Dave Mason
Album: Let It Flow
Label: Talking Elephant
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.davemasonmusic.com

"Let It Flow" by Dave Mason was originally released in 1977 and has now been reissued by the excellent Talking Elephant Records, who specialise in re-releasing long lost gems.

Dave Mason, originally from Worcester, is perhaps best known for being one of the founder members of the wonderful Traffic, alongside Steve Winwood. However, Dave's tenure within Traffic was somewhat disjointed as he left and rejoined several times. Nonetheless, he penned several of their best-known songs including "Hole In My Shoe" which reached number 2 in the charts for Traffic in 1967 [and achieved the same position for "Neil"[Nigel Planer] in 1984] and "Feelin' Aright?", a hit for the late Joe Cocker.

Aside from Traffic, Dave was not short of "heavy" friends, playing on albums by Jimi Hendrix["Electric Ladyland"], George Harrison ["All Things Must Pass"] and The Rolling Stones [an uncredited appearance on "Beggars Banquet"]. He also made an album with Cass Elliot of The Mamas and The Papas.

Dave released his first [and probably best ] solo album "Alone Together" in 1970. This contained one of his best songs "Only You Know And I Know", which was also recorded by Delaney and Bonnie.

Dave made another four solo albums in the early to mid 1970's before releasing "Let It Flow" in 1977 on Columbia Records. The album featured Dave's highly proficient touring band comprising Mike Finnigan [keyboards, vocals], Rick Jaeger [drums], Gerald Johnson [bass guitar]and Jim Krueger [guitar and vocals], with guest appearances by Stephen Stills, Yvonne Elliman and Ernie Watts.

I approached this album with some circumspection as Dave's mid-1970's albums have a reputation for being the kind of laid back Californian AOR which was prevalent at that time.

However, I was pleasantly surprised as "Let It Flow" turned out to be a well-crafted, well-played, well-produced and most enjoyable collection of songs.

The album gets off to a cracking start with "So High [Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away]" on which Dave's soulful vocals really shine, together with some tasty slide guitar.

The following track "We Just Disagree", which was written by Jim Krueger, provided Dave with his biggest solo hit as it reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since become something of a Classic Rock radio favourite. It is a lovely song about a recrimination -free breakup, featuring more great vocals from Dave, with subtle harmonies and 12-string guitar from its author, Jim together with a great string arrangement.

"Mystic Traveller" is possibly my favourite track on the album, a dream-like song with a lush orchestral arrangement and plucked harp, which harks back to the innocence and fantasy of "Hole In My Shoe". Heck, it even contains the line "hanging in a crystal tree a love light shines for all to see". An unexpected gem of a track.

It's all change for the next track "Spend Your Life With Me", a soul-gospel number with a superb sax solo by Ernie Watts. This song has a real touch of Ray Charles about it, which is no bad thing.

As if to demonstrate the wide variety of styles on this album, "Takin'The Time Find" comes over like a combination of Carlos Santana's lead guitar backed by The Doobie Brothers at their funkiest. Again, this is no criticism as it makes for a great slice of Latin Funk and Dave is, once more, in great voice and the guitar solo is fluid and eloquent.

The title of the album comes from "Let It Go, Let It Flow", also a single. Again, this funky track is anything but laid back and features some great Hammond organ playing from Mike Finnigan, who played with Crosby, Stills and Nash for 28 years from 1979 to 2007.

Talking of Stephen Stills, he provides vocal harmony on "Seasons", a pleasant, summery track which also features Yvonne Elliman on vocals.

The album closes with "What Do We Got Here", a heavily-orchestrated jazzy number which is just waiting to be covered by any of the current crop of popular jazz-based singers [you know who I mean].

Overall, this album has impressed me greatly. It covers a wide range of styles and is impeccably played and sung. What more can you ask for?

Peter Cowley