story>{{cite web|last=Rees |first=Paul |title=The Story of Traffic |website=Louder |date=31 August 2020 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-story-of-traffic |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/> Dave Mason also returned at this time for a third and final stint with the band, though this lasted only six performances, some of which was captured on the [[Album#Live|live album]] ''[[Welcome to the Canteen]]'', released in September 1971. Marking the band's break with [[United Artists Records]], the album did not bear the "Traffic" name on the cover or the record label, although the band's logo appeared on the back cover. Instead, the album was credited to the band's seven individual members (Winwood, Capaldi, Mason, Wood, Grech, Kwaku Baah, and Gordon). The album ended with a version of [[The Spencer Davis Group]] song "[[Gimme Some Loving]]", which became a minor hit.

Following the departure of Mason, Traffic released ''[[The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (album)|The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys]]'' (1971), which was a Top 10 American album but did not chart in the UK. It sold over half a million copies in 1972 when it received a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]], and was awarded a [[R.I.A.A.]] [[music recording sales certification|platinum disc]] in March 1976 for over a million total sales.<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book| first= Joseph| last= Murrells| year= 1978| title= The Book of Golden Discs| edition= 2nd| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd| location= London| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/305 305]| isbn= 0-214-20512-6| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/305}}</ref> Once again, however, personnel problems wracked the band as Grech and Gordon were fired in December 1971 due to excessive drug use,<ref name=story /> and the month after, Winwood's struggles with [[peritonitis]] brought Traffic to a standstill. Jim Capaldi used this hiatus to record a solo album, ''[[Oh How We Danced]]'',<ref name="Fierce kit">Capaldi, Jim (1983).  "The Ends of Traffic, Soloing & Brazil", ''[[Fierce Heart]]'' press kit.</ref> which proved to be the beginning of a long and successful solo career. The album included a surplus recording from ''The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys'', "Open Your Heart", and the new tracks featured drummer [[Roger Hawkins (drummer)|Roger Hawkins]] and bassist [[David Hood]], from the [[Muscle Shoals Sound Studio]] house band. Capaldi soon recruited Hawkins and Hood into Traffic to replace Grech and Gordon.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography"/>

The new lineup (Winwood, Capaldi, Wood, Kwaku Baah, Hawkins, Hood) toured America in early 1972 to promote the LP, and their concert at the [[Santa Monica Civic Auditorium]] on 21 February was recorded in multitrack audio and captured on colour videotape with multiple cameras. The 64-minute performance is thought to be the only extended live footage of the group. It was evidently not broadcast on television at the time, but was later released on home video and DVD.

[[File:Traffic 1973.jpg|thumb|Traffic performing in Hamburg in 1973]]
Following Winwood's recovery from peritonitis, Traffic's sixth studio album, ''[[Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory]]'', released in 1973, met with a cold critical reception, but in sales it was another major hit. It was shortly followed by a major world tour, for which Muscle Shoals keyboardist Barry Beckett was added to the lineup.  The double live album ''[[On the Road (Traffic album)|On the Road]]'' was drawn from this tour.<ref name=story/> It broke the band's string of British flops by reaching #40 in the [[UK Albums Chart]].<ref name="UK Charts">[http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/traffic/ Traffic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120171347/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/traffic/ |date=20 November 2011 }}, Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 August 2011.</ref> After the tour, Winwood informed the Muscle Shoals trio that he was returning to a smaller lineup more like their original one, and their services were no longer needed. Meanwhile, Chris Wood's problems with drug use and depression were increasing.<ref name=story />

[[Rosko Gee]] was recruited on bass, while Capaldi switched back to drums. The resulting quintet began to record a new album in late 1973, but Kwaku Baah was fired partway through the sessions, leaving most of the album to be recorded by the quartet of Winwood, Capaldi, Wood, and Gee.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dineen |first=Donal |title=Donal Dineen's Sunken Treasure: 'When the Eagle Flies' by Traffic |website=The Irish Times |date=8 November 2015 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/donal-dineen-s-sunken-treasure-when-the-eagle-flies-by-traffic-1.2418325 |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>  ''[[When the Eagle Flies]]'', released in 1974, was yet another Top 10 album in the US, and moderately successful in the UK. However, a subsequent tour of the US, while successful in terms of ticket sales,<ref name="Tapestry">Joynson, Vernon (1995). [http://alextsu.narod.ru/borderlinebooks/uk6070s/index.html ''The Tapestry of Delights''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130151831/http://alextsu.narod.ru/borderlinebooks/uk6070s/index.html |date=30 November 2011 }}. London: Borderline Books.</ref> was emotionally exhausting for the band. Capaldi later recalled "Rosko Gee and I were the only ones in anything like normal shape. Steve was having recurrent problems with the peritonitis, and Chris's body was suffering from chemical warfare."<ref name="Fierce kit"/> Winwood ultimately passed his boiling point, walking off the stage in the middle of what turned out to be the band's final show, in Chicago. The following day he left the tour without a word to anyone, leaving the rest of the band waiting for him at the venue for that night's scheduled performance.<ref name="Fierce kit"/> Feeling Winwood had been integral to Traffic's music, the remaining members opted not to continue the band without him.

Steve Winwood embarked on a solo career, while Rosko Gee and Rebop Kwaku Baah joined German band [[Can (band)|Can]]. Kwaku Baah died on stage from a cerebral hemorrhage in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]] in 1983, and Capaldi dedicated his solo album ''[[Fierce Heart]]'' to his memory. Chris Wood also died that year from [[pneumonia]].