Traffic Sound
| Traffic Sound | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Peru |
| Genres | Peruvian rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, Latin rock |
| Years active |
1967–1972 (Reunions: 1993) |
| Labels |
MAG Records SONO RADIO Records |
| Past members |
Manuel Sanguinetti Jean Pierre Magnet Willy Thorne Willy Barclay Freddy Rizo Patrón Luis Nevares |
Traffic Sound was a Peruvian rock band founded in 1967 by Manuel Sanguinetti (vocals), Freddy Rizo-Patrón (rhythm guitar), Jean Pierre Magnet (sax), Willy "Wilito" Barclay (lead guitar), Willy Thorne (bass) and Luis "Lucho" Nevares (drums). Freddy and Manuel had met in school and played in Los Hang Ten's. Freddy and his older brother Jose originally thought of founding "Traffic Sound".
The name was chosen because of their penchant for a traffic light, placed as a souvenir in the attic of the Rizo-Patróns house where they held their practices after a wild night in Lima.[1]
Albums
After a year of continued rehearsals and private shows they tried their luck at Peruvian psychedelic emporium The Tiffany with great success and recorded his first album "A Bailar Go Go" in 1968 with label MAG. It contained versions of songs by The Doors, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly and The Animals. In later albums they included their own music with a fusion of Andean and Afro-Latin sounds. They held gigs in Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Their second album "Virgin" (1969), all original material contains Peruvian Psychedelia hit, "Meshkalina".[2]
In 1970 they recorded another LP named "Traffic Sound", aka. III, aka. "Tibet's Suzettes", where they blend the Psychedelic spirit with an Andean folk sound, and give the necessary step to be closer than ever to progressive rock.
In 1971 Braniff International Airways organized the first South American Tour of a Peruvian band, and Traffic Sound was well received in demanding markets such as Argentina and Brazil.
After the tour they switched to bigger label Sono Radio and released four singles. At this point Willy Thorne left the band and was replaced by Zulu or Miguel Angel Ruiz Orbegoso on bass and keyboards, with whom they recorded their last LP, "Lux". During a strike at Sono Radio the master tapes disappeared and were only found in 1996. This album is different to the previous, the Andean influence is more evident and some political concerns were expressed.
The band held a memorable concert at the Teatro Segura in Lima together with the Contemporary Orchestra of Peruvian jazz pianist Jaime Delgado Aparicio in 1971[3] and disbanded in 1972.
Aftermath
Saxophonist Jean Pierre Magnet began a successful solo career.
In 1973, bass player Zulu was invited by label IEMPSA to record his own album. After three releases, a mention in Billboard magazine and his music being heard among much of Latin America and the Latin market in New York, he retired because of a devoted desire for preaching the Bible.
Singer Manuel Sanguinetti founded Radio Doble Nueve, Peru's rock radio station,[4] in 1979.
In 1993, Traffic Sound members got together again for a concert at Muelle Uno, Miraflores, and launched new versions of their old hits, a London remasterization CD of "Virgin" for Europe. Since 2005 they have met several times (at Hotel Los Delfines, Asia beach and The Dragon Racing Club of Punta Hermosa). Repsychled Records has since re-released "Virgin".
Two of their songs, Lux and Yesterday's Game were used in episodes of American TV series Life on Mars.
In 2015, the seven original members plus Willy Barclay Jr. got together for an unforgettable concert at the Teatro Peruano Japonés, in Lima, Perú.
The setlists of these two unforgettable concerts at the Peruano Japones theater are:
Saturday October 17
1. MESHKALINA II
2. FIRE
3. TIBET’S SUZZETE
4. BROWN EYED GIRL
5. DEALING
6. SKY PILOT
7. VIRGIN
8. I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU
9. JEW’S CABOOSE
10. THOSE DAYS HAVE GONE
11. SHE’S ABOUT A MOVER
12. YESTERDAY’S GAME
13. AMERICA
14. LAST SONG
15. SIMPLE
16. LUX
17. INCA SNOW
18. CHICAMA WAY
19. MESHKALINA
Thursday October 22:
1. MESHKALINA II
2. FIRE
3. TIBET’S SUZZETE
4. BROWN EYED GIRL
5. DEALING
6. I’M SO GLAD
7. YESTERDAY’S GAME
8. YOU CAN’T WIN
9. SEASON OF THE WITCH
10. LUX
11. INCA SNOW
12. SHE’S ABOUT A MOVER
13. GLORIA
14. LAST SONG
15. SIMPLE
16. VIRGIN
17. YELLOW SEA DAYS
18. CHICAMA WAY
19. MESHKALINA
20. SACALA A BAILAR
21. LA CAMITA
"Meshkalina" (1968)
Lyrics of Traffic Sound's most popular hit contain references to the Inca civilization of Peru:
Yáhuar Huaca wondered why he was high once
Raped the witch and killed the wild Ayarmaca
Let me down meshkalina
Let me down meshkalina
Full of bull he was, oh God let me tell you
Spread the weed one day, all over his empire
Let me down meshkalina
Let me down meshkalina
F*** stayed for fifteen days in his lab once
He said, "Man it's here, let's try my new substance"
Give me some meshkalina
Give me some meshkalina
We went driving hard and wild across the country
We were having fun, even though we were dying
Let me die meshkalina
Let me die meshkalina
Now I know it's time for you to start learning
About the games we play everyday, every morning
Discography
Albums[5]
- A Bailar Go Go (1968)
- Virgin (1969)
- Traffic Sound, a.k.a. III, a.k.a. Tibet's Suzettes (1971)
- Lux (1971)
- Yellow Sea Years (2005)
- Greatest Hits (2005)
Singles[6]
- Sky Pilot-Fire (1968)
- You Got Me Floating-Sueño (1968)
- I'm So Glad-Destruction (1968)
- La Camita-You Got To Be Sure (1971)
- Suavecito-Solos (1971)