Dave Mason and friends have taken the downtime during quarantine to remake one of Mason’s most iconic and heavily covered songs since its release in 1968 - “Feelin’ Alright.” Dubbed ‘Dave Mason and the Quarantines’, the new song features Mason singing along with Mick Fleetwood, Sammy Hagar, Michael McDonald and The Doobie Brothers: John McFee, Tom Johnston, John Cowan and Pat Simmons. Dave’s longtime drummer, Alvino Bennett, also lends a hand as does Pat Simmons, Jr., Pat’s son, joining in the fun. The song premieres exclusively on SiriusXM’s Classic Vinyl Channel (Ch. 26) today at 9am ET, and the accompanying video premieres on SiriusXM here.
“Feelin’ Alright” is one of the most covered songs today, with some fifty different acts giving their take to the international hit including such artists as: Joe Cocker, The Jackson Five, Lou Rawls, John Belushi, Three Dog Night, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Grand Funk Railroad, ELO, Freddie King, Widespread Panic, The Black Crowes and many more.
Mason penned the song at the young age of 22 while alone on the Greek island of Hydra writing new songs for the second Traffic album. “Who would have thought that this would go on to be covered by so many different artists and bands, you just never know,” reminisces Mason. “But what I do know today is that people need some hope and comfort and especially music, which is why I called up some friends to re-record a special version of the song. To do this remotely was somewhat challenging, hence the name ‘The Quarantines’, but the spirit of strength, hope and heart prevail.”
Mason has been respectfully called a musical “gunslinger” for a reason; having worked with some of the biggest names in music, his trademark guitar licks and musical touches are all over some classic hits. He recorded an album with Mama Cass, played rhythm guitar on “All Along the Watchtower” with Jimi Hendrix, was a founding member of Traffic, recorded with Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones, was part of Fleetwood Mac for a spell, as well as a guitar designer and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee …. Yep, that’s Dave Mason.
After leaving Traffic, the band he and Steve Winwood co-founded, Mason went on to record his own solo project, Alone Together, in 1970. The album featured the hits “Only You Know and I Know” and “Look at You, Look at Me”. Together with Jim Capaldi, Leon Russell, Rita Coolidge, Bonnie Bramlett and others, Mason created some of the most memorable music of a generation. Mason plans to release a re-recorded version of the album, Alone Together Again, this fall.
Mason's seemingly endless talents moved Eric Clapton himself to comment “I think he has a fantastic touch. I love the way he plays guitar. And his songs are great.”
Mason concludes, “We all miss performing live and it’s important to us to be able to stay connected with our fans (not to mention each other!).”
