Top 10 Dave Mason Songs

Photo: By Craig ONeal (Dave Mason in Concert Live!) [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Dave Mason Songs looks at the solo career of one of the most legendary and affluent singer-songwriters of the classic rock era. This article focuses on the music Dave Mason released as a solo artist. We have avoided the material he wrote with or for the legendary band Traffic, except for “Feeling Alright,” which Dave Mason later released as a solo artist. Dave Mason played an essential role in Traffic, but his involvement with the group was more or less revolving-door, as he left and rejoined the band multiple times.

Dave Mason has had an exceptional solo career, releasing a large body of work since his first solo album release in 1970. Since that fabulous debut album, Dave Mason has released fourteen studio albums. On the live album front, Dave Mason has issued seven live albums. Twelve compilation albums have been released regarding Dave Mason’s music. Dave Mason and his various record companies have also issued four live videos.

Many Dave Mason fans do not realize how much material Dave Mason has collaborated on over the years with various artists. Dave Mason has been credited with session work with some of the most famous artists, including Jimi Hendrix, Graham Nash, Eric Clapton, Donovan, George Harrison, and The Rolling Stones.

# 10 – We Just Disagree

We open our top 10 Dave Mason songs list with his massive 1977 hit “We Just Disagree.” This was the song that many old-school Dave Mason fans didn’t care for, arguing that it was too commercial. That was a sad argument because it is a great song. The song “We Just Disagree” was written by Jim Krueger. The brilliant Stephen Stills contributed to the song’s great vocal harmonies.

# 9 – The Lonely One

Dave Mason, Stevie Wonder, and Leon Russell are all on one track. How could it not be great? It most certainly is. The song “The Lonely One” was released on the It’s Like You Never Left album. That excellent record was released in 1973. The song’s guitar intro sounds like so much of his work with Traffic. This song will eat you up.

# 8 – Look At You Look At Me

When the Alone Together album was released, it featured an incredible colored marble vinyl record. It was the type of vinyl release that record collectors would die for. The excellent track “Look At You Look At Me” was one of the finest Dave Mason songs released on the album.

# 7 – Let It Go, Let It Flow

The second track from the Let It Flow album to appear on this Top 10 Dave Mason songs list was the album’s title track, “Let It Go, Let It Flow.” The song was one of three singles released from the album. “So High” was the album’s opening track and other single released besides “We Just Disagree” and “Let It Go, Let It Flow.”

# 6 – If You’ve Got Love

The Dave Mason song “If You’ve Got Love” was issued on the 1973 album It’s Like You Never Left. The album featured an incredible lineup of supporting musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Jim Keltner, Chuck Rainey, Graham Nash, and George Harrison.

# 5 – All Along The Watchtower

The incredible live version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Along The Watchtower” was released on the great Dave Mason live album Certified Live. It’s long out of print on CD; if you can find this, pick it up because it’s one of the best classic rock live albums ever released.

# 4 – Show Me Some Affection

This song should bring you back to the Fall of 1974. This cool swaying song “Show Me Some Affection,” was released on the album Dave Mason. “Show Me Some Affection” was the album’s opening track. The songs feature some great players, including Dave Mason on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Finnigan on keyboards and vocals, the legendary Bob Glaub on bass, Rick Jaeger on drums, and Jim Krueger on guitar.

# 3 – Only You Know and I Know

This was one of Dave Mason’s classic songs, recorded during his early solo period. The song was released on Dave Mason’s debut solo album Alone Together. The album featured an unbelievable lineup of guest vocalists, including Bonnie Bramlett, Rita Coolidge, Mike Coolidge, Claudia Lennear, Lou Cooper, Bob Norwood, and Jack Storti. Also present on the album was the brilliant Leon Russell on keyboards. WOW!

“Only You Know and I Know” was also recorded by Delaney & Bonnie, initially recorded in 1969 and later released as a single in 1971. It achieved significant success, becoming the Top 20 in the United States and the Top 10 in Canada. The song was later featured on their album D&B Together, released the subsequent year. Rita Coolidge also performed a cover version of the song for her 1971 album “Nice Feelin’.” This version was eventually chosen as the flip side of her 1978 hit single “You,” which reached the Top 40.

# 2 – Every Woman

The classic Dave Mason track “Every Woman” was released on the Dave Mason album in 1974. Richard Bennett’s beautiful pedal steel guitar playing gave the track a multi-genre sound that made it very popular, crossing the boundaries of soft rock and country.

# 1 – Feeling Alright

There are so many versions of this classic song that it basically comes down to just picking your favorite. We have always loved the funky live version released on the excellent live album Certified Live. The groove on this live recording is inescapable. The live band featured Dave Mason on guitar and vocals, Mike Finnigan on keyboards and vocals, Dr. Rick Jaeger on drums, Gerald Johnson on bass, and Jim Krueger on guitar and vocals.