Customer Reviews

Alone Together

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Taped safely in a box is my copy of the original issue of this classic; you know, the one that folds out numerous times to make about four feet of album cover that proudly holds what many of us in 1970 called 'The *Barf* Album'! (Others here called it the 'marble' album.) Blue Thumb, the original label, put a lot into this album and it didn't end with the cover (second only to the cover of the first edition issue of Small Faces 'Ogden Nut Gone Flake.') The music here is one of the true artistic masterpieces from the era. Imagine a line-up that includes some of the top names of the period -- Jim Gordon (Derek & Dominoes, et al) is brilliant on the drums. Carl Radle (Derek, Delaney & Bonnie, et al) is magnificent on the bass. Leon Russell adds piano in much of the album and is at his peak. Hey, when you're playing alongside guys of this calibre, you better be! Then throw in Jim Capaldi and Stevie Winwood (Traffic) on some songs. They play with a disciplined yet fiery style that was better than most anything they ever did in Traffic. Add probably the finest Eric Clapton lead solo of all time (every bit as sweet as his playing on the Beatles 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps') at the end of 'Look at Me, Look at You.' This little-known Clapton masterpiece was recorded during the time when labels didn't like to share their artists with other labels. So, just as Clapton wasn't credited for 'My Guitar...' and George Harrison became 'l'Angelo Mysterioso' for his favor-returning appearance with Cream on 'Badge' -- most never knew that Clapton graced this one with some awesome work. The best way to think about this one is to think of Traffic, Derek and the Dominoes, Joe Cocker Band, Clapton and some of the other brilliant musicians hereon all playing better than they ever did anywhere else. This is Dave's best album by far! It was simply too good for the radio, though it did get a lot of airtime, -- but as was always the case back then -- on the less brilliant cuts. Buy this one for Clapton's end solo alone! It's as good as *anything* he's ever played before or since! You'll find it tucked away at the half-time end-piece of "Look at Me" and all the musicians in attendence know what's happening and play the piece with all the dignity and awe that it deserves. It doesn't come any more brilliant than this, kiddies (and aging kiddies!). Thanks Dave for making this one -- thirty years later and I'm still blown away by this one!

It's hard to believe this stunning album--one of the most neglected masterpieces of rock's most creative era--is nearly 30 years old! I haven't been able to listen to my marble colored vinyl copy since my turntable stopped turning eight years ago. Still, my "headspeakers" continue to play "Look at Me, Look at You," "World in Changes," and "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" in heavy internal rotation. If you want to hear haunting tunes that copy no one else but are a brilliant echo of the best of British rock, and passionate guitar work, treat yourself and discover who was the heart of Traffic complementing Stevie Winwood's soul. An undeniable gem.

"Alone Together" is a well composed, musically put together album from one of rock music's finest guitarists. Here, Dave Mason rocks with great musical precision in the cuts "Only You Know And I Know", "Waitin' On You" and "Look At You Look At Me". It is on the latter track where Mr. Mason lets loose his interwoven, technically dispalyed guitar virtuosity. "Alone Together" displays a toned-down, moody side as well, which is present in such interpersonal songs as "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving", "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" and "Sad And Deep As You", all gorgeous and wonderful soul-grabbing numbers to boot. With all its' musical glory, the only thing missing on "Alone Together" is the original artwork, and therefore doesn't really deserve to carry MCA's "Compact Disc-Compact Price" generic moniker, as this is among the finest CD's classic rock has to offer. With that said, "AT" seriously is in need of the remaster treatment, although the sound quality featured here isn't all that bad. Since this is Dave Mason's first solo effort, I guess one could say he directed "Traffic" quite nicely. "Alone Together" should not be overlooked or missed by any fan of classic rock, Traffic afficianado or not. So, get it, if you haven't already!

One of the most unsung heroes of rock ever. Very few can write songs as well as Mason. All you have to do is give one listen to "Sad And Deep As You," which is one of the most moving, emotional songs I have ever heard. Leon Russell adds such a nice touch with his piano work.

I grew up listening to this when my dad played it (he swears he had the original carmel pressing until his brother "lost" it), and it will forever remain a special album to me.

I may only be 19 years old, but this album will always hold a special place with me...it holds as true and is as emotional as any modern-day release. Dave Mason was NOT a one hit wonder with his Traffic anthem "Feelin' Alright?" and this album PROVES it! Alone Together is definitely a classic that deserves a listen. Don't overlook it because you are missing out!

I've own this wonderful recording in every form (except reel to reel), from 8 track tape, to CD. Today with the high tech quality with digital recording, it is even BETTER. Unfortunately, the cast of players no longer makes the CD liner. The best players of the era worked to make this a MUST OWN recording. Here are the players who worked on this (from my old LP credits) CD:

Dave Mason: Guitar, Vocals
Jim Capaldi: Drums
Rita Coolidge: Vocals
Leon Russell: Keyboards
Carl Radle: Bass
Don Preston: Guitar, Vocals
Bonnie Bramlett: Vocals
Delaney Bramlett: Guitar, Vocals
Claudia Lennear: Vocals
Jim Keltner: Drums
John Simon: Keyboards
Jim Gordon: Drums
John Barbata: Drums
Bruce Botnick: Engineer
Mike Coolidge: Background Vocals
Lou Cooper
Michael DeTemple: Guitar
Chris Ethridge: Bass
Larry Knechtel: Organ
Bob Norwood

I would highly recommend this to all who enjoy the late 60's early 70's "flower child" movement. The song list is guaranteed to get you feeling the groove with "Feelin' Alright" to the beautiful slow love ballad, "Sad and Deep As You". The title song Alone Together starts with a slow melody that will take you to a writhing lather before fading out to end this solid masterpiece of music.....

After leaving the progressive rock band Traffic, Dave Mason went solo and became less and less adventurous with his music as time went on. "Alone Together" is the best of his original studio efforts, and is probably a better buy than his recent greatest hits albums. Turning his back on Traffic's heady brew of jazz-pop fusion, Mason opted for a more comfortable laid back folk rock style, which shows itself most completely on songs like "Only You Know and I Know," "Just a Song" and "Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving." "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" is the hardest rocking effort on this album, but that is really only by comparison. Lyrically, Mason is not the wordsmith to compare with his former bandmate, Steve Windwood, but on the other hand there's nothing laughable here either.

Overall, "Alone Together" is a solid early 1970s mainstream rock album recorded back when Dave Mason was still a viable and important force in rock music.

What were Steve Winwood and Chris Wood thinking? The scuttlebutt is that Dave Mason had to leave Traffic and go solo in order to get his music recorded (Traffic drummer and lifelong Mason friend Jim Capaldi did provide some support on 'Alone...'). And so what does he do? Nothing less than release one of the greatest rock albums of all time, 'Alone Together'. As the last song on the CD fades out, Mason plaintively intones "...listen to me...". One wonders if those few words were intended for the ears of his ex-bandmates. Following his triumph, Mason returned to Traffic (for his third stint) and contributed two 'Alone Together' songs to one of the finest live LP's ever produced, 1971's 'Live At the Canteen'. At least the other members of Traffic were willing to think twice...

'Alone Together' features 3 outstanding rock songs. Only one of these songs made it as a single on Billboard's Top 100, that being the opener, 'Only You Know and I Know', which peaked out at number 42 in 1970. It is surprising to me, however, that 'Waitin' On You' was not also released as a single. It feels more pop oriented, especially with the soulful backing singers, and has a more standard beat (guests on American Bandstand would agree). The closer on the album, 'Look At You Look At Me' dutifully rocks as well.

The remainder of the songs on the CD are plaintive odes to love. Especially appealing are 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', featuring Mason on a wonderfully expressive wah-pedal guitar throughout, and 'Sad and Deep As You', which just sounds so sad and so deep you'll swear tears are going to short out your CD player. These two songs, in addition to the aforementioned rock numbers, form the core of elite songs on 'Alone Together', but don't undersell the supporting cast. 'Just a Song' and 'Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving' continue the relationship-based theme, but on a brighter tempo. Whoever Mason was hooking up with at the time of these compositions touched off emotive spasms that resonate throughout the album. Authenticity jumps off the disc.

The 'weakest' song on the album, and I certainly use that term in a relative sense, is 'World In Changes', but this song remains a staple of Mason concerts, last appearing on his live CD recorded with Jim Capaldi in 1999. The only other weakness to this CD is the complete absence of any liner notes. You're going to be left in the dark regarding who is contributing to this masterpiece. Other sources on the Internet list such stellar performers as Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russel, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon in the supporting cast. I hope it is only an oversight that MCA intends to correct, because each and every musician involved here deserves credit for their contributions, and it would be fascinating to have some historic details regarding the production of this set. I'd ask for lyrics, which should be as much a staple as the jewel case, but I don't want to knock any record company clowns (as Neil Young calls them) off their La-Z-Boys.

This is a gem that should be in the collection of every lover of classic rock and roll. It wasn't really pioneering in any respect... I don't believe it changed the way anyone looked at music... but it is the pinnacle of a fine songwriters songwriting career... Mason's Mona Lisa. Everything he did before and since pales in comparison to this collection. There were other, occasional highlights for Mason in his career, such as the classic 'Feelin' Alright', and even songs that charted better, such as 'Let It Flow' and 'We Just Disagree', but this collection is where Mason separated himself from other 'several-hit wonders'. It should be experienced in its entirety as it was originally produced in 1970. Kudos to Dave!

Dave Mason's first solo album after he left Traffic. Great supporting cast, many of whom played on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album, recorded at about the same time. Beautiful songs and production. One of the few rock albums that sounds great first thing in the morning after a hard night of partying. Unlike anything Mason recorded after. But I miss the original multi-colored vinyl record!

This is truly a great album but I take issue with what one reviewer ("theboomer") said. He wrote a very good review in general but he also wrote that the great solo at the end of "Look at Me, Look at You " is by Eric Clapton. The reviewer went on so much about Clapton's solo, that someone needed to respond.

First off the song title is "Look at You, Look at Me" not "Look at Me, Look at You". And while "theboomer" is correct in that Eric Clapton did play the un-credited solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (both Clapton and Harrison have publicly talked about this). Clapton did not play the solo on "Look at You, Look at Me". I've been playing guitar for 30 years now and the solo is not at all in Clapton's style. I've studied most of Clapton's solos and this solo is much slower than he plays and it doesn't have any of his trademark riffs, pulls-offs or bends. These are techniques that Clapton is well known for and that he uses in all of his solos. None of Clapton's techniques or trademarks are present in the solo from "Look at You, Look at Me". By comparison, if you listen to the solo from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", all of Clapton's usual techniques are present and identifiable, leaving no doubt that it's a Clapton solo.

The solo in "Look at You, Look at Me" is by Dave Mason. Dave Mason is a great guitar player in his own right and is quite capable of playing this solo. I used to have an album, Dave Mason Is Alive - 1973, where he plays "Look at You, Look at Me" live. He plays the live solo very similar to the studio version that is on the Alone Together album.

I'd forgotten how good this album was. I owned it many years ago but had sold it off. Not too long ago I had the pleasure of seeing Dave Mason live. This was the third time for me and even though he is now in his sixties, he gave a great performance. Unfortunately, his biggest hit was "We Just Disagree" which pales in comparison to the work contained on this album. There isn't a weak cut thoughout. His supporting cast is excellent and includes among others Delaney and Bonnie, Jim Capaldi, Rita Coolidge, and Leon Russell. The back up singing on "Waiting on You" is superb. "Shouldn't Took More Than You Gave" and "Look at You Look at Me" are extended cuts which show off instrumental magic. Mason's songwriting has never been stronger when compared to his other releases. Personally, one of my favorite cuts is the lesser known "Just a Song". This album is one of the greatest 'classic rock' albums of all time and no collection would be complete without it.