Jim Capaldi began his solo career just as Traffic had reached their peak, releasing his solo debut Oh How We Danced in early 1972, not long after the high-water marks of John Barleycorn Must Die and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys. Oh How We Danced isn't so much a break from Traffic but a detour, one where he's joined by then-current and former bandmates (Steve Winwood and Dave Mason, respectively), assisted by Free's Paul Kossoff, the Move's Trevor Burton, Rick Gresch, Jim Gordon and the Muscle Shoals Horns, among other rock luminaries. In feel, this isn't much different than early-'70s Traffic, but the album is quite different in form, relying less on the winding, jazzy improvisations than well-worn, soulful grooves, given heart and by both the Muscle Shoals Horns and Kossoff, who particularly tears it up on a drastic reworking of the Al Jolson-written title track. For as much fire there is here and elsewhere ("Love Is All You Can Try" works up a good head of steam), Oh How We Danced is distinguished by its mellow vibe, generated by the genial familiarity of the players, Capaldi's sweet, unassuming voice, and the emphasis on his set of strong songs instead of the virtuosity of his musicians. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
