TRAFFIC 'MR FANTASY' MONO ORIGINAL 1967 ISLAND/UK GATEFOLD. HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER COLLECTOR'S ITEM!
Mr. Fantasy Excerpted Review  

by:

William Ruhlmann - All

Music.com

Since Traffic's debut album, Mr. Fantasy, has been issued in different configurations over the years, a history of those differences is in order. In 1967, the British record industry considered albums and singles separate entities; thus, Mr. Fantasy did not contain the group's three previous Top Ten U.K. hits. Just as the album was being released in the U.K., Traffic split from . The album was changed drastically for U.S. release, both because American custom was that singles ought to appear on albums, and because the group sought to diminish 's presence; on the first pressing only, the title was changed to . Naturally, the mono sound is punchier and more compressed, but it isn't ideal for the album, because Traffic was fashioned as an unusual rock band. 's primary instrument was organ, though he also played guitar;  was a reed player, spending most of his time on flute;  played guitar, but he was also known to pick up the sitar, among other instruments. As such a mixture suggests, the band's musical approach was eclectic, combining their background in British pop with a taste for the comic and dance hall styles of , Indian music, and blues-rock jamming. Songs in the last category have proven the most distinctive and long-lasting, but 's more pop-oriented contributions remain winning, as do more light-hearted efforts. 

 – Mr. Fantasy Label: – ILP961,  – ILP-961Format: , LP, Album, Mono, Gatefold, Rough label Country:Released:Genre:Style: Tracklist Hide Credits A1Heaven Is In Your Mind Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * A2Berkshire Poppies Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * A3House For Everyone Written-By – * Written-By – * A4No Face, No Name And No Number Written By – Winwood-Capaldi Written-By – *, * Written By – Winwood-Capaldi Written-By – *, * A5Dear Mr Fantasy Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * B1Dealer Written-By – * Written-By – * B2Utterly Simple Written-By – * Written-By – * B3Coloured Rain Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * Written By – Winwood-Capaldi-Wood Written-By – *, *, * B4Hope I Never Find Me There Written-By – * Written-By – * B5Giving To You Written By – Wood-Mason-Winwood-Capaldi Written-By – *, *, *, * Written By – Wood-Mason-Winwood-Capaldi Written-By – *, *, *, * Companies, etc. Recorded At –  Published By –  Published By –  Designed At –  Mastered At –  Pressed By –  Credits Design [Sleeve] –  Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Arranged By –  Engineer –  Flute, Saxophone, Organ, Vocals, Design [Sleeve], Arranged By –  Guitar, Mellotron, Sitar, Tambura, Performer [Shakkai], Bass Guitar, Vocals, Arranged By –  Organ, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Piano, Harpsichord, Percussion, Vocals, Arranged By –  Photography By – * Producer –  Notes Variant of the pink Island label mono first pressing with the rough textured label variation pressed at Orlake with metal from . It has the double pressing ring with the small inner ring around the spindle hole with the secondary large outer pressing ring but no stamped runouts - all hand etched except for the plate numbers from Philips that are each stamped in the runout.

Released in a front & back laminated gatefold cover with flipbacks inside. The cover opens like a Unipack sleeve. No printer credits on jacket cover.

First cat# on the cover, second on the label.
Barcode and Other Identifiers Matrix / Runout (Side A label): ILP-961 A Matrix / Runout (Side B label): ILP-961 B Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): ILP 961 A 2 Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): ILP 961 B2 4