Dave who? Alone what?
Another of those Amazon moments today when a CD arrives that I have absolutely no recollection of ordering.
Who is Dave Mason, I ask? Why is he standing on a mountain in a top hat and tails? and what is this Alone Together album doing in my hands?
Now, yes, I know that the smart music types among you would have known instantly he was in Traffic and this was a solo album of his from 1970 and, you can pretty much guarantee that Paul Weller not only has a copy, but has listened to it about a million times.
I however, was completely baffled. My original thought was that he was some sort of retro-hipster that I’d been recommended on here and I rushed out to buy in fear of falling behind.
However, a quick listen to the gentle, lolloping folk-rock and a check on the date (1970) and it all came back to me: I’d heard a track by him on Jon Savage’s Meridian 1970 album and gone off to find out more. I’d ordered it on caiman.com - so it had taken a while..hence the fact that I’d completely forgotten about it.
What a pleasant surprise. Yes, it’s about as dadrock as it can gets (I heard the phrase ‘neckerchief rock’ the other day - and it fits that bill as well). It wreaks of real ale with a big frothy head, of real men with dynamic facial hair, of..yes, you get the picture. But I’m very glad it’s there in the collection - ready for when the folk rock revival kicks off so I can say I was there all along.
Ironically, the original review of the album in Rolling Stone says it’s very nice but it’s a bit too perfect and polished. By today’s standards it sounds as rough as old boots - although it’s also as charming and comfy as old boots as well.