Dave Mason & Cass Elliot
Encyclopedia
Dave Mason & Cass Elliot was the only teaming of artists Dave Mason
and Cass Elliot
. The album was produced by both Mason and Elliot and recorded in 1970. The album was released by Blue Thumb Records
.
, found working together to be a terrific idea.
magazine Elliot stated, “I sing better with David because he’s so good. You want to do better. I’m singing notes I never sang with The Mamas & the Papas
.” Mason, on the other hand, produced what many fans believe to be some of his finest and most creative guitar playing matching up nicely alongside his early solo albums.
The music produced falls easily into the country-rock harmony sound of its time but with a bluesier edge. Except for three songs, Mason wrote every song on the album with Elliot participating on two. This was the first time, and also marked her last time, that Elliot lent her hand in songwriting since her days with The Big 3 and The Mugwumps
in 1964. Cass helped co-write the single “Something to Make You Happy” and her one and only solo song on the album, “Here We Go Again.”
Two singles were released. The first single “Something To Make You Happy” was released in January 1971 with the second single “Too Much Truth, Too Much Love” released the following month.
and The Andy Williams Show
. They also performed two concerts with the first one at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
and the second at New York’s Fillmore East
. Although Mason and Elliot remained close friends and both discussed interest in recording together again, this would be their only collaboration.
It was reissued in 2008 by the British Rev-Ola Records
.
Dave Mason
David Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
and Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
. The album was produced by both Mason and Elliot and recorded in 1970. The album was released by Blue Thumb Records
Blue Thumb Records
Blue Thumb Records was an American record label founded in 1968 by Bob Krasnow, along with former A&M Records executives Tommy LiPuma and Don Graham. Krasnow had been in the record business for a number of years, working as a promotion man for King Records and also working for Buddah/Kama Sutra...
.
Conception
After being introduced by a mutual friend, Mason and Elliot immediately hit it off and soon realized after singing together that maybe they could both pursue it professionally. Elliot, having released two solo albums at that time, missed the collaborative effort of producing music and Mason, who had just arrived in the U.S. after splitting with TrafficTraffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
, found working together to be a terrific idea.
Album
Although, maybe not quite the duet album that the title suggests, with Elliot merely singing background on several of the songs, the album did highlight a raspy, more raw side of Elliot’s voice. When interviewed by Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine Elliot stated, “I sing better with David because he’s so good. You want to do better. I’m singing notes I never sang with The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
.” Mason, on the other hand, produced what many fans believe to be some of his finest and most creative guitar playing matching up nicely alongside his early solo albums.
The music produced falls easily into the country-rock harmony sound of its time but with a bluesier edge. Except for three songs, Mason wrote every song on the album with Elliot participating on two. This was the first time, and also marked her last time, that Elliot lent her hand in songwriting since her days with The Big 3 and The Mugwumps
The Mugwumps
The Mugwumps were a 1960s rock band. The Mugwumps made some recordings in the mid-60s, but the short-lived New York group, formed in 1964, is principally remembered for what its members did after they split up....
in 1964. Cass helped co-write the single “Something to Make You Happy” and her one and only solo song on the album, “Here We Go Again.”
Two singles were released. The first single “Something To Make You Happy” was released in January 1971 with the second single “Too Much Truth, Too Much Love” released the following month.
Reception
The album was released in March 1971 and was a moderate success landing at the 49th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. To promote the album, Mason and Elliot both appeared and performed on The Tonight ShowThe Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
and The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show is a television variety show which ran from 1959 to 1971 , and a short-lived run in syndication, beginning in the fall of 1976...
. They also performed two concerts with the first one at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a multipurpose convention center in Santa Monica, California owned by the City of Santa Monica. It was built in 1958 and designed by Welton Becket....
and the second at New York’s Fillmore East
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...
. Although Mason and Elliot remained close friends and both discussed interest in recording together again, this would be their only collaboration.
It was reissued in 2008 by the British Rev-Ola Records
Rev-Ola Records
Rev-Ola Records is a UK record label formed in 1988 that specializes in reissues, as well as select new releases. The label is headed by Joe Foster, a former child actor and musician/producer...
.
Track listing
- “Walk To The Point” (Dave MasonDave MasonDavid Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
) - “On And On” (Ned Doheny)
- “To Be Free” (Mason)
- “Here We Go Again” (Bryan Garo, Cass ElliotCass ElliotCass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
) - “Pleasing You” (Mason, M. Juster)
- “Sit And Wonder” (Mason)
- “Something To Make You Happy” (Mason, Elliot)
- “Too Much Truth, Too Much Love” (Mason)
- “Next To You” (Bryan Garo)
- “Glittering Façade” (Mason)