There is a tapas bar we sometimes stop at that has great food and a decent beer menu. We’ve told friends about it, it’s so good.*
I stopped yesterday after doing an errand for my gf and had a beer (on her!). The name of the place is Headkeepers, which I always thought was strange. Yesterday I noticed among the other decorations on the walls there were many Dave Mason albums, pictures, etc.
Turns out I’ve never been a Dave Mason fan. I recognize the name, but that’s it. Can someone edumacate me?
Summary
I told my brother in law and his wife about the place a few years ago. Told them it was a great tapas bar. His wife texted me one night that she and a coworker went to the Headhunters (sic) place and they did not like it, the portions were so small! I texted my BIL and asked told him what his wife had said, curious about whether she was joking. She isn’t the brightest, but we love her. He responded that she wasn’t joking and he explained to her the concept of tapas.
I’m not sure. I mostly remember him from his work with Traffic, he wrote or co-wrote a few of their best known songs. Of course, it you’re in a band with someone like Steve Winwood, you are almost bound to be second-fiddle…
I’ve known of Mason for years, the songs Only You Know and I Know and We Just Disagree. He has always been on my list of guitarists I would like to see. He wrote the song Feelin’ Alright which was recorded by Traffic but later became a huge hit for Joe Cocker.
As others have noted, Mason is today mostly known, at least here in the U.S., as being a member of Traffic, and for writing a couple of songs (“Feeling Alright,” “Only You Know and I Know”) which were hits for other people.
“We Just Disagree” is one of my favorite songs, and it was his only top 40 hit in the U.S., though his 1970s solo albums all charted.
Dave Mason also played the acoustic guitar track on Jimi Hendrix’s cover of “All Along The Watchtower”. That’s pretty much the entirety of the Dave Mason knowledge I have to share.
As others have mentioned, Mason was with Traffic and wrote their first two UK hits, “Paper Sun” and “Hole in My Shoe.” He left the group before their first album was released in the US; American versions of Dear Mr. Fantasy gave him song credits, but did not list him as a member.
He returned for their second album and contributed “Feelin’ Alright?” which at one point was the most covered song in rock, with a new version recorded every three weeks at its peak.
Mason left Traffic;; their next album, Last Exit was made up of unreleased tracks and a live performance.
Mason went solo and recorded Alone Together, a truly great effort. He also toured as one of Delany and Bonnie’s friends, but was overshadowed by Eric Clapton.
He rejoined his friends from Traffic for a shout tour that was released as Welcome to the Canteen. Mason was willing to reconstitute Traffic, but Steve Winwood nixed it.
Mason Continued as a solo artist, with a couple of minor hits. His album with Mama Cass seemed a strange combination. It’s not bad, but not exciting.
The royalties from “Feelin’ Alright?” are probably bringing a lot of money even today.
