Customer Reviews

Certified Live

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I'm probably as big a Dave Mason fan as they come, although I must confess that I've only caught him in concert on one occasion, and by happenstance that occasion was in the same year as this double-live disc was recorded, 1976. I don't recall a whole lot about the show since I was sitting near the crest of the Pine Knob Music Theatre lawn, the muddiest lawn I ever had the displeasure to sit on, trying my best to stay dry in a driving, cold rainstorm. Dave was accompanied by Jim Krueger on second lead guitar, a fixture in Dave Mason excursions since 1974, bassist Gerald Johnson, a 1970's fixture in the Steve Miller Band, keyboardist Mike Finnigan, well-known for his work with Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and journeyman drummer Rick Jaeger. It's a solid line-up that delivers smooth, top-notch performances, which ironically is part of the problem.

'Certified Live' includes a setlist that, for the most part, has become the Dave Mason standard. Regulars on the list include 'Feelin'Alright', 'Pearly Queen', 'Show Me Some Affection', 'All Along the Watchtower' (a Jimi Hendrix tune, of course, but one Mason has all but adopted as his own), a cover of the Eagles 'Take It To the Limit', 'Every Woman', 'World In Changes', 'Look At You, Look At Me', a cover of Sam Cooke's 'Bring It On Home To Me', and 'Only You Know and I Know'. Peruse Dave's other live CD's or video releases, and you'll find a healthy number of these same tracks are included. Don't get me wrong, they're all fine songs, but why hasn't Dave offered a live version of 'Waiting On You', one of the most appealing tracks from his quintessential 1969 album 'Alone Together'? How about 'Split Coconut', or 'To Be Free', the lead track from his 'Headkeeper' disc? I'd just like to hear something unusual! To his credit, Dave does offer a rendition of Jimmy Oden's 'Goin' Down Slow', a worthy blues track, and 'Give Me a Reason Why', a catchy acoustic number from the 'Split Coconut' disc, but for a disc that was originally a two-disc vinyl album, that's not a whole lot of originality.

Add to this the fact that 1976 was not a sterling year for music, with the psychedelic era fading (even for bands that continued successful such as Pink Floyd) and disco and New Wave music knocking on the door, the dominant trends were leaving Mason's style of music in the bargain bin at Peaches. Unfortunately, artists such as Dave Mason tried adapting their music to the popular trends, and so his trademark wah-pedal guitar is often relegated to window dressing, or omitted all together. As noted earlier, Dave is supported by a fine band, but it's all just too crisp and smooth. A lot of this music needs to be settled in an emotional context rather than technical precision, but it's the latter that comes to the fore. If you're really seeking the best live renditions of Dave's music, check out 'Pearly Queen', 'World In Changes', and 'Feelin' Alright' from the 'Headkeeper' disc (recently remastered), 'Sad and Deep As You' (Chris Wood's flute accompaniment is just incredible on this track) and 'Gimme Some Lovin' from 'Welcome To the Canteen', and 'Only You Know and I Know' and 'All Along the Watchtower' from 1999's '40,000 Headmen Tour'.

'Certified Live' is a difficult disc to find on CD, and you're likely to shell out close to $20 for a decent copy. The Japanese import version I used for this review did come complete with a lyrics sheet (in Japanese and English), and a glossy color booklet with several nice photographs of Dave and the band. Too bad it wasn't recorded a few years earlier when Dave and his music were still on top.

One of the all-time great "Live" Rock and Roll albums ever recorded! I would put this "Live" album right up there with Frampton Comes Alive, One More From The Road, and Allman Brothers at Fillmore East, etc. Easily a top-ten "Live" Album!

Dave Mason toured and recorded for several incredible years with this awesome band made up of Jim Kreiger on guitar, Mike Finnegan on keyboards, Gerald Johnson on bass, and Rick Jaegger on drums. The first 4 songs of the album are so good, that I keep playing them over-and-over in the car. LOL Rick Jaegger's drumming is incomparable, and Mason's and Kreiger's guitar work is off-the-hook! And of course Finnnegan and Johnson complete this incredible band that was as good as any other band during that time.

You won't be disappointing buying this CD if you grew up buying the album back in the '70s. Buy the Japanese version and get it now!!

Back in the early 70's I really couldn't say I was a Dave Mason fan. I mean, I had heard of him of course, liked his song "Only You Know and I know" and even knew he was a founding membor of Traffic. But he wasn't someone I ran out to buy the newest release from him. Then one day, on FM radio (back when FM radio was "freeform" radio) I heard "Look at You, Look at Me" and just fell in love with it. It was right about then that Mason released this album, so I went out and got it. It was this album that made me a life long fan.

Mixed with both original works and covers, Mason does not disappoint. The set starts off with solid rock-&-roll, featuring "Feelin Alright", "Pearly Queen", "Show Me Some Affection", and the monster of the album, "All Along The Watchtower." In fact, "Watchtower" actually broke into top forty radio for a while. He then changes gears as we hear great versions of "Take It To The Limit" and "Give Me A Reason Why." Two of the next three, "Sad and Deep as You" and "World in Changes" are still staples in his current live set and are done well here. Other highlights: "Look at You, Look at Me" (STILL one of my favorites), "Bring It On Home To Me" (Great Harmonies), and the finale "Gimmie Some Lovin."

Unfortunately, I have yet to get this on CD. I still have the vinyl and it STILL gets played. And I also own two other Live Mason CDs: The Live: 40,000 Headmen Tour, featuring both Mason and the late Jim Capaldi, and Live at Sunrise. Both are good sets, with the 40,000 Headmen Tour being the best. So, I can get my Dave Mason Fix. But if you get the chance to grab this, at a decent price, I would highly recommend it.

My wife and I had the pleasure of being at the show when this recording took place. The live concert was first rate and still rates high among the many concerts I have attended. The band was tight and sharp that night and truly had a great time playing for the fans. When this album came out I did not think that it could possibly match the live experience we had... I was wrong, we love this album and have worn our copy out. If you love Dave Mason as I do it is money well spent. I guarantee you will keep this one on your Ipod for some time.

Any fans of Dave Mason or Traffic will be very pleased with this live recording of an accomplished musician. The songs are timeless and there is a good mix of acoustic and electric guitar tracks that will appeal to most listeners of the blues/rock genre. For newcomers to Dave's work this is a fantastic introduction to a master musician. As Dave Mason says, rock and roll is an attitude not an age!

I have nothing but great things to say about this CD. I have wanted to buy the CD version for quite a while but had hoped for a domestic release of it. Finally, I decided that the extra cost for an import was worth it.
Classic 70's R&R, classic Mason. It is everything that Frampton Comes Alive is not: Real.

I saw Dave Mason twice as a young man in the 70's in Bakersfield Ca. He was such a great live performer, and I received the vinyl version of this recording as a gift way back then. Over the years I gave away all my LP's that weren't stolen, and this is one album I have really missed, not only because it is a fine set, but also for the song, "Give Me A Reason" which has been a favorite of mine since I first heard it over 30 years ago.

Today I put this CD in my deck, and was swept away back to a happy time.

Now that this CD is finally readily available again, do yourself a favor and give it a listen, remembering when bands used to be full of musicians who took their job seriously with lush full sounds, great original songs, and brilliant interpretation of covers. You may find this to be a favorite of yours as well.

This album is a capture in time, when Dave Mason was so experienced as a singer/guitarist that when
he surrounded himself with this band, he was as good as it gets. I was blessed to see this band the
very year this album was recorded when I was a younster of 16. 6 out of 6

this album came out in November 1976. I heard it for the first time while sitting in my friends van smoking something (cant remember what). I instantly went nuts for this album. On my 16th birthday on or about Dec 22 I went to Dave Masons concert at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. It was just like the album. I was a permanant fan. Some years later I head the pleasure of seeing Dave and Jim Kreiger (now deceased) play at a bowling alley in sacramento as well. Just those two sitting in a couple chairs playing guitars and singing. Magical is all I can say. Dave Mason Certified live is a must have!

Touring with the same band that produced the excellent "Dave Mason" album, Mason knocks the lights out with this one. It thoroughly captures the energy of the era, and its facination with a**-kicking electric guitar solos. I saw Mason at the UVM Field House during the tour promoting this album, so I can attest to its authentic quality.

This album established Dave Mason as one of the All-Time great live guitarists - both electric and acoustic. Incredible song selection, awesome arrangements, a tight and perfectly matched band, and awe-inspiring guitarwork. Particularly powerful are the solos in "Show me some Affection", "Watchtower" and "Look at You, Look at Me". Also excellent is an acoustic set, featuring some of Mason's most beautiful love songs as well as an excellent cover of The Eagles' "Take it to the Limit". Mason is excellent on the 12 String, which you don't hear much about. Finally, Mike Finnigan brings the house down with his take on the blues classic "Goin' Down Slow"

This is excellent road-trip music. It totally fires you up, and gets you where you're going.