Search - Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi :: 40,000 Headmen Tour: Live

Been there, done that... and no reason not to do it again!

running_man | Chesterfield Twp., MI | 12/03/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite albums of all time is Dave Mason's 1970 epic 'Alone Together'. Aside from the songs 'We Just Disagree' and 'Feelin' Alright' (both included here), Dave didn't do a lot else of consequence to me... but he didn't have to either. Mason built a career around 4 of the 'Alone Together' songs featured here ('Sad and Deep As You', 'World In Changes', 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave' and 'Only You Know and I Know'), in addition to 'Waiting On You' and 'Look At You, Look At Me'. With each successive album, I hoped against hope that Mason could replicate this masterpiece, but it wasn't to be. Fortunately, Dave's voice is every bit as vibrant as it ever was, so he can continue to reinvent these songs as he does here. I have no problem with that. Mason is also an overlooked electric guitar maestro, so it is always a treat to hear the new plucks and twangs he puts on these numbers. He accentuates his use of the wha-wha less than in the 70's, which is understandable, but I miss it a bit.But before 'Alone Together' there was the memorable band 'Traffic' from the late 60's and early 70's, which early-on teamed Mason with Steve Winwood and percussionist Jim Capaldi. This reunion of Mason and Capaldi then features many of Capaldi's best compositions with 'Traffic', such as the kicking opener 'Pearly Queen', '40,000 Headmen', 'The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys', and a straight forward, less psychedelic 'Dear Mr. Fantasy'. The setlist is rounded out with another Capaldi composition, the love ballad 'Love Will Keep Us Alive', and a cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower', a staple of Mason concerts for many years. Except for 'Pearly Queen' and 'Dear Mr. Fantasy', Capaldi handles the vocals on all of his own compositions, and the songs fit his gravely vocal cords well. Needless to say, there isn't a loser in the bunch.Some of the highlights of the concert are every solo played by Mason, and occasional keyboard runs by Steve Thoma. Capaldi's unique percussion skills are on display, especially his conga accompaniment on 'Sad and Deep As You' and 'Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave', supplanting the usual drum kit. 'Shouldn't Have...' features a one-verse segue into John Lennon's 'Dear Prudence', and 'Low Spark...' is performed sans percussion as Capaldi adeptly accompanies Mason's wailing electric guitar with an airy acoustic guitar. We're looking at some talented musicians here.And this recording is crisp, perhaps the sharpest live recording I've heard. The instruments blend nicely, yet remain distinct, and the vocals are clear and strong as well. While Capaldi writes in the liner notes that the mix is derived "with no overdubs or repairing whatsoever", it is obvious that sound tech John Taylor has been experimenting with the audience noise. Between songs, you will feel you are listening to a bootleg tape made from the 50th row of the auditorium, clearly picking up snippits of conversations among members of the audience as you struggle to make coherant Mason and Capaldi's on-stage banter. Yet with the beginning of each song, the audience is back in the can and you may as well be sitting in front of the drum kit with Mason on your left and Thoma on your right. It's an interesting recording endeavor, not overlooked and not without effect.If you enjoy 'Alone Together' and Traffic, you'll enjoy this. The 3 song opener and 4 song closer rock the house down, and the middle section is mindful reflection. These guys have been around, and know how to deliver."

Superb Sound!

Ibere Moreira Campos | São Paulo, SP Brazil | 07/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very special moment in music history: both Mason and Capaldi have had very good and (many) poor moments, but this special CD is the best of the best.
Almost all sounds are classic, from the music to the lyrics.
It needs to be heard many and many times to capture its deep."