John Barleycorn Must Die (studio album) by Traffic

John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic
Year: 1970
Overall rank: 1,947th   Overall chart historyOverall chart history
Average Rating: 
77/100 (from 251 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution   Average rating historyAverage rating history
Accolades:
Award Top albums of 1970 (46th)
Award Top albums of the 1970s (365th)
Award Best albums of all time (1,947th)
Product Details
Availability

eBay
eBay
TRAFFIC John Barleycorn Must Die VINYL Album 12"LP 1970 Record ISLAND ILPS 9116
Condition: Used


eBay
eBay
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die LP - Island Records 90058-1 N.M.
Condition: Used


eBay
eBay
CLEANED Vinyl LP TRAFFIC John Barleycorn Must Die, UAS 5504 reissue VG+
Condition: Used


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Traffic bestography

John Barleycorn Must Die is ranked as the best album by Traffic.

Traffic album bestography « Higher ranked (-) This album (1,947th) Lower ranked (2,053rd) »
No album foundJohn Barleycorn Must DieMr. Fantasy

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John Barleycorn Must Die track list

  Track ratingsTrack ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 82 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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1.
Rating: 85 (58 votes)Comments: 3
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2.
Rating: 84 (57 votes)Comments: 1
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3.
Rating: 82 (52 votes)Comments: 1
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Rating: 85 (62 votes)Comments: 1
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John Barleycorn Must Die rankings

John Barleycorn Must Die collection

John Barleycorn Must Die ratings

Average Rating: 
77/100 (from 251 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 251 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
75/100
 Report rating
09/15/2025 17:08 machiaj  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 72071/100
 
85/100
 Report rating
08/31/2025 04:41 AAL2014  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 3,30475/100
 
60/100
 Report rating
06/13/2025 11:28 Invader666  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,62365/100
 
85/100
 Report rating
03/27/2025 21:29 Fabien67  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 39377/100
 
75/100
 Report rating
02/26/2025 17:14 flamingyesdept  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 2,92977/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 4% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 76.8/100, a mean average of 76.3/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 77.0/100. The standard deviation for this album is 14.2.

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John Barleycorn Must Die comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 13 comments |
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Rating:  
85/100
From 03/27/2025 21:30
Cet album est une magnifique vitrine du talent de Steve Winwood.
Vous trouverez notamment 2 pépites à la fin de chaque face.
Un chef d'œuvre.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
65/100
From 11/12/2021 12:59
A did not hate it. Just kinda lame
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 06/25/2021 23:43
A great album early '70s British rock album that is strong from start to finish. This album began a run of four in a row in which Traffic found its groove, that being leaning toward longer, progressive/jazz fusion-based compositions. The best was yet to come (see their next album, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys), but this one is almost as good, featuring some of their very best songs, including Freedom Rider and Empty Pages. I definitely recommend this for all.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
65/100
From 04/22/2021 19:22
john barleycorn and little else
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -2 votes (0 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 02/15/2018 20:39
Ammetto di essere stato a lungo prevenuto nei confronti di questo disco ed in generale dei Traffic. Il fatto è che tutto ciò che odora di progressive mi ripugna istintivamente ed un album che usciva nel 1970, che coniugava rock, psichedelia, folk e jazz e che - orrore - aveva tra i suoi strumenti cardine il flauto, sulla carta non poteva che respingermi. In più la canzone che titolava il tutto e che già conoscevo non mi piaceva granchè. E invece… Invece succede che qui gli ingredienti di cui sopra sono dosati perfettamente, che non c'è mai ma proprio mai la tendenza a suonarsi addosso tipica del progressive, che le canzoni sono eccellenti ( tutte più della title track, secondo me ) e… si, che pure il flauto riesca ad inserirsi bene nel contesto.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 02/12/2017 11:31
I bought John Barleycorn Must Die by Traffic on 23/11/2002 from on CD for £3.33 The version I have is on the record label Island catalogue number 314 548 541-2 It entered the UK charts on 08/08/1970 and got to number 11 spending a total of 9 weeks on the chart.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (1 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/26/2016 01:16
Along with the BLIND FAITH album, this is Steve Winwood at his best Great Album!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 06/23/2016 11:25
Initially a Steve Winwood solo record, John Barleycorn must die(great title) eventually evolved into a Traffic album without Dave Mason. Based on the traditional folk song of the title track, Traffic produce what is arguably their most consistent album. Great songs in, glad, freedom rider, empty pages, and the title track, make this possibly their best record. Classic British music.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 07/05/2015 18:09
Best Tracks: Empty Pages, John Barleycorn
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From 01/29/2015 19:27
Best Track: John Barleycorn
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -1 votes (0 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

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Best Albums of 1970
1. Paranoid by Black Sabbath
2. After The Gold Rush by Neil Young
3. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison
4. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
5. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon
6. Bitches Brew by Miles Davis
7. Moondance by Van Morrison
8. Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
9. Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
10. Fun House by The Stooges
11. Let It Be by The Beatles
12. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath
13. Loaded by The Velvet Underground
14. Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek & The Dominos
15. Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
16. American Beauty by Grateful Dead
17. Abraxas by Santana
18. Deep Purple In Rock by Deep Purple
19. Morrison Hotel by The Doors
20. Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens
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