Dear Mr. Fantasy

Dear Mr. Fantasy is a song originally recorded by Traffic for their 1967 album Mr. Fantasy. The words were written by Jim Capaldi, and the music was written by Steve Winwood and Chris Wood. The album made it to number 16 in the UK and number 88 in the US. It’s probably also notable that Dave Mason left the group before the album was release, yet three of his songs appear on the UK version, three on the US version (each release has a slightly different track listing). It’s been covered by several bands including the Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, and Crosby Stills Nash and Young.

Canadian group Big Sugar covered the song in their 1995 EP, Dr. M.F. The song was released as a single in Canada and reached the number 59 spot on the Canadian pop charts.

Traffic:

Big Sugar:

I know, I know, I keep doing long songs. It’s not on purpose I promise. I totally pick these based on impulse. I know 5 minutes (and we have to do it twice) is a really long time so sit and actively listen to a song, but we’ve got to do it. So let’s just grit our teeth and bear it.

Okay. This was way easier than I thought. The 90s took a crap all over Big Sugar’s version. So I’m clearly picking Traffic’s to win. It’s got the Winwood Solos and the Harmonicas. You can’t go wrong. Even Winwood’s voice. Rolling Stone said, "[Winwood] probably [has] the major blues voice of his generation." They loved the album Mr. Fantasy. I don’t know if I’d go that far. He sings real good (well) though. Keep in mind I’m really bias and a total jerk though. So if you really love big sugar and you think their version is the best, and you didn’t even know that it was a traffic song before this, don’t be sad, I’m sure you are one among many who think the same thing. You guys are just wrong, and that’s okay.