Rock Icon Dave Mason Releasing Memoir ‘Only You Know and I Know’ & Talks Special Recording with Michael Jackson
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Dave Mason of ’60s English rock band Traffic fame is sharing it all. In his upcoming memoir Only You Know and I Know. he shares his incredible journey through rock ‘n’ roll history. From composing the song “Feeling Alright” (yes, the one famously sung by Joe Cocker) after a heartbreak affair as a teen to stories about Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Brian Jones, Cass Elliot and many others. His memoir includes the story of a fateful visit to Sharon Tate‘s home right before the Manson murders in 1969 and the dramatic standoff the night Traffic was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Traffic members Stevie Winwood, Chris Wood, Jim Capaldi and Dave Mason Keystone/Getty Images
Mason is currently out on his Traffic Jam tour, and the memoir is set to release next month (Sept. 10, 2024). We asked Mason to share a behind-the-scenes story with us to tease his book and boy, did he reveal something amazing!
He opened up to us about recording his final album for Columbia Records, Old Crest on a New Wave, released in 1980. He was in the studio with producer Joe Wissert, Jim Krueger on vocals and guitar, Rick Jaeger on drums and Mike Finnigan on keyboards and vocals.
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He said about Wissert, “He’d been with Columbia for a number of years. One of the albums he’d produced was Boz Skaggs’ Silk Degrees. I was hoping some of his magic would rub off for my new album. But looking back on it now, there really wasn’t anything strong enough on it for a single, and I was battling what at that time was called new wave music. That’s what inspired the title, and that’s why there’s a picture of a baby wearing boxing gloves on the cover — which, by the way, isn’t me. There are four different colors of that album jacket, and any way you find it, Dave Mason wasn’t in the public favor so much for this album.”
Book Cover Cred – Lorrie Sullivan
However, while recording the album, Mason ran into Michael Jackson recording in the next studio with Quincy Jones. He walked over and introduced himself and asked if Jackson would sing some of the high parts on the new album. Mason said that Jackson responded, “You know, when I was 12 years old, I was doing a TV special with Diana Ross. At the end of the show, Diana and The Jackson Five sang your song ‘Feelin’ Alright?’ So, yes, absolutely. Of course, I’ll come sing.” His vocals can be heard in the song “Save Me.”
Mason added that Jackson ended up doing much more for the track than he ever expected him to do. Unfortunately, Columbia dropped the ball with promoting the album, and Mason and Wissert never worked with them again.
His memoir also shares stories from working with Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and more, plus never-before-seen photos, inside details on his long career and fun stories. As of now, the 78-year-old is the only member of the band Traffic who has released a memoir.
Pre-order his memoir here and check out the remaining tour dates below:
8.12.24 Stephens Talkhouse – Amagansett, NY
8.14.24 The Center for The Arts in Natick – Natick, MA
8.16.24 Robins Theater – Warren, OH
8.17.24 Grewal Hall at 224 – Lansing, MI
8.18.24 Hendricks Live ! – Plainfield, IN
8.20.24 Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum – Nashville, TN
9.14.24 Longhorn Ballroom – Dallas, TX
9.15.24 The Heights – Houston, TX
9.17.24 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
9.20.24 Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix, AZ (new)
9.21.24 Santa Fe Station – Las Vegas, NV (new)
9.24.24 Lobero Theatre – Santa Barbara, CA
9.26.24 The Canyon – Montclair, CA
9.27.24 Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA
9.28.24 The Libbey Bowl – Ojai, CA
10.3.24 Humphreys Concerts – San Diego, CA
10.4.24 Coach House – San Juan Capistrano, CA (new)
10.5.24 Clark Center for the Performing Arts – Arroyo Grande, CA(new)
10.9.24 Rio Theatre – Santa Cruz, CA (new)
10.10.24 The Center for the Performing Arts – Grass Valley, CA
10.12.24 Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
Birth of Rock 'n' Roll
February 2024
"Long live rock," we like to say, but how did it come to life? Revisit the memorable moments, music and movies that made teens go beat crazy back in the 1950s.
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