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Traffic — Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
Album: The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
Avg rating:
8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 5357








Released: 1970
Length: 11:27
Plays (last 30 days): 1
If you see something that looks like a star
and it's shooting up out of the ground
and your head is spinning from a loud guitar.
And you just can't escape from the sound
don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
We were children once, playing with toys.

And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound
of the low spark of high-heeled boys.

The percentage you're paying is too high priced
while you're living beyond all your means.
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
from the profit he's made on your dreams.
But today you just swear that the man was shot dead
by a gun that didn't make any noise.
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
was the low spark of high-heeled boys.

If you had just a minute to breathe
and they granted you one final wish
would you ask for something, like another chance.
Or something similar as this
don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
as sure as your sorrows are joys.

And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound
of the low spark of high-heeled boys.

The percentage you're paying is too high priced
while you're living beyond all your means
and the man in the suit has just bought a new car
from the profit he's made on your dreams
But today you just swear that the man was shot dead
by a gun that didn't make any noise
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
was the low spark of high-heeled boys....high-heeled boys.

If I gave you everything that I own
and asked for nothing in return
Would you do the same for me, as I would for you?
Or take me for a ride
and strip me of everything, including my pride
But spirit is something that no one destroys

And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound
of the low spark of high-heeled boys.
Comments (697)add comment
What? This after Dark side of the Moon? Looks like I'm gonna be late for work.
A perfect, trippy blend of jazz and rock.. Never old; never stale. And the man in the suit has bought MANY new cars from the profits he’s made on my dreams.
Can't get much more "10" than this, IMHO.
 Zep wrote:

The album cover looks like a rendered 3-D cube, but the original vinyl album had the upper right and lower left corners cut off. They did the same for their other LP at the time, "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory."



And a young co-worker once asked me, "How could you possibly have done graphic design without a computer?" He just couldn't conceive of it! 🤣
My girl friend at the time had this album. It was my introduction to Traffic. It was the only good thing to come out of that relationship. 
The album cover looks like a rendered 3-D cube, but the original vinyl album had the upper right and lower left corners cut off. They did the same for their other LP at the time, "Shoot Out at the Fantasy Factory."
One of my best audiophile memories is listening to this at 2 am in 1973 with Koss ESP-9 electrostatic headphones—sublime!
I love this song but it's the third time in four days on either this app or my local streaming terrestrial station.  Not that I'm complaining: this is a wonderful tune.  Very trippy.  The instrumentation is top notch with Steve Winwood's vocals.
Early Traffic makes me smile. Period. This album especially. With this the title track as well as Rock and Roll Stew and Light Up or Leave me Alone are so classic.  The piano, keys, just everything. I have seen Winwood 2 times live and I know Dave Mason isn't on this lp, but have seen him as well live. Such a good time to be young and enjoy grand music!
I was 17 in 1975, driving dad's 240Z through the Mojave desert in California, about midnight, this song playing low on the 8-track. My brother said he woke up, leaned over to check the speed, saw it was 105mph, so he went back to sleep. Fantastic.
 lily34 wrote:

what does "the low spark of high-heeled boys" actually mean or reference. i've always wondered.


The song is about drug culture and the relationships between users and suppliers. Low spark is injection, and high heeled boy is speedball, a mixture of cocaine and heroin. The first verse is about shooting up. The second verse is about a dealer that got overdosed.
 Cynaera wrote:

... dashing to the computer and turning it up.


You turn it up, forgetting about the long fade-in, and then realize its too loud!

Does anyone else need to have a nap during this song?  Asking for a friend.  I get it.  It's a classic...
I'm hearing the same organ Caravan were using. 
would be great to get something from them to listen.
easy album to find in the  vinyl  stack 
parallel gram.  
 
 
The days of long tracks. Fortunately there were some FM radio stations that played such tracks. RP is like those old-timey FM broadcasts only with better audio.
 paulbrun55 wrote:

Amazing track, and whole album..!  It does not get old, I can listen to it endlessly. Seeing Traffic play live, on several occasions, was one of the highlights of my life..!




You lucky duck!  I wish I could have seen them live.  This is my 2nd favorite Traffic album. #1 is John Barleycorn Must die.  Thanx RP.
Amazing track, and whole album..!  It does not get old, I can listen to it endlessly. Seeing Traffic play live, on several occasions, was one of the highlights of my life..!
50 years ago!!!!!  good lord, I'm so old!
But brings back fun, happy memories. 
Thanks Bill!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=...
A likeable reaction from a classical  musician.
I freakin' love this  band, this station and watching the Support RP widget grow all the colors of the rainbow.
Way to go people! ...and William of course.
an 11 if only we could have one.
stunner...great memories...
Traffic always brilliant and makes me feel a bit of joy…
This song is so damn awesome. And, I’ve loved it for years. Check this out: “The low creativity of their High Heeled Boys who Profit from the songwriter's and musician's Dreams, their muse, while the artists live way too high and Beyond All Their Means - on credit.”
 dgeagon wrote:


I was stoned the first time I heard this, ..., and now too! Great classic



Cool!   ....whatever works!!   
 lily34 wrote:

what does "the low spark of high-heeled boys" actually mean or reference. i've always wondered.




Me too!   Anybody out there  know?
what does "the low spark of high-heeled boys" actually mean or reference. i've always wondered.
 Essbee63 wrote:

Since this is all pre-programmed, there is no reason to clog up the proceedings with super-long songs, which used to be played on the radio when the DJ had to go to the bathroom. THAT is the reason this was played so much on FM radio back in the day! Move on!



As the Three Stooges would say:  "Ohhhh, a music lover !"
 69Grace_M wrote:

Look after the king of R n R please 

What does this even mean?  Elvis?  Winwood?  [head scratch]
And why does he need looking after?
Paul Regenass - high school English teacher who introduced me to Santana and Traffic....he kindly made me a coupla cassettes....thank you, Sir.
*salutes

Boarding school life could be pretty intense and the odd one or two blokes who made it bearable are still well-remembered......
I can't speak much about the 1970s, but during the 1980s this was the sound of album-oriented rock radio on any given night at 2 am, when the night was quiet and you were spacing out on the music.
 xrdstv wrote:

I remember hearing this for the first time when I babysitting my niece. It was on a
commercially released reel to reel. One speaker was behind an old upright piano and it was 'sympathizing' with the recording.  What an effect!
note: My Brother-in-Law had a selection of reels like The Who,  Dave Brubeck, and these were great in fidelity that I had a reverse intro to the generation before me.

Those reels (as were my grandfather's band's recordings on reel to reel) got me into the audio engineering/entertainment biz for sure. 




Cool story. Thank You for sharing it.   
 Essbee63 wrote:

Since this is all pre-programmed, there is no reason to clog up the proceedings with super-long songs, which used to be played on the radio when the DJ had to go to the bathroom. THAT is the reason this was played so much on FM radio back in the day! Move on!




If you don't like it, hit the "skip button"! ...Problem solved! 
Came across this on Twitter and felt I must post here for anyone who enjoys this song. This is  Steve Winwood in December 2022, at the age of freaking 74!!! 
Since this is all pre-programmed, there is no reason to clog up the proceedings with super-long songs, which used to be played on the radio when the DJ had to go to the bathroom. THAT is the reason this was played so much on FM radio back in the day! Move on!
I remember hearing this for the first time when I babysitting my niece. It was on a
commercially released reel to reel. One speaker was behind an old upright piano and it was 'sympathizing' with the recording.  What an effect!
note: My Brother-in-Law had a selection of reels like The Who,  Dave Brubeck, and these were great in fidelity that I had a reverse intro to the generation before me.

Those reels (as were my grandfather's band's recordings on reel to reel) got me into the audio engineering/entertainment biz for sure. 
 Jeff09 wrote:

I'm pretty sure I was stoned the first time I heard this, and it burned itself into my boogie soul...



I was stoned the first time I heard this, ..., and now too! Great classic
 BonzoWiltsUK wrote:



Now you mention it, the drums might as well be a cardboard box.



You guys don't understand artistic choices, do you?
I first heard this song on a mix tape a fellow musician in the 70's gave me. It totally changed my approach to music.
 guru10 wrote:

The drums sound so dead, dated, & untalented. 

There were many great drummers around at the time who's playing has withstood the test of time.

Where did they get this guy who just follows everyone else with moronically dull thump-thump-thumps?




Now you mention it, the drums might as well be a cardboard box.
Great track, except for that tedious, mind-numbing bass line.
The drums sound so dead, dated, & untalented. 

There were many great drummers around at the time who's playing has withstood the test of time.

Where did they get this guy who just follows everyone else with moronically dull thump-thump-thumps?
 Edweirdo wrote:
 boatgypsy wrote:

The bum keyboard note at the end makes me cringe everytime!


That's not a bum note, it's a perfect, deliberate dissonance.  Winwood is a genius.

Amen!
And it's not just one note, it's a whole bunch of them!  Probably too many even to call it a chord.
 boatgypsy wrote:

The bum keyboard note at the end makes me cringe everytime!


That's not a bum note, it's a perfect, deliberate dissonance.  Winwood is a genius.
seminal
this is the longest song ever! LOL. I do like it tho'
RP sent me this track to listen only recently and I'm most grateful. 
 bitbanger wrote:
Apparently it is a Hammond being run through a fuzzbox. I guess you had to get creative with the tools at hand in a Low Spark low tech world.






Thank You for the info! ...Very interesting!  ...I thought it might have been sawtooth waves on an early Moog.
I bought this album the day it was released, and barely a month has gone by since that I have not listened to some or all of it. There is an epic live version of LSOHHB on Steve Winwood Greatest hits live.
Apparently it is a Hammond being run through a fuzzbox. I guess you had to get creative with the tools at hand in a Low Spark low tech world.

 frisbeepilot wrote:



It sounds like some sort of synthesizer, yes -- back then they would've had the first analogue, single-voice synths around. (If memory serves, the Beatles used Moogs towards the end of the '60s.)


 jbgreer57 wrote:

A desert island track and record for me. Forevah.
What is the instrument playing the long solo for the last third (ish)? And then actually closing out the track. Want to say some kind of keyboard but wasn't 1969 pretty much pre-synthesizers? Mellotron?  




It sounds like some sort of synthesizer, yes -- back then they would've had the first analogue, single-voice synths around. (If memory serves, the Beatles used Moogs towards the end of the '60s.)
A desert island track and record for me. Forevah.
What is the instrument playing the long solo for the last third (ish)? And then actually closing out the track. Want to say some kind of keyboard but wasn't 1969 pretty much pre-synthesizers? Mellotron?  
Steve Winwood is one of the best things to happen to us on earth…
I've become obsessed with this song (in a good way) thanks RP., and yes its a 10.
 RabbitEars wrote:

I like this RLJ cover



I love her cover of this.
like a mosquito that just keeps annoying you and just wont stop so it becomes a test of character not to let it get to you.
 oufason wrote:

Hands down my favorite Traffic song. 




On my top 5 list, along with Glad ( John Barleycorn album)!
Hands down my favorite Traffic song. 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
The high-heeled boy the song was allegedly written about:


Allegedly is the operative term here. If you spend the time (of course, this is a sort of waste of your precious time on earth, I concede) to listen to the words, it seems to describe the lament of a musician who has come to terms with the reality that the world of being a musician whose prominence has assumed a level that merits the attention of the business of producing and selling a product, in this case a record album,  turns out to be a trap set by those who make the rules. Not people he respects. In other words, yet another musical piece about the music business. The story line is secondary to the music, but not really separable. (I think the music is almost transcendent) How many songs have been composed that refer to the life of performing music? It's a bit like the tendency of script writers to write scripts about script writing. Or TV writers to make shows about writers making shows.
I read an article long ago that Stevie Winwood wanted to create music for Traffic the radio wouldn't what to play.  In a good way of course.  

Those last two sync cords sums it up.
 Canadese wrote:

Certainly one of the best of Stevie and company. Nice combo of rock and jazz.
Love the instrumental bit in the middle. 10 for me.



Love the sax.  Missing emogi. (Bananas don't play sax, apparently)
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
 Fromtraceysdesk wrote:

Oh Bill, why do you start playing such great classics when we oldies should be asleep. Instead I want to throw off my duvet, pour the wine, light up and dance on the sand under a moonlit sky. 

Oh my youth, come back, it all went too fast.



Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky
With one hand waving free
Silhouetted by the sea
Circled by the circus sands
With all memory and fate
Driven deep beneath the waves
Let me forget about today until tomorrow....

(And to think there are people who don't get Mr. Dylan)
RP Bill,
You are making it impossible
for me to leave, What a mix! Thank you.
Album cover art has come a long way since 1970... 
 Proclivities wrote:

Come on, man, "poorly researched inaccuracy" is a redundant phrase.  Had you more carefully read my post instead of rushing to make an ad hominem response you would see that I had written : "Bob Dylan had several long tunes...as early as Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and even before then...".  

A neighbour gave me the Highway 61 Revisited album.  I might have been around 12 years old at the time.  
 boatgypsy wrote:

The bum keyboard note at the end makes me cringe everytime!



Bum Note?? That's the best bit for me - what a noise! If it doesn't do it for you - turn it up!!
 eileenomurphy wrote:

EXCELLENT!!!


It should be above 10 elieen
EXCELLENT!!!





These guys had it all
I had just mentioned this song the other day when i heard another traffic song.
Is there a better definition of a ‘10’ on this station? I say: no there isn’t!
SUPERB!!!  ICONIC!!!
but it`s sublime up to that point!
The bum keyboard note at the end makes me cringe everytime!
I was actually lucky and blessed to hear this fairly often on late-night local radio  in the '70s, and after I graduated high school, I was pleased to find this record and other Traffic gems among the vinyl collection of almost every upper-classman I met at E-school. Kenny B., Mark "Bee-line," H.B., T.F.G., Conehead, and I used to sit around at parties and wait for midnight, when one of us, usually I, would jump at the chance to put it on and blow our minds with this deeply atmospheric song that plays like an old allegory told by wise village elders. To me, it seemed to portray the low and seedy life of Mafia hit-men and their protection-rackets, where well-dressed punks have to be ruthless sharks to survive, sneaking around in their flashy suits and fancy high platform-soled shoes collecting on loans with impossible percentages, and killing with mob-style silenced guns that shoot their sparks of evil but make no noise. Low-life punks they were, punks they are, and punks they shall remain; alive only until killed by another, despite all the money, the luxury cars, the shiny shoes and ritzy clothes. It's a masterpiece song!


 Fromtraceysdesk wrote:

Oh Bill, why do you start playing such great classics when we oldies should be asleep. Instead I want to throw off my duvet, pour the wine, light up and dance on the sand under a moonlit sky. 

Oh my youth, come back, it all went too fast.



Youth stays with you for your entire life if you let it, especially with RP around to provide the soundtrack for it. 
This wins the most bizarre title for a song (and album) award
Thank you, thank you, Bill and Rebecca!
I think the factor that makes this piece rise to the prominence it has (to me, at least), is that it's a meditative, almost trancelike piece that transforms to something quite different. Or maybe it's the gummy?
 skiboy53 wrote:


I'll counter with a well deserved 9.



Stop mucking around and go all the way...
Piano for beginners.
 Bocephus wrote:

a 9...and I don't give 9's lightly. classic.



...ditto...
The high-heeled boy the song was allegedly written about:
From Wiki:

The title refers to an inscription written by diminutive American actor Michael J. Pollard in Jim Capaldi's notebook while they were both in Morocco.[2] Capaldi and Pollard were planning to work on a movie that was never filmed. Capaldi said: 
"Pollard and I would sit around writing lyrics all day, talking about Bob Dylan and the Band, thinking up ridiculous plots for the movie. Before I left Morocco, Pollard wrote in my book 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'.
For me, it summed him (Dylan) up. He had this tremendous rebel attitude.
He walked around in his cowboy boots, his leather jacket. At the time he was a heavy little dude. It seemed to sum up all the people of that generation who were just rebels. The 'Low Spark', for me, was the spirit, high-spirited. You know, standing on a street corner. The low rider. The 'Low Spark' meaning that strong undercurrent at the street level."

This is one haunting melody and lyrics that I never tire of.  EVER!  I stop to turn it up no matter what I'm doing when it plays. 
 skiboy53 wrote:


I'll counter with a well deserved 9.


Turnham Green......
Mornington Crescent!!!
Im wearing sneakers, not high heels, but I'm walking the dog on the beach so I think making sparks would be pretty unlikely. Anyway this music put a spark in my mood. Thanks Bill and Rebacca
 Fromtraceysdesk wrote:
Oh Bill, why do you start playing such great classics when we oldies should be asleep. Instead I want to throw off my duvet, pour the wine, light up and dance on the sand under a moonlit sky. 

Oh my youth, come back, it all went too fast.
 
Look after the king of R n R please 
 nicknt wrote:
One of the greatest songs of the 70s.
 

or any decade
 Jeff09 wrote:
I'm pretty sure I was stoned the first time I heard this, and it burned itself into my boogie soul...
 

Rock on, Boogie Jeff
Sorry I am late, I got stuck in Traffic.  
Oh Bill, why do you start playing such great classics when we oldies should be asleep. Instead I want to throw off my duvet, pour the wine, light up and dance on the sand under a moonlit sky. 

Oh my youth, come back, it all went too fast.
 Hippostar wrote:
A great 3 minute song, beaten to a 12 minute pulp.
 
Hey Hippo,

Think of it as repetitive, meditative chanting.

Think of Coltrane's Love Supreme or Favorite Things.

Or Layla.

Or Jessica.

Or even Stairway to Heaven.

Or Dark Star and Bird Song. 

A great 3 minute song, beaten to a 12 minute pulp.
I like this RLJ cover
 Tomasni wrote:
7 down to 2
 

I'll counter with a well deserved 9.
The alternate title of this song is 'DJ is going outside to burn one'. Or sometimes 'DJ has to use the head'.
c.
The placenta is paying too high a price?
One of the greatest songs of the 70s.
 Enness wrote:
I swear this is on every day. A bit too much, Bill.
 
Hard disagree.
Acid etching is a printmaking process where a film or coating is applied to a metal plate -usually copper. The coating is then drawn on by scratching away the coating with a tool or stylus exposing the raw metal. The plate is then dipped in acid. This creates an etching in the metal as the acid eats away at the exposed metal. The plate is then cleaned and used in an intaglio press to create multiple prints. Perhaps not the acid etching you were thinking of, but this is the process.

DanFHiggins wrote:
Wow,
14 and tripping to this.
I musta been crazy.
Lasted forever!

edit:
I do believe that there is something called acid etching!
 
I swear this is on every day. A bit too much, Bill.
Simply sublime
Wow,
14 and tripping to this.
I musta been crazy.
Lasted forever!

edit:
I do believe that there is something called acid etching!
 Angry_Old_Man wrote:
A classic, stale, awesome, burnt out, rock standard, rerun.

The groove is too deep on this track...took it off the shelf too soon.

 
That's the sort of mumble described as bollocks in the 17th century when articulated from the pulpit by stale vicars.  Bollocks then and still bollocks now...
If you had just a minute to breathe and they granted you one final wish, would you ask for something like another chance, or something similar as this?

Yes.  Yes, I would.
Ain't it the truth.
Such a cool, calm, sizzling mixture of rock and jazz ... 
I can only think of my arrival in Boulder, CO when this album started being played on all those wonderful FM stations. Like RP is now. It always brings back those memories of the place and of the people met.
Great song... but you can hear “groove echoes” all over the place. Was this a transfer from vinyl?
Flashback of good old times with my buddies partying basement style. 
Love the sentiment of the lyrics - youth is expensive in many ways but it’s spirit lives on into adulthood. Nice music too
Love the sentiment of this song - youth is expensive in many ways but it’s spirit lives on, despite the cons of the greedy. Awesome.
rated this high, not low.
half for the actual song, half for the album cover, and half for the memory spark.
me and the boys would listen to this after some bong.
Crazy: "Capaldi had originally written only two verses of lyrics. He quickly wrote the third verse while Winwood was recording the song's vocal and slipped it in front of him in time for him to sing it."

(from Wikipedia)
Outstanding classic album, love that final sax blast at the end.
OK, so you never wore high heels; I get that. but, don't you feel the plaintive cry of young men trying to be sooo cool  but being stuck in a world they can't get out of  if they continue to be the way they are?  And Steve Winwood's awesome keyboards?
COMEON!
This richly mixed album was the soundtrack to a great summer spent. For sonic and sentimental reasons, I hereby bestow a righteous 9 on thee. Another gem, Bill! Thank you.