Take Five: Classics Written by Jim Capaldi

Jim Capaldi is perhaps best known as the drummer in Traffic. That group pioneered progressive rock while exploring other styles as well. Capaldi and Steve Winwood were the only members of the group to appear on every one of their release during their original runs 1969-69 and 1970-74) and their reunion in 1994. Though Capaldi rarely sang lead with Traffic, he was responsible for most of the group’s lyrics.

After Traffic broke up for the second time, Capaldi embarked on a career as a solo artist; he also wrote for and/or collaborated with a wide array of artists including Bob Marley, Eagles, Santana, George Harrison and many others. Jim Capaldi passed away in 2005; were he alive today, he would have celebrated his 80th birthday on August 2 of this year.

Here are five songs that illustrate the wide and eclectic talents of Jim Capaldi.

“Paper Sun” from Traffic’s Mr. Fantasy (1967)
When Traffic debuted in 1967, their first single captured the vibe of the Summer of Love. “Paper Sun” featured trendy sounds like sitar (played by Dave Mason), and its bouncy melody was a slice of upbeat pop with psychedelic undertones. Released as a single in the UK, the tune went to #5; in Canada it chatted at #4. While it didn’t become a hit in the U.S., “Paper Sun” was appended to Traffic’s debut album (it wasn’t on the UK version).

“The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” from Traffic’s The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
By 1971, Traffic had moved beyond trendy psychedelic into a jazz-flavored progressive rock style. The title opus from their fifth album became a hit on free-form FM radio of the era; the album reached #7 in the U.S. Modern-day listeners in the CD era might not have known, but the original vinyl album was released with an unusual die-cut cover. “Low Spark” wasn’t released as a single, in part because it was too long at nearly 12 minutes.

“This is Reggae Music” by Zap-Pow (1974)
Jim Capaldi became close friends with reggae icon Bob Marley, and he wrote the lyrics for a song that would become a reggae hit when recorded by Jamaican band Zap-Pow. The tune would become something of a reggae classic, being covered by many other artists and used as the title of reggae compilation albums.

“It’s All Up to You” from Short Cut Draw Blood (1974)
After the end of Traffic, Capaldi continued as a solo artist. His most successful release was his third album, 1975’s Short Cut Draw Blood. The title notwithstanding, that album included romantic ballads alongside more rocking tunes. The album’s biggest hit was a cover of “Love Hurts” (originally popularized by Roy Orbison), but “It’s All Up to You” was a hit single, too; in fact it was Capaldi’s first solo Top 40 hit in the U.K.

“That’s Love” from Fierce Heart (1983)
In 1983 Capaldi released his eighth solo album. Leaning in an overtly synthpop direction, it marked a departure from much of Capaldi’s previous work. It’s also mellower and less rocking than was Capaldi’s usual approach. But the album track “That’s Love” was released as a single, reaching #28 on Billboard’s U.S. chart. The song’s music video stars playwright/author/actor Eric Bogosian, best known to TV viewers for his role on Law and Order: Criminal Intent.