Dave Mason

Dave Mason's pop songwriting contributions -- "Feelin' Alright," "Hole in My Shoe," "We Can All Join In" -- brought some crucial leavening to his old band's (Traffic) classical-jazz-blues mix. But when he went solo, Mason turned soft and then got softer. The guitarist's way with a hook is apparent throughout his work, but more telling are his limited vocal range, an overall sense of caution, and lyrics that too often descend to pop-psych clichés. His big hit from 1977, "We Just Disagree," was pabulum. Backed by Delaney and Bonnie and their excellent group of players, Alone Together was crisp and highly successful. With It's Like You Never Left (now deleted), Mason hit a peak, of sorts -- Graham Nash's singing is pleasant, as always, but the album's dense instrumentation shows Mason heading toward the glossiness from which he'd seldom depart thereafter. Mason won his biggest audience with his most boring material on Let It Flow. Released in 1977, the year punk fully erupted, it was sad, dinosaur music from a former innovator and provided a cautionary tale in the perils of growing comfortable, expert, and redundant. Ultimate Collection is the most balanced compilation, from the early Traffic work to the later solo fare. (PAUL EVANS)

From 2004's The New Rolling Stone Album Guide