Category: Jim Capaldi

Jim Capaldi – Dear Mr Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story (four-disc boxed set) (2011)

by Record Facts

Nicola James Capaldi (2 August 1944 – 28 January 2005) was an English drummer, singer and songwriter. His musical career spanned more than four decades. He co-founded the psychedelic rock band Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood with whom he co-wrote the majority of the band’s output. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Traffic’s original line-up.

Capaldi also performed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Alvin Lee, Cat Stevens, and Mylon LeFevre, and wrote lyrics for other artists, such as “Love Will Keep Us Alive” and “This is Reggae Music”. As a solo artist he scored more than a half dozen chart hits in various countries, the most well-known being “That’s Love” as well as his cover of “Love Hurts“.

Following his death, several tributes in celebration of Capaldi’s life and music came out under the name Dear Mr Fantasy. The first was a tribute concert that took place at the Roundhouse in Camden Town, London on Sunday, 21 January 2007. Guests included Bill Wyman, Jon Lord, Gary Moore, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, his brother, Phil and many more. The performances were evenly split between Capaldi’s solo songs and his work with Traffic. All profits went to The Jubilee Action Street Children Appeal. A recording of the concert was released as a double CD set the same year.

The second such tribute, Dear Mr. Fantasy: The Jim Capaldi Story, is a four-disc boxed set released in July 2011. Though a slight majority of the tracks came from Capaldi’s solo albums, it also included some of his work with the Hellions, Deep Feeling, and Traffic, a few rare non-album tracks, and more than ten previously unreleased recordings, including a song co-written with George Harrison in 1997. The box was also packaged with extensive liner notes, compiling a number of photos and essays.

The third and final tribute is a book of Capaldi’s handwritten lyrics, released in November 2011. The ideas of a boxed set and lyrics book had been conceived by Jim Capaldi shortly before he died, and their releases were prepared by his widow Aninha in fulfilment of a last promise to him.

Disc 1
1. The Hellions – Daydreaming Of You
2. Revolution – Hallelujah
3. Deep Feeling – Pretty Colours
4. Traffic – Dealer
5. Traffic – Dear Mr. Fantasy [Album Version]
6. Traffic – Light Up Or Leave Me Alone
7. Traffic – Rock And Roll Stew
8. Jim Capaldi – 40,000 Headmen
9. Eric Clapton & Friends – Pearly Queen
10. Jim Capaldi – Tricky Dicky Rides Again
11. Jim Capaldi – Oh How We Danced (Anniversary Song)
12. Jim Capaldi – Eve
13. Jim Capaldi – Don’t Be A Hero
14. Jim Capaldi – Open Your Heart
15. Jim Capaldi – How Much Can A Man Really Take
16. Jim Capaldi – Low Rider
17. Jim Capaldi – Whale Meat Again

Disc 2
1. Jim Capaldi – It’s All Up To You
2. Jim Capaldi – Love Hurts
3. Jim Capaldi – Short Cut Draw Blood
4. Jim Capaldi – Boy With A Problem
5. Jim Capaldi – Seagull
6. Jim Capaldi – You And Me
7. Jim Capaldi – Game Of Love
8. Jim Capaldi – Elixir Of Life
9. Jim Capaldi – Shoe Shine [Disco Mix]
10. Jim Capaldi – Hotel Blues
11. Jim Capaldi – Tabitha
12. Jim Capaldi – Electric Nights
13. Jim Capaldi – Wild Geese
14. Jim Capaldi – Every Man Must March To The Beat Of His Own Drum
15. Jim Capaldi – Man With No Country
16. Jim Capaldi – Going Home

Disc 3
1. Jim Capaldi – Let The Thunder Cry
2. Jim Capaldi – Favella Music
3. Jim Capaldi – Child In The Storm
4. Jim Capaldi – Warm
5. Jim Capaldi – Old Photographs
6. Jim Capaldi – We Don’t Need
7. Jim Capaldi – Tonight You’re Mine
8. Jim Capaldi – Living On The Edge
9. Jim Capaldi – That’s Love
10. Jim Capaldi – Gifts Of Unknown Things
11. Jim Capaldi – Lost Lost Inside Your Love
12. Jim Capaldi – Tales Of Power
13. Jim Capaldi – Warriors Of Love
14. Jim Capaldi – Something So Strong
15. Jim Capaldi – Oh Lord, Why Lord
16. Jim Capaldi – Love Used To Be A Friend Of Mine
17. Jim Capaldi – Some Come Running
18. Jim Capaldi – Living On The Outside

Disc 4
1. Jim Capaldi – Standing In My Light
2. Jim Capaldi – Anna Julia
3. Jim Capaldi – Love You ‘Til The Day I Die
4. Jim Capaldi – State Of Grace
5. Jim Capaldi – Tallulah
6. Jim Capaldi – Humanity (Just Another Checkpoint)
7. Jim Capaldi – Bright Fighter
8. Jim Capaldi – Strange Bird
9. Jim Capaldi – How Do I Get To Heaven
10. Jim Capaldi, George Harrison – Love’s Got a Hold of Me
11. Jim Capaldi – Song For George
12. Jim Capaldi – The Time Of Cholera
13. Jim Capaldi – Invaders Of The Heart
14. Jim Capaldi – Getting Stronger
15. Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason – Love Will Keep Us Alive
16. Traffic – Dear Mr. Fantasy

Notes

Released: July 2011
Genre: Synth-pop, Psychedelic Rock
Running Time: 305:41

Label – Island Records Ltd.

Jim Capaldi – Prince Of Darkness (1993)

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Nicola James “Jim” Capaldi (2 August 1944 – 28 January 2005) was an English drummer, singer and songwriter. His musical career spanned more than four decades. He co-founded the psychedelic rock band Traffic in 1967 with Steve Winwood with whom he co-wrote the majority of the band’s output. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Traffic’s original line-up.
Capaldi also performed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Alvin Lee, Cat Stevens, and Mylon LeFevre, and wrote lyrics for other artists, such as “Love Will Keep Us Alive” and “This is Reggae Music”. As a solo artist he scored more than a half dozen chart hits in various countries, the most well-known being “That’s Love” as well as his cover of “Love Hurts“.
Some Come Running essentially marked the end of Capaldi’s career as a solo artist. He would not record another solo album for well over a decade, though a greatest hits compilation, Prince of Darkness, was released in 1993 and made the charts in the Netherlands.
“Prince of Darkness” is, to all intents and purposes, Jim Capaldi’s ‘Greatest Hits’ collection.
This album contains a collection of songs from various points in his career which has been put together for All At Once Records. All songs are timeless classics and two of them are never before released on record, several others are never released on CD.
As such, it superbly showcases the considerable talents of a distinguished and original rocker. With one exception – noted later – the choice of tracks is impeccable. In short, then, this can be regarded as a ‘must own’ CD for rock fans; or it would be, if the CD were generally available. I strongly advise any rock fan to track down a copy if you possibly can.
The album kicks off with ‘Tonight You’re Mine’, the gripping opener from 1982’s “Fierce Heart”. There are three marvellous tracks – ‘Old Photographs’, ‘Only Love’ and ‘Child in the Storm’ – from the outstanding “Let the Thunder Cry” album. In a track list which contains nothing which is less than five-star material, ‘Prince of Darkness’, ‘Sweet Smell of Success’, ‘Tales of Power’ and ‘Man With No Country’ are particular stand-outs.
The exception mentioned earlier is the title track – or, indeed, anything at all – from the “Electric Nights” album. That outstanding album has long since sunk into obscurity, and has, indeed, never been issued on CD – a glaring gap in somebody’s catalogue. Although disco-tinged on a couple of tracks, it’s an excellent album.
“Prince of Darkness” is a superb collection showcasing the talents of Jim Capaldi.

Tracklist

1. Tonight You’re Mine – 4:07
2. Prince Of Darkness – 3:33
3. Tales Of Power – 3:47
4. Some Come Running – 4:24
5. Love Used To Be A Friend Of Mine – 4:13
6. Old Photographs – 4:49
7. Sweet Smell Of Success – 5:17
8. That’s Love – 3:33
9. Only Love – 3:07
10. Child In The Storm – 4:52
11. Man With No Country – 4:00
12. Going Home – 5:06
13. The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys – 5:20

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