I want to get into Traffic. Should I get "John Barleycorn Must Die" or "The Low Spark of the High-Heeled Boys" first?

yes, those would be my 2 picks for a first album.

stream them both and then decide which you'd like to own first:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgvPrPFTI9Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY-_Y_7p55M

I really wish I knew how to answer questions like this. They were a great band with four teriffic albums. My personal favorite is JBMD (I love the blues/jazz/folk combination, it's one of my very favorite albums) but Low Spark maybe has broader appeal. You wouldn't be going wrong by starting with 'Mr. Fantasy' or the self-titled album either though, both are great.

When I'm checking out a band I'm not familiar with I usually start chronologically; that doesn't always pan out (it didn't when I recently started checking out The Replacements) but I like hearing how a band grows and changes over time. That would work well with Traffic. I recommend starting with 'Mr. Fantasy'.

It has been a REALLY long time since I listened to either of them, but at the time I heard both, I preferred Low Spark.

You really ought to just listen to all of them.

BQ: There's a live cover of Dear Mr. Fantasy by Crosby, Stills and Nash ... I heard it in a record store back in the day. IDK whether this is the same version, but it's nice:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wM_qR6Yihk

Sorry for the $9*$*ing ad at the beginning. I hate that. But I can't spend time searching around for another version right now.

They are both good. I prefer "John Barleycorn Must Die" as well as their second album "Traffic".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8-EFlkVTok

yeah, those would be my 2 picks for a first album...

stream them both and then decide which you'd like to own first:

I like the self-titled album best.

neither try on the road

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmmo5aA-wuA

sd

they both suck