Customer Reviews

Dave Mason & Cass Elliot

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

 

 

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.

The reissue by Rev-Ola sounds quite good although I favor the original issue on MCA (which was released in a no-frills package) as the mastering is better with a crisper, less compressed feel to it. Still, Rev-Ola has done a fine job on this reissue since the original had no liner notes or credits for who played what (for the record session legends Russ Kunkel, Bryan Garofalo and Paul Harris provide drums, bass and keyboards/string arrangments with Mason playing everything else).

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.

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.

Mystifying. This CD is unbelievably rare. It's also unbelievably great! "Dave Mason & Cass Elliot" has truly aged to perfection. I bought it when it first came out on LP and have sought it on CD for years. When I finally got it (at an outrageous price I might add), I was truly surprised to find out how good it was.

And why shouldn't it be? It's Dave Mason at his creative peak, only a few months after "Alone Together". Mama Cass is in peak form as well. This is a good as anything she's done, including the Mamas and the Papas.

Why this album is so hard to find on CD is truly mystifying. A re-release would seem to be a no-brainer, particularly since there are legions of Dave Mason fans who have yearned for a worthy followup to "Alone Together" but could never find one. Well, DM fans, look no further. Here it is, in all its glory. Ten Dave Mason originals, impeccably perfomed and sung by two artists at the peak of their creative powers.

It doesn't get any better than this.

The title is deceptive, leading one to believe this album would be a 50-50 effort between the two artists; but in fact, this is really a Dave Mason album (in full folk-rock mode) FEATURING Cass Elliot. The bad news for Cass fans is that she is largely relegated to harmony vocals here (we're four tracks in before she sings a lead, and she only sings two). The good news is that Cass was probably the greatest harmony vocalist in pop music (David Crosby my foot). While she is rightly considered the defining voice of The Mamas and the Papas; the fact is, Denny Doherty sang most of the leads, with Cass' inimitable pop mezzo soaring above Doherty's tenor like the dove of peace. Here, Cass and Mason are overdubbed into a lush rock'n'roll choir, somehow merging the sweetness of the Carpenters (who were dominating the pop charts at the time this album was sinking without a trace) and the rock edge of Queen (whose first album was still a couple of years in the offing). The result is hardly life-changing, but it is often transcendently beautiful. There are no great songs here (though certainly there are some good ones) and this is by no means a great album. But as a friend of mine likes to say, not every movie has to be "Citizen Kane". "Dave Mason & Cass Elliot" is a nice little movie. Take it for what it is, and enjoy it.

I've had this album since the mid-70's, and now the CD version. It sounds even better with time. Dave Mason wrote nearly every song on here, and Cass co-wrote 2 songs. Cass blends with Mason's voice on most of the songs, hence it is more of a collaborative album. It's akin to say CSN blending their voices together. The songs are strong, and the lyrics & harmonies have stuck with more all these decades. It's basically Dave's songs with Cass singing her harmononies and sometimes , lead vocals . She certainly possessed a one of kind striking voice. I love this whole album.

Some fans wanted Cass to have more solos on this album. She does have one full solo all her own: HERE WE GO AGAIN, which is great, and she co-wrote it. Other highpoints include their duet SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, SIT AND WONDER, TOO MUCH TRUTH TOO MUCH LOVE, and ON AND ON. NEXT TO YOU and PLEASING YOU are great concise rockers that are fresh and vibrantly performed. It's really take your pick at your favorite song. Not a weak moment on here. Every song has memorable melodies that I still have in my head to this day. Dave & Cass got together to do just this one album, and it is worth hearing & owning. Tight rock songs, harmonies & a magical pairing. It's an extension almost of The Mamas & The Papas , Crosby Stills & Nash and California and British rock all rolled together. Highly recommended. Not to be prejudged because this is honest, beautiful music that stands the test of time.

Depending on your perspective, this album may or may not stand as Dave Mason's sophomore 'solo' disc. From the perspective of Blue Thumb Records, the producers of Dave's first solo album, 'Alone Together', this unusual pairing of two seminal figures from West Coast rock circa-1970 is Mason's third release. Blue Thumb did Mason the favor of releasing the much superior 'Headkeeper' disc prior to this duet with Cass Elliot, and another favor in 1973 when 'Dave Mason Is Alive' was released. Mason hadn't given Blue Thumb the thumbs-up for either release, however, prompting his departure from the label. From Dave's perspective, therefore, 'Dave Mason & Cass Elliot' is his sophomore effort, but it's easily the weakest of these four productions.

'Dave Mason & Cass Elliot' is a complete departure from the gritty rock/deeply emotional ballad composite that made 'Alone Together' one of the classic albums of the 1960's. Totally absent from the disc is Mason's engaging wah-pedal guitar runs, and rather than exploring the depths of emotional intimacy through lyrical masterpieces such as 'Sad and Deep As You', Mason offers up a series of rather superficial, undistinguished pop ballads. Unfortunately, such fare would continue to present itself as the mainstay of Dave Mason's work throughout much of his career, with only occasional high water marks such as 'We Just Disagree'.

Although Mama Cass Elliot receives co-star billing on the album cover, her contributions elsewhere are seriously limited. She carries lead vocals on only two tracks, both of which are co-writes between Cass and Mason ('Something To Make You Happy'), and Cass and bassist Bryan Garo ('Here We Go Again'). On the remaining tracks, she is relegated to either unsubstantial background vocals or no vocals at all. Not that her presence really makes that much difference, however, since none of the compositions being offered are all that remarkable anyway. The best lyrical passages occur on 'Sit and Wonder', with it's thoughtful chorus ("sit and wonder why I'm wondering at all"). When the competition is the likes of "get it on with me" from 'Pleasing You', however, that isn't saying much.

The high points of the disc include the opening track, 'Walk To the Point', although this version is overproduced with excessive vocal overdubs (none of which are from Cass Elliot, incidentally). A much superior, stripped-down live version from The Troubador venue in L.A. is offered as the opening track on 'Dave Mason Is Alive', and that performance serves as the standard for this composition. Mason also reprises 'To Be Free', which Blue Thumb released in a studio version with Graham Nash on background vocals on 'Headkeeper'. This version with Cass Elliot features nice conga work from Russ Kunkel, but the Nash version is more robust. The final track on the disc also deserves mention. 'Glittering Facade' at 4:45 is the longest track featured on 'Dave Mason & Cass Elliot'. It is distinguished again by Kunkel's conga's, as well as Dave Mason's acoustic guitar work, and Paul Harris' organ performance. Even the vocals, with lots of "la, la, la, la, la" and "dit, dit, dit, dit, dit, dit, do, do" add nicely to the mix.

MCA Records is famous for putting out no frills compact discs, and this release is no exception to that rule. Aside from the music, you receive two photographs and three listings of the songs. That's it. There are no liner notes and no printed lyrics. At least the running times are offered on the disc itself. I'm a long-time, ardent fan of Dave Mason, but you would REALLY have to be a die-hard to pay the steep asking price for this collection of mediocre muzak from someone capable of much better work.

I have been a fan of Dave Mason and the Late Mama Cass Elliott for many, many years...Had the opportunity to see them both separately in years past but never saw any shows to promote this album of them together which was a shame because what a union it was! Unfortunately, this album, when it was originally released was a sleeper and only the fans of the two really knew it was good and appreciated it. Since then it's popularity has grown but due to the unfortunate unavailablility of it that is at a stand still for the moment... When MCA gets it's act together and decides to rerelease this classic you'll be in for a real treat and will remember why the world mourned the passing of Mama Cass Elliott... Dave and Cass made sweet music together and it would be nice if Dave Mason would include some of the music here in some of his current work... You know Fleetwood Mac in the form it had for the "Time" album could put a nice spin on some of these tunes instead of letting them remain in slumber! But the results that were achieved here will never be bettered. The only reason why I didn't give this album the 5 stars that it really deserves is because there were no singles released off of it to my knowledge but, that doesn't mean that there wasn't anything good enough for a single...

This is simply one of the best records ever made! I have been a big fan of Dave Mason's for a very long time. This was going to be the second Dave Mason solo record after Alone Together,which is another one of the greatest records made of all time. I listened to this record for years and the re-issue is of excellent quality. This is some of Mason's finest guitar playng and songwriting. An album many years before it's time. I highly reccomend this record and all of Dave Mason's catalog. This is also one of Cass Elliot's finest hours and had she not died perhaps they would have gone on to tour and been as big as CSNY. Buy this CD, and I don't get a comission for saying so.

Cass was thrilled to do this album and was sure there'd be many more with David. Dave was less thrilled and never talked of any more. The cuckoo record company didn't do much of anything to get the word out about the project and it Titaniced quickly. Pity, because this about as efficient and tasty as it gets-- a totally tuneful and enjoyable outing with two well-matched talents. So nice to know people can hear it again.

This album could have been much greater if Mason had had the modesty to recognise that Elliot's voice was much superior to his. It's a pity listening to Elliot doing backing-vocals to Mason's inexpressive solo attempts. It should be the other way round: Elliot going solo and Mason backing her.
Anyway, some of the songs are nice enough and it's always a great pleasure listening to Elliot, even when she is allowed just one solo track. Well, nothing is perefect...