Dave Mason & Cass Elliot

Dave Mason & Cass Elliot was the only teaming of artists Dave Mason and Cass Elliot. The album was produced by both Mason and Elliot and recorded in 1970. The album was released by Blue Thumb Records.

Conception

After being introduced by a mutual friend, Mason and Elliot hit it off and decided to pursue singing together professionally. Elliot, having released two solo albums at that time, missed the collaborative effort of producing music and Mason, who had just arrived in the U.S. after splitting with Traffic, was interested in a fresh collaboration.

Album

Despite receiving co-billing with Mason, Elliot's contributions are limited to background vocals on several of the songs, which highlighted a raspy, more raw side of Elliot’s voice. When interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine Elliot stated, “I sing better with David because he’s so good. You want to do better. I’m singing notes I never sang with The Mamas & the Papas.”

The music falls into the country-rock harmony sound of its time, but with a bluesier edge. Mason wrote five of the songs on the album, while Elliot co-wrote two: the single “Something to Make You Happy” and her only solo song on the album, “Here We Go Again”. This was the first time that Elliot lent her hand in songwriting since her days with The Big 3 and The Mugwumps, and also the last.

Two singles were released. “Something To Make You Happy” was released in January 1971, with “Too Much Truth, Too Much Love” released the following month.

Reception

The album was released in March 1971 and was a moderate success landing at the 49th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. To promote the album, Mason and Elliot both appeared and performed on The Tonight Show and The Andy Williams Show. They also performed two concerts with the first one at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and the second at New York’s Fillmore East. Although Mason and Elliot remained close friends and both discussed interest in recording together again, this would be their only collaboration.

It was reissued in 2008 by the British Rev-Ola Records.

Track listing

1. “Walk To The Point” (Dave Mason)
2. “On And On” (Ned Doheny)
3. “To Be Free” (Mason)
4. “Here We Go Again” (Bryan Garo, Cass Elliot)
5. “Pleasing You” (Mason, M. Juster)
6. “Sit And Wonder” (Mason)
7. “Something To Make You Happy” (Mason, Elliot)
8. “Too Much Truth, Too Much Love” (Mason)
9. “Next To You” (Bryan Garo)
10. “Glittering Façade” (Mason)

References