Dave Mason - Alone Together

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Music reviews of Alone Together

Music Review: One For the Ages
Rating: 5 Stars

'Alone Together' features 3 outstanding rock songs. Only one of these songs made it as a single on Billboard's Top 100, that being the opener, 'Only You Know and I Know', which peaked out at number 42 in 1970. It is surprising to me, however, that 'Waitin' On You' was not also released as a single. It feels more pop oriented, especially with the soulful backing singers, and has a more standard beat (guests on American Bandstand would agree). The closer on the album, 'Look At You Look At Me' dutifully rocks as well.

The remainder of the songs on the CD are plaintive odes to love. Especially appealing are 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', featuring Mason on a wonderfully expressive wah-pedal guitar throughout, and 'Sad and Deep As You', which just sounds so sad and so deep you'll swear tears are going to short out your CD player. These two songs, in addition to the aforementioned rock numbers, form the core of elite songs on 'Alone Together', but don't undersell the supporting cast. 'Just a Song' and 'Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving' continue the relationship-based theme, but on a brighter tempo. Whoever Mason was hooking up with at the time of these compositions touched off emotive spasms that resonate throughout the album. Authenticity jumps off the disc.

The 'weakest' song on the album, and I certainly use that term in a relative sense, is 'World In Changes', but this song remains a staple of Mason concerts, last appearing on his live CD recorded with Jim Capaldi in 1999. The only other weakness to this CD is the complete absence of any liner notes. You're going to be left in the dark regarding who is contributing to this masterpiece. Other sources on the Internet list such stellar performers as Delaney and Bonnie, Leon Russel, Jim Keltner, and Jim Gordon in the supporting cast. I hope it is only an oversight that MCA intends to correct, because each and every musician involved here deserves credit for their contributions, and it would be fascinating to have some historic details regarding the production of this set. I'd ask for lyrics, which should be as much a staple as the jewel case, but I don't want to knock any record company clowns (as Neil Young calls them) off their La-Z-Boys.

This is a gem that should be in the collection of every lover of classic rock and roll. It wasn't really pioneering in any respect... I don't believe it changed the way anyone looked at music... but it is the pinnacle of a fine songwriters songwriting career... Mason's Mona Lisa. Everything he did before and since pales in comparison to this collection. There were other, occasional highlights for Mason in his career, such as the classic 'Feelin' Alright', and even songs that charted better, such as 'Let It Flow' and 'We Just Disagree', but this collection is where Mason separated himself from other 'several-hit wonders'. It should be experienced in its entirety as it was originally produced in 1970. Kudos to Dave!

Description of Alone Together

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• Music > Styles
• Rock