Great Britain's
Beat Goes On (
BGO) imprint continues its definitive
Dave Mason reissue series with this two-fer containing excellent remasters of his 1976
Certified Live album and his 1977 studio effort,
Let It Flow.
Certified Live was released in the aftermath of
Peter Frampton's massive success with
Frampton Comes Alive! At the time, it was thought by
Columbia Records that -- since both men were regarded as British guitar heroes and
Mason had experienced some pop success on his own (some six years earlier with the single "
Only You Know and I Know" and the album
Alone Together) -- this would net great rewards. This was not to be, obviously. That said,
Certified Live is a deeply satisfying concert offering. It was recorded absolutely live with no studio overdubs and contains a couple of tunes he recorded with
Traffic, including
"Pearly Queen." However, its true highlights are the funky opening version of
"Feelin' Alright," his faithful but emotionally deep and ragged version of
the Eagles'
"Take It to the Limit," his own
"Sad and Deep as You," the blues classic
"Goin' Down Slow," a 12-minute guitar-slinger version of the stellar
"Look at You, Look at Me" (written with
Traffic drummer
Jim Capaldi), and, of course,
"Only You Know and I Know." The second disc in the package includes an album that defined
Mason ever after in
Let It Flow and its Top 40 single,
"We Just Disagree." Despite the single, there are other fine tracks here, including the R&B-influenced
"Let It Go, Let It Flow," the lilting ballads
"Seasons" (with
Stephen Stills and
Yvonne Elliman on backing vocals) and
"Spend Your Life with Me" (with a great saxophone solo by
Ernie Watts), and the Caribbean-rhythms-meet-guitar-jam
"Takin' the Time to Find." Along with the two-fer
Alone Together/Headkeeper, this double-disc set provides an excellent introduction to
Mason's wide range as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. ~ Thom Jurek
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