Sold Date: December 19, 2016
Start Date: December 12, 2016
Final Price: £335.77 (GBP)
Bid Count: 17
Seller Feedback: 4322
Buyer Feedback: 67

"THE LOW SPARK OF THE HIGH HEELED BOYS"  (Steve Winwood / JimCapaldi,1971)

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 read 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,
And the thing that you're hearing,
  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 read 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 I gave you everything that I owned,
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.....
The low spark of high-heeled boys.
TRAFFIC:"The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" LP. RARE FIRST UK PRESSING, ISSUED 14th NOVEMBER, 1971.
At last!  I finally have a true Mint "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," UK very first pressing, the last time I sold one was as.
long ago as 25 years ago in 1991.  Never on ebay, which sums up the acute rarity of the album in Near Mint / Mint condition, .
the cover itself was prone to severe wear due to amazing 3D effect of a three dimensional cube.  I am not interested in the poor .
  condition covers with torn and stained original 'cube' inner sleeves with equally damaged records, this has a stunning Mint-.
first issue, "E.J.Day Group" printed cover, even the minus suffix is me over fussing.  "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" was.
re-issued on just about every following Island Records label designs in every decade, the unbelievably poor sales in the UK
have created a major rarity for the 1971 first pressings.  The unique features go beyond the original pink rim labels, this was
a really expensive, deluxe, completely uniquely shaped cover to manufacture.  Add in being fully laminated on the front and back,
the first edition six sided actual cube shape was only made once again.  Traffic once again of course, in 1973 for yet another
fantastic album that failed to see or chart, "Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory."   In 1971, the nearest equivalent design was two
years previously for the Rolling Stones eight sided hexagon "Through The Past Darkly" cover had the same shape 'corners', or
I should really say,'missing corners.'  Like "Through The Past Darkly" covers, the "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"re-issues
covers were made in a conventional square shape, with the original 'die-cut corners' printed in black.  Another item common to
both albums,  a uniquely shaped inner sleeve was required to store the record in, conventional inner sleeves could not be adapted
and that also made it even more expensive to produce. There comparison's end, "Through The Past Darkly" sold in massive numbers
and only just missed being a No.1 UK album in 1969, No.2 was hardly the commercial disaster "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"
suffered in 1971, not even making a chart entry!  "Through The Past Darkly" was in the charts for 37 weeks, that meant after the
September, 1969 release, it was still in the charts in June, 1970, financially Decca could afford to issue boxed logo pressings
from January, 1970 in the same fully laminated hexagon covers, with custom printed shaped inner sleeves. Another factor here was
by 1971, lamination was more of a luxury finish and without any sales, the first pressings of "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys"
were never again re-issued in their original deluxe design and quality, the fantastic music on the album thoroughly deserved
special attention to the amazing cover and inner sleeve.  I rarely get to list or "Shoot Out..." or  "The Low Spark...." because
of the excessively heavy plays, the unique cube shaped inner sleeves, with white background to a colour cube, became statined,
 torn and split, no other inner sleeve fitted inside without protruding out of the open fifth and sixth diagonally finished sides.
  The laminate had to be finished just before the outside edges, please see my pictures for how difficult it was to make and then to
laminate.  You can also see how the open ends are in stunning condition even where the laminate was ended just before the edges,
it took a once only played first pressing record, for the shaped cover and the inner sleeve to be in such remarkable condition,
not forgetting perfect storage during the last 45 years.  Had "The Low Spark...." been issued 12 months earlier, it would have
been on the pink Island labels, that comment helps to place the time period and how early this was in the 1970's decade.


PINK RIM / PALM TREE ISLAND LABEL: ILPS 9180

MAITRIX: ILPS 9180 A - 2U  /   ILPS 9180 B - 1U
Machine stamped at 6 o'clock in EMI's distinctive letters and digits, as the first pressing of a small batch, all 1971 UK first
issues have Island's preferred mastering studio logo, even though it was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Sterling" IS STAMPED IN THE RUN-OUT GROOVES, MASTERED AT NEW YORK'S FAMOUS 'Sterling Sound' STUDIO
AND COMPLETE WITH THEIR TOP SOUND ENGINEER'S 'LH' LOGO.
Like most 'Island Record's' very first pressings from the early 1970's, the initial mastering to vinyl accompanies EMI's maitrix
and stamping codes, they also contain the earliest indexing.   As pictured, both sides have the hand scribed initials 'LH', the
logo of the then current top sound engineer in 'Sterling Sound' Studios, once again the stunning sound mastered in 1971 can be
  attributed to the potent combination of Lee Hulko's sublime mastering and EMI's equally immaculate pressing.  The early 1970's
was propelled by the introduction of Stereo only records, the emphasis on the sound quality now had the mastering to vinyl handed
to gifted experts.  I often read negative and untrue comments about 1970's vinyl, said by ebay sellers selling damaged worn out
records, that is utter nonsense and EMI never pressed substandard records, that audio standard was upheld by all the UK major
and minor record companies.   45 years later, That comment 100% concerns the condition of the records, of course vinyl can and
will occasionally have surface sound, even Mint vinyl but the sound quality itself will blow your socks off from Mint originals!
No Traffic record of this magnitude and rarity leaves me without hearing the record,  strictly one play with my usual great care
and no traces of ever being on a turntable at all.  That incredible sound of a Mint unplayed record was exactly what I heard just
now, when I just listened to this record, as I full expected, the sheer pleasure of hearing a loved masterpiece album, no need
to replay or write a description.  I would love to do that, but as I mentioned, it took me me 25 years to find a first UK pressing
Mint "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," that includes a fantastic, Mint- die-cut, cube shaped fully laminated cover.

PRESSED BY EMI, THE STAMPING CODES;  AA  1 / AM  2
The rare, very first pressing, as well as the above details, this was  sourced from the first and second mothers per side.


VERY RARE 1971 CUBE SHAPED, SOFT PAPER INNER SLEEVE, CUSTOM MADE TO FIT THE COVER.
"E.J. Day" printers should have been given an award for their incredible creations!  For the first time, they also had to create
an equally unique shaped inner sleeve to fit to the cover, with average use, as my original did, they not only split but the shaped
edges became badly frayed and torn.  This is also remarkable, importantly unsplit with perfect shaped edges, just the lightest of
light, hint of ageing to the almost pure white background, to the large central blue, red and orange cube with Island's "i" logo
underneath, the colours are bright, vivd, without any fading.  The heavyweight 1971 record had to make an impression and a few
related light creases, just from standing unused in storage, perfect storage at that because the cover is completely unaged.
Obviously should the original early 1973 inner sleeve be missing there is no other sleeve this shape as a possible replacement.
THE CUBE SHAPED INNER SLEEVE IS IN TOTALLY UNWORN, REALLY BEAUTIFUL NEAR MINT CONDITION.


"E.J. Day Group" PRINTED FULLY LAMINATED  FRONT AND BACK, UNIQUELY SHAPED 'CUBE' DIE-CUT COVER,
These first issue covers only, were made from extra thick, heavy duty strong cardboard, I often moan, for however great Island's
records were, they often let themselves down with flimsy and poorly printed unlaminated covers.  Having bought their records since
the pink label was founded, you earn the right to be critical, this was the most deluxe cover they ever had made, I am just as keen
  to praise the superb quality.  The cube shape was achieved by that mentioned combination of superb artwork and by placing large
  diagonal or 45 degree corners opposite each other.  A wonderful design that was always going to a problem when in use and long
term storage, for those who did buy the album, it soon became a really heavily played record and therefore a much handled cover.
This is in absolutely stunning condition,  thick deeply glossy lamination was continued onto the wafer thin spine, onto the back,
Of course such a slim spine and tapered tight top and bottom ends, a record impression simply had to happen from being gripped
so tightly, but there are none of the common problematic creases, without the  two corners they damaged the laminate. Amazingly
that is still as deeply shiny as the day it was made 45 years ago. For such a heavy record, even the expected record impression is
a gentle enough one not to create the just mentioned damaging laminate creases and wrinkles that usually develop in the record's
contours. I was very surprised to find so few customary tiny laminate lines.The background of the front artwork is a blue sky and
clouds, the 3D effect of the ingeniously shaded cube shape, has really stunning artwork.  A surrealistic image more suited to the
psychedelic late 1960's, in fact, the opening track "Hidden Treasure" sounds like it came straight from Traffic's 1967 debut LP,
"Dear Mr. Fantasy." The lyrics and theme of "Hidden Treasure" was referring to the Tibetan, 'Book Of The Dead,' so shades of
"Revolver"and Lennon's "Tomorrow Never Knows".  What incredible sounds on this album, because you have just about every musical
category, heavy rock folk / acoustic, psychedelic, blues, jazz, progressive and with Winwood, even r&b / soul.  In other words,
Traffic at their most inspired and potent.  Yes, I am a Traffic fanatic but "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" was able to hold it's
own with an progressive / heavy rock album in the very hear of progressive music. It was after all their follow up studio album
to the 1970, "John Barleycorn Must Die," all between them, was the live LP at Croydon, the 'OZ' magazine benefit gig with Dave
Mason back in the fold.  The band picture on the back cover and the same dimensional affects are finely detailed in incredible
colours, a completely unfaded and have the ultra bright and vivd tones of 1971.   Amazingly both diagonal corners are unworn
and have straight, crisp edges.  Made even more remarkable by the lamination finishing just before those edges and the same is
also true for the opening sides, like the edges and the two 90 degrees corners, all are in absolutely perfect, unworn condition.
I realise how unlikely it must sound due to the poor state of the average condition first issues today, please see my pictures
for how beautiful this cover actually is.

The spine is the thinnest ever made. due to the uniqueness of the shape, too thin to even print titles on, that equates to a 7" EP
laminated spine.  Which sums the vulnerability of the cover as a whole, but like the top & bottom edges, the laminate is unworn
anywhere and this has a very rare, perfect ultra thin left side spine.
 
AS ALL DESCRIBED HERE IS A NATURALLY FORMED  A RECORD IMPRESSION AND A FEW RELATED LAMINATE
EDGE LINES, An USED COVER  HAS TO BE GRADED, MINT- CONDITION.


THE RECORD IS IN UNPLAYED, TOTALLY UNMARKED, TRUE MINT CONDITION.
SIDE 1
"Hidden Treasure" (Steve Winwood / Jim Capaldi)
"The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" (Steve Winwood  / Jim Capaldi)
"Light Up Or Leave Me Alone" (Jim Capaldi)

SIDE 2
"Rock & Roll Stew" (Ric Grech / Jim Gordon)
"Many A Mile To Freedom" (Steve Winwood / Anna Capaldi)
"Rainmaker" (Steve Winwood / Jim Capaldi)


TRAFFIC (1971)
Steve Winwood - lead vocals, guitar, piano & organ
Jim Capaldi - lead & backing vocals, drums & percussion
Chris Wood - saxophone & flute
Ric Grech - bass & violin

Jim Gordon - drums
Mike Kellie - drums
Rebop Kwaku Baah - percussion


RecordedSeptember, 1971 At Island Studios, London
Brian Humphries - Sound Engineer
Produced By Steve Winwood
I feel like I have described the album, have listened to the entire album I was more than eager to describe every aspect of the
unique cover etc.  Most of all, this about Traffic recording a staggering album and with their pedigree, I personally rate the
masterpiece of "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys", as up there with their finest album, "Dear Mr, Fantasty," every second
is extraordinary music. The record itself performed immaculately considering the very first play in 45 years, virtually no static
worthy of mentioning, no creckles, clicks or irritants at all.  A very powerful sounding record, but with perfect audio clarity,
I always regard "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys" as the'lost Traffic masterpiece, because so few have actually heard it.
Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood recorded the triumphant "John Barleycorn Must Die" without Dave Mason, but
in 1971 they were a quartet and ex- Family, ex- Gram Parsons & Blind Faith, Ric Grech made a massive difference to Traffic.
Rather than go back to the three late 1960's Traffic albums and singles, I will just concentrate on their relatively short time
  in the early 1970's, really precious years, because by 1974 they had broken up.  Founder member Dave Mason left in 1968 just
  after their second self titled album was released, ther first temporary split was in 1969, leading to  the glorious Blind Faith LP
  with Steve Winwood joining forces with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Rick Grech.  After that Traffic reformed as only a trio and
went from strength to strength with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood, then in 1970 they released the superb album,
"John Barleycorn Must Die." In the winter of late 1970, until the spring of 1971, Traffic took a break in Morocco, writing songs
  and also preparing for a UK tour, now looking to expand their on their sound the line-up included two new recruits, percussionist
'Rebop' Kwaku Baah and Jim Gordan gave them another drummer to allow Jim Capaldi to concentrate on vocals.   Traffic also had
the talents of Rick Grech and the only recording with the returning Dave Mason, was in concert, "Welcome To The Canteen", but
  although officially not given a 'Traffic' title, the album featured the original 4 with the two named additions.  The live album
was recorded in July 1971,  at Fairfield Halls in Croydon and at a London benefit concert for the UK underground magazine, "Oz,"
who were being sued for obscenity.  John Lennon recorded a single to raise funds and backed the 'Oz' underground magazine and
1971 really was an amazing time for music in general.   From May, 1971,Traffic began expanded their sound for both recording and
at live concerts, bringing in talented musicians and working as a five to six piece band, musically Traffic continued from where
it all started in 1967. Just listen to the epic final track, "Rainmaker" was purely 1960's Traffic and the fantastic melody, sensory
instruments and vocals, created a track fit to grace such a magnificent album.  An acoustic build up  suddenly moves into the most
sensational music, Steve Winwood's vocals were beyond words, he was inspired out of his head!  The lengthy instrumental end
piece can only be described as....Traffic!  Progressive music?   I really dislike putting labels on genius like this, Steve Winwood's
lead guitar was sensational and did he ever rescale such lofty heights.  Yes, but only live on stage and I cannot recommend the
  dazzling brilliance of "The Low Spark..." enough.  The mastering to vinyl was as much a work of art as the musicians created in
Island's Studio, biased or not as a major fan, every successive album became a major advancement on all that had preceded it.
  They just kept on making some of the finest albums of all time, only by now the one time child genius, Winwood, matured into a
musician of extraordinary talent. There is a misconception today that Steve had peaked in 1969, but nothing could be further than
  the truth, how on earth could anyone, who in 1968 and 1969, had just proved himself as an equal to two of the greatest artists of
all time, by performing with... and inspiring the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton?
 

  In 1971 Traffic were now ready to record in a studio for the first time since "John Barleycorn Must Die," since 1967, they stayed
   happily with Island, releasing the superb "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," in America it reached No.7 in the charts and was
   certified as a gold LP by RIAA in February '72.    In the UK, the brilliant album totally failed to sell, something I can offer no logical
   reason. When great albums fail to sell it often depends on how critics regarded artists, and their attitude to 'playing the game'
as the media perceive it.  Traffic were not exactly given to flirtation with the media and Britain in the early 1970's had become
openly hostile towards many other established true great's, who were being ignored in the music press and in turn, record shops.
Even knowing that it still makes no sense at all,Traffic had gone from September, 1970, when "John Barleycorn" made No.11 here,
without a successful album right up to them breaking up, but their music was bursting with  innovations and inspiration in a
highly productive period, if not, Americans would have also reacted the same as Britain had.  A common story for so many of the
UK's finest talent,  too long ago to be bitter about now, but I was annoyed at the time to see uniquely talented artists making
monumental records, only be ignored in favour  manufactured junk.  Being  a Traffic fanatic right from their formation in 1967,
it was a bitter pill to swallow. "The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys," is still as amazing to  hear now as it was 45 years ago.
  {Roy}
  R & M RECORDS.

My lifetime's love of music and records began at a very young age, the arrival of the Beatles and the 1960's decade
  in general had a very profound effect. It was only natural to bring all my first hand experience of collecting vinyl
  into becoming a professional record seller.  Nearly thirty years ago we entered into the wonderful atmosphere
of record fairs with the highest possible standards set. When the Internet became the world's new market place for
  vinyl, in 2001 it was time to join ebay. Those standards were rigidly adhered to as they will always continue to be,
the basics of honesty and integrity were very much part of the era the music I love originated in, so here is our friendly
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EVERY RECORD IS FULLY PLAYED AND COMES WITH A 'NO ARGUMENT' MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.
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