LONDON, 1971
Traffic’s Dave Mason and Jim Capaldiare captured mid-rehearsal at Fairfield Halls in Croydon in preparation for a concert which was to form the live album Welcome To The Canteen. It was recorded during Mason’s third stint with the band, which lasted only six performances. Although regarded as a Traffic album, it was originally released without the band’s name on it and was credited to the seven musicians. Later issues retain the original front cover with its individual crediting, but attribute the album to Traffic on the spine. The tracklist includes one song each from the first three Traffic albums, together with two songs from Mason’s first solo album, Alone Together and Gimme Some Lovin’ from Steve Winwood’s former band, the Spencer Davis Group.
Brian Cooke/Redferns/Getty