When Dave Mason left Traffic he produced a number of strong albums fresh out of the gate. “Alone Together”, “It’s Like You Never Left” and “Dave Mason” among many other gems. This terrific album is also part of that set of classic releases. Recorded just after he left Blue Thumb Records over a contract dispute (it would take some years and a bankruptcy to free him from the label). Featuring Cass Elliott on harmony vocals, Mason turns in some of his best material and guitar playing on this terrifc album. Cass appears as lead vocalist on her lone songwriting contribution “Here We Go Again” and its a reminder of what a terrific vocalist she was. She and Mason should have continued on as they generate magic on this terrific album.
This is one of Mason’s finest albums and it’s interesting to compare this along with his first solo album to the albums by Traffic after he left–they were on somewhat similar roads musically but its quite clear why Mason’s vision for the band conflicted with Winwoods with Mason relying much more on traditional song structure vs. more jamming approach of Winwood’s efforts with his band. (by Wayne Klein)
Dave Mason, live 1971
Well, I bought the original Elliot/Mason band album in 1971.I could never stop listen to it.It’s always fantastic.The combination of the two voices could not be better.She only sings lead in two tracks: Something To Make You Happy which is a pretty good tune wrote by her and Dave Mason and Here we go again ,wrote by her and Bryan Garo.Since Wild Women, from the The Big Three,it’s the first time Cass co-write songs for her albuns.The vocal structure it’s almost the same as it used to be in the Mamas & Papas albuns, the group sung together most of the songs,and Cass does only two solos. Songs like On & On in which Cass made her superb backing vocals,as well as Pleasing You, Sit & Wonder and Next To You, has always been my home soundtrack.The duet between her voice and Mason’s acoustic guitar solo in Glittering Facade it’s rhythmcally incredible.It’s a great CD and it’s a pitty that MCA doesn’t release the tapes from the concert that The Elliot/Mason Band did in 1971 at Winterland,San Francisco, as a Collector’s item. (by Celso Eduardo Franco)
Personnel:
Cass Elliott (vocals)
Bryan Garofalo (bass)
Paul Harris (keyboards, strings)
Russ Kunkel (drums)
Dave Mason (guitar, vocals)
Tracklist:
01. Walk To The Point (Mason) 4.00
02. On And On (Doheny) 3.35
03. To Be Free (Mason) 3.34
04. Here We Go Again (Garofalo/Elliott) 2.49
05. Pleasing You (Juster Written/Mason) 3.02
06. Sit And Wonder (Mason) 3.30
07. Something To Make You Happy (Elliott/Mason) 2.15
08. Too Much Truth, Too Much Love (Mason) 3.49
09 .Next To You (Garofalo) 2.31
10. Glittering Facade (Mason) 4.45
ManyFantasticColors 