David Thomas Mason
(May 10th 1946 – April 19th 2026)
was an English
singer-songwriter
and guitarist,
who came to prominence
in 1967
as a founding member
of the rock band
Traffic.
He wrote and
sang lead vocals
on two of the band's
most famous songs,
"Hole in My Shoe"
and
"Feelin' Alright?"
His song
"Only You Know and I Know"
became a signature song for
Delaney & Bonnie,
and
"We Just Disagree",
Mason's 1977 solo
U.S. hit,
written by
Jim Krueger,
has become a staple
of U.S. classic hits
and
adult contemporary
radio playlists.
After leaving Traffic
he pursued a solo career
and recorded with artists
including
George Harrison,
the Rolling Stones,
Jimi Hendrix,
Eric Clapton,
Paul McCartney and Wings,
David Crosby,
Graham Nash,
Steve Winwood,
Fleetwood Mac,
Delaney & Bonnie,
Leon Russell,
and
Cass Elliot.
In 2004,
Mason started an
electric guitar company
with business partner
and industrial designer
Ravi Sawhney,
the same year
as he was
inducted into the
Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame
as a member of
Traffic
Alone Together
is the debut
solo album
by former
Traffic member
released in 1970.
Mason was joined
on the album by
a roster of
guest musicians,
including
Bonnie Bramlett,
Leon Russell,
Jim Capaldi,
Rita Coolidge,
Carl Radle
and
Jim Gordon.
The song
"Only You Know and I Know"
reached number
No. 42
on the
Billboard charts
in the US
and was the
record's major
commercial success.
Packaging
About 30%
of the records
were produced in
so-called
marble vinyl,
a swirled mix of pink,
brown and beige,
rather than the
usual black vinyl.
The original record jacket
is a tri-fold
with a half-pocket
on the inside
to hold the record
originally issued
without a
paper inner sleeve
The top of the
tri-fold has a
die-cut image
of Mason
in a top hat
and morning dress,
collaged behind
a rocky outcrop,
and there is a
small die-cut hole
at the top to
permit the jacket
to be hung
on the wall
as a poster.
Headkeeper
is a 1972 album by
Originally released on
Blue Thumb Records
as Blue Thumb 34
(a subsidiary of Famous Music Group),
Headkeeper
was reissued by
MCA Records as
MCA 712,
then reissued on CD
in 1988
Recording and Release
In late 1971,
Mason began recording
Headkeeper.
He envisioned a
double album
with one disk
containing new
studio recordings
and the other
live recordings
with his new band.
The live tracks
had been recorded
at some highly
regarded dates
at the
Troubadour club
in Los Angeles.
Mason thought that
since he was
Blue Thumb's
most successful artist,
they should renegotiate
his contract.
When they refused,
he slipped into the
studio and took
the master tapes
of the recordings
made to date.
Producer
Tommy LiPuma
then assembled
an album
from two-track
safety masters
that Mason
did not take
which
Blue Thumb released.
Mason publicly
denounced the
release as a
"bootleg".
Mason
eventually signed
a deal with
Columbia Records
who bought
out his
Blue Thumb contract.
Blue Thumb
issued
Dave Mason Is Alive
in 1973
with
remaining tracks
from the
Troubadour set.
TRACKLIST
Only You Know And I Know
Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving
Waitin' On You
Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave
World In Changes
Sad And Deep As You
Just A Song
Look At You Look At Me
To Be Free
In My Mind
Here We Go Again
A Heartache, A Shadow, A Lifetime
Headkeeper
Baby... Please [*]
Pearly Queen
(Live)
Just A Song
(Live)
World In Changes
(Live)
Can't Stop Worrying, Can't Stop Loving
(Live)
Feelin' Alright?
(Live)
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