by Dave Mason
Editor’s Note: Dave Mason just passed away, so we thought it appropriate to re-upload this interview from 2017.
Dave Mason’s guitar-soaked fingerprints are all over some of the biggest bands, artists and songs of the ’60s and ’70s. He was a founding member of Traffic along with friends Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. He wrote the classic “Feelin’ All Right,” which Joe Cocker had a big hit in 1969. He appeared on George Harrison’s album All things must pass and Jimi Hendrix’s “All along the watchtower.“Mason played with everyone from Eric Clapton and Delaney and Bonnie to Fleetwood Mac and Phoebe Snow. In 1977, he had his own huge hit, “We just disagree” Mason’s career spans the best of classic British rock – and he continues to share his vast musical gifts as one of the hardest-traveling musicians in the business. So let’s dive in and hear what Dave has to say…
Over the years, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about my vantage point in the British invasion, since I was lucky enough to be in it. I sat with my friends Culture is gold To discuss it all. Here is that interview:
Q: Many British musicians cite American music as the spark that got them interested in playing. What was your first exposure to American sounds?
A: The first American music I ever listened to was my mother’s record, The Platters. And when I went to the fair, you could hear Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Dale Shannon singing outside every ride there was. It seems like it was suddenly “there”.
I grew up with only one TV station and one radio station, but that one TV station, the BBC, had some great shows where early rock artists played live, e.g. The Old Gray Whistle TestAnd 65 Special. But it wasn’t until I was 11 years old and first traveled to America with my mother that I heard it a lot. I couldn’t believe all the stations and music; I heard my future and was hooked.
I wanted to play guitar since I was 15 and the English band The Shadows and the American version, The Ventures, were my first influences; Which then drew me more towards American music. We tried to copy what we were hearing.
Q: Talk about the overall impact of American artists on the British invasion.
Answer: Johnny and Dorsey Barnett can probably be credited with starting what we call “rock and roll”, rockabilly. Bill Haley and the Comets, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry. The list is long.
When it comes to blues influences: B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King, Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Bobby Parker, TV Slim… it goes on.
Eric Clapton, myself, Jeff Beck or other British guitarists wouldn’t exist if these artists weren’t there to learn from us.
Q: What was it about these American artists that “talked” to the British?
A: It was new and exciting and it was about freedom, as it was in the United States.
Q: What are the 3 “touchstones” in your personal record collection?
A: B.B. King Live at the Regal, James Brown Live at the ApolloAnd Ray Charles live at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Q: When did you first discover these records?
A: I was among these artists, and so were my band-mates Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood and Chris Wood. We were all fans, and talked about them and listened to them a lot. What I love about these recordings is that they are “live”. There is no trick, and it was done that way. Even though recording technology was nowhere near what it is today, you can still hear the magic of these three artists. That’s why any young artist today would serve themselves well to acquire these copies of How To Listen really Done!
Q: What, in particular, “speaks” to you about these records?
Answer: We learned from these artists. They are unique, they came first and you can hear their influence everywhere, even today. It has stood the test of time.
Q: What did you personally take away from any of these recordings that influenced your own work?
A. B.B. King’s guitar playing.
Q: Of all your early musical heroes who have passed the time, who would you love to jam with if given the chance?
A: Something with Eddie Cochrane. He had great songs and they were simple. I loved jamming all their
Q: You’ve played with virtually everyone. Are there artists you still want to work with?
A: I think the Traveling Wilburys (90s supergroup featuring George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne) were a great idea. I want to do it. I would love to do a live recording and get together with some of my colleagues like Mick Fleetwood, Steven Tyler, Michael McDonald, Graham Nash, Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. I think that would be a great amount of fun.
PS Classic Rock fans may also enjoy our posts 31 Concept Albums You Missed, The studio band that was really behind the music And The twist that made “Penny Lane” such a classic.
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This post was Previously published on CultureSonar.
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Photo credit: Karl is the lender, CC BY-SA 3.0via Wikimedia Commons
