After the success of "John Barleycorn Must Die" Traffic released another album containing songs with long running times in 1971 titled "Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys". On this album Jim Capaldi also did lead vocals besides Steve Winwood. Jim Gordon was added to do the drums together with the Ghanaian percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah to add different and unique textures to the music. Rick Grech the bass player who also worked with Steve in Blind Faith together with Jim Gordon cowrote the single "Rock & Roll Stew" with Winwood and Capaldi. This is a song where Capaldi sings for the first time.


The title song is about actor Michael J. Pollard and runs almost 12 minutes. It was influenced from Mile Davis’ Bitches Brew, released just a year earlier. Then there is Capaldi's “Light
Up Or Leave Me Alone”,  a spiraling tale of groupie excess. The second song where he takes the lead vocals.

The album managed to reach the top 10 in the US but didn't do much in the british charts. As a whole the album containts a mix of jazz, progressive, and classic rock.
Album cover

Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys
Hidden Treasure / The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys / Light Up or Leave Me Alone / Rock & Roll Stew / Many a Mile to Freedom / Rainmaker