Mason Interview 10-16-2008

[michelej1]

Ventura County Star, 10-16-08

http://www.venturacountystar.com/new...masonside16ev/

Always a welcome guest

A look back at some of Dave Mason's high-powered collaborations

Dave Mason has toured or recorded with numerous big names in rock. A few nuggets:

n As for recording "All Along the Watchtower" with Jimi Hendrix, Mason explained that he and the guitar great were friends in the late 1960s. One night, they stopped at an apartment party where an advance copy of Bob Dylan's "John Wesley Harding" (the album that features "Watchtower") was playing.

Soon after, Hendrix went into a London studio and recorded his version, with Mason, who played guitar on it. Mason also sang vocals on "Crosstown Traffic."

Both songs appeared on Hendrix's 1968 album "Electric Ladyland."

"At the time, Jimi and I were just hanging out. There was a rift between him and Noel Redding, and we talked about me taking (Noel's) place. But it never came about."

Hendrix, Mason said, was the real deal.

"He was amazing. I used to see him playing in these little clubs. He'd sit in with someone and blow everyone's mind. The musicians would be sitting there going, You know, I think I better find another instrument.'"

n Mason also appeared on the Rolling Stones' "Street Fightin' Man" from the band's 1968 album "Beggar's Banquet." Said Mason: "I played that weird little hornlike thing (a shehnai) at the end of the song."

n On George Harrison's first solo album, 1970's "All Things Must Pass," Mason got a co-songwriting credit on "Plug Me In."

"George Harrison gave me my first sitar," Mason said. "I hung out at the Sgt. Pepper's' sessions."

n Stevie Wonder played harmonica on "The Lonely One" from Mason's solo album "It's Like You Never Left" from 1973.

"We were making albums at the same time, using the same studio and producers; that's how that one came about."

n In similar fashion, he got Michael Jackson to duet with him on his 1980 single "Save Me."

"He was cutting Thriller' at the time. He was in one studio and I was in the other one next door. I had this tune called Save Me,' and I kept hearing this high voice the song needed. So I thought, Maybe Michael will come over and sing on it.'

"He was kind of cool. He told me, When I was 12, I was on this Diana Ross special and we did Feelin' Alright.'"

n Mason also played guitar on Paul McCartney's 1975 hit "Listen to What the Man Said," played and recorded with Graham Nash, worked with Eric Clapton and Mama Cass Elliott, and was briefly a member of Fleetwood Mac in the 1990s, among other collaborations.

"I've had a lot of great times," Mason said in summary.

— Brett Johnson

[SteveMacD]

Shocked they didn't mention he has a new album out.

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Shocked they didn't mention he has a new album out.

Is it out yet? I knew it was due out around now.

[chriskisn]

Hmm, in reply to my own message am listening to this album now. Only two tracks in but I think I might have discovered a Dave Mason album I actually like. Yes!

[SteveMacD]

Have you tried Alone Together? It's a brilliant album (IMO).

[chriskisn]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

Have you tried Alone Together? It's a brilliant album (IMO).

I've tried all of DMs albums....like the new one the best...it is actually the kind of music I've been wanting to get from Dave (sadly by the time I started listening to him he had stopped producing anything new).

I guess my problem with Alone Together is that I kind of worked backwards with Dave's albums. So by the time I got there I'd heard every single song on it in every different compliation or live album about half a dozen times.

My wife asked me again last night why I had all the albums by a guy I didn't like. Oh she doesn't understand the Fleetwood Mac thing...