On April 19, 2026, David Thomas Mason died aged 79. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, best known as the founding member of the band Traffic. He recorded and performed with Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Graham Nash, Steve Winwood, Donovan, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Cass Elliot, The Spencer Davis Group, Leon Russell, Paul McCartney and Wings, Julian Covey & The Machine, Stephen Stills, Phoebe Snow, Mike Finnigan, The Scaffold, Gordon Jackson, Family, Ron Wood, Noel Redding, David Crosby, Don Felder, Jim Capaldi, The Rolling Stones and George Harrison. As leader he released 16 studio and seven live albums.
Tag Archives: Cass Elliot
The Mamas & Papas: Deliver
On February 2, 1967, “Dunhill” label released “Deliver”, the third Mamas & the Papas (The) studio album. It was recorded in `1966, and was produced by Lou Adler.
Personnel:
- Denny Doherty – vocals
- Cass Elliot – vocals
- John Phillips – vocals, guitar
- Michelle Phillips – vocals
- Jill Gibson – vocals
- Scott McKenzie – 12-string acoustic, guitar
- “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
- P.F. Sloan – guitar
- Tommy Tedesco – guitar
- Larry Knechtel – keyboards
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
- Gary Coleman – percussion, bells, marimba
- Jim Horn – flute, saxophone
Track listing:
All tracks by John Phillips, except where noted.
- Dedicated to the One I Love – Ralph Bass, Lowman Pauling
- My Girl – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
- Creeque Alley – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Sing for Your Supper – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
- Twist and Shout – Phil Medley, Bert Russell
- Free Advice – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Look Through My Window
- Boys & Girls Together
- String Man – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Frustration
- Did You Ever Want to Cry
- John’s Music Box
Stephen Stills: Same
On November 16, 1970, “Atlantic” label released the self-titled, debut Stephen Stills studio album. It was recorded January – July 1970, at “Island Studios” in London, “The Record Plant” and “Wally Heider” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Stephen Stills and Bill Halverson. In 1974, “New Musical Express” magazine ranked it at number 70 on its list of “The Best Albums of All Time.
Personnel:
- Stephen Stills – vocals, guitars, bass, piano, organ, steelpan, percussion; horn and string arrangements
- Jimi Hendrix – electric guitar
- Eric Clapton – electric guitar
- Booker T. Jones – organ, backing vocal
- Calvin “Fuzzy” Samuel – bass
- Conrad Isidore – drums
- John Barbata – drums
- Ringo Starr – drums
- Dallas Taylor – drums
- Jeff Whittaker – congas
- Sidney George – flute, alto saxophone
- Rita Coolidge, David Crosby, Priscilla Jones, John Sebastian – backing vocals
- Cass Elliot, Claudia Lennear – backing vocals
- Graham Nash – backing vocals
- Judith Powell, Larry Steele, Liza Strike, Tony Wilson – backing vocals
- Sherlie Matthews – backing vocals
- Arif Mardin – string arrangements
- Andy Johns – engineer
- Gary Burden – art direction, back cover photography
- Henry Diltz – front cover photography
- Charles John Quarto – sleeve poem
Track listing:
All tracks by Stephen Stills.
- Love the One You’re With
- Do for the Others
- Church (Part of Someone)
- Old Times Good Times
- Go Back Home
- Sit Yourself Down
- To a Flame
- Black Queen
- Cherokee
- We Are Not Helpless
Cass Elliot: The Road Is No Place For A Lady
In October 1972, “RCA” label released “The Road Is No Place for a Lady”, the fifth and final Cass Elliot studio album. It was recorded in 1972, at “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by Lewis Merenstein.
Personnel:
- Cass Elliot – vocals
- Chris Spedding – guitar
- Les Thacher – acoustic guitar
- Dave McRae – piano
- Don Randi – keyboard
- Les Hurdle – bass
- Barry Morgan – drums
- Ray Cooper – percussion
- Kay Garner, Margo Quantrell, Vicki West – backing vocals
- Larry Fallon – arrangements, conductor
- Del Newman – arrangement, conductor
- David Hentschel – engineer
Track listing:
- (If You’re Gonna) Break Another Heart – Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood
- Saturday Suit – Jimmy Webb
- Does Anybody Love You – Renée Armand, Kerry Chater
- Walk Beside Me – Mike Leslie, Billy Day
- All My Life – Diane Hildebrand, Leah Kunkel
- Say Hello – Paul Williams
- Who in the World – Chris Arnold, David Martin, Geoff Morrow
- Love Was Not a Word – Al Gorgoni, Trade Martin, Chip Taylor
- Oh, Babe, What Would You Say? – Eileen Sylvia Smith
- The Road Is No Place for a Lady – Leah Kunkel
The Mamas & Papas: Same
On August 30, 1966, “Dunhill” label released the self-titled, second Mamas & the Papas (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Lou Adler.
Personnel:
- Denny Doherty – vocals
- Cass Elliot – vocals
- Michelle Phillips – vocals
- Jill Gibson – vocals
- John Phillips – vocals, guitar
- “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
- Tommy Tedesco – guitar
- P. F. Sloan – guitar
- Larry Knechtel – piano, organ
- Ray Manzarek – piano, organ
- Joe Osborn – bass guitar
- Hal Blaine – drums, percussion
- Peter Pilafian – electric violin
- Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements
- Gene Page – horn arrangements
- Dayton “Bones” Howe – engineer
- Henry Lewy – engineer
- Bowen David – engineer assistant
- George Whiteman – artwork
- Guy Webster – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by John Phillips, except where noted.
- No Salt on Her Tail
- Trip, Stumble and Fall – John Phillips, Michelle Gilliam
- Dancing Bear
- Words of Love
- My Heart Stood Still – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
- Dancing in the Street – Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter
- I Saw Her Again – John Phillips, Denny Doherty
- Strange Young Girls
- I Can’t Wait
- Even If I Could
- That Kind of Girl
- Once Was a Time I Thought
Hal Blaine
On March 11, 2019, Harold Simon Belsky aka Hal Blaine died aged 90. He was musician (drums) regarded to be one of the most recorded studio drummers in the history of the modern music. He had more than 35,000 recording sessions in various music genres including big number of film and TV soundtracks. He worked with Shelley Fabares, The Crystals, Jan & Dean, The Beach Boys, Dean Martin, Lorne Greene, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, The Byrds, Sonny & Cher, Barry McGuire, Petula Clark, Nancy Sinatra, The Mamas & the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Rivers, The Supremes, The Association, Simon & Garfunkel, Tommy Roe, The 5th Dimension, Henry Mancini, The Carpenters, Neil Diamond, The Partridge Family, The Raiders, Barbra Streisand, John Denver, Captain & Tennille, Diana Ross, Sam Cooke, Van Dyke Parks, John Lennon, Lulu, Dennis Wilson, Paul Simon, Richard Harris, Glen Campbell, Emitt Rhodes, Art Garfunkel, Juice Newton, Michael Nesmith, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, J.J. Cale, José Feliciano, Bobby Darin, Rosanne Cash, Cass Elliot, Rodney Crowell, Dion DiMucci, Paul Anka, Barry Mann, Emmylou Harris, Jackie Lomax, Elkie Brooks, Helen Reddy, John Philips, Thelma Houston and Leonard Cohen. As leader Blaine released five albums.
Cass Elliot: Bubblegum, Lemonade and…Something for Mama
On July 5, 1969, “Dunhill” label released “Bubblegum, Lemonade and… Something for Mama”, the second Cass Elliot album under the billing “Mama Cass”. It was recorded in 1969 and was produced by Steve Barri.
Personnel:
- Mama Cass – vocals
- Mike Deasy– guitar
- Red Rhodes– steel guitar
- Larry Knechtel– organ, piano
- Ben Benay – guitar, harmonica
- Jimmie Haskell– accordion, arranger, conductor
- Joe Osborn– bass
- Hal Blaine– drums, percussion
- Steve Barri– percussion
- Phil Kaye – percussion, engineer
- Gary Burden- art direction, design
- Henry Diltz- photography
Track listing
- It’s Getting Better – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil
- Blow Me a Kiss – Jack Carone
- Sour Grapes -Tom Ghent
- Easy Come, Easy Go – Diane Hildebrand, Jack Keller
- I Can Dream, Can’t I? – Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal
- Welcome To the World – Martin Eagle Siegel, Scott English
- Lady Love – Delaney Bramlett
- He’s a Runner – Laura Nyro
- Move in a Little Closer, Baby – Robert O’Connor, Arnold Jay Capitanelli
- When I Just Wear My Smile – Tom V. Lane, Sharyn Pulley
- Who’s To Blame – Leah Kunkel
The Mama’s and the Papa’s: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears
In March 1966, “Dunhill” label released “If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears”, the debut Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded 1965 – 1966, and was produce by Lou Adler. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked it at number 127 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Denny Doherty– vocals
- Cass Elliot– vocals
- John Phillips– vocals, guitar
- Michelle Phillips– vocals
- F. Sloan– guitars, additional vocals
- Larry Knechtel- keyboards
- Joe Osborn– bass guitar
- Hal Blaine– drums
- Bud Shank– flute
- Peter Pilafian – electric violin
- Bones Howe– engineer
- Guy Webster – photography
Track listing:
- Monday, Monday – John Phillips
- Straight Shooter – John Phillips
- Got a Feelin’ – John Phillips, Denny Doherty
- I Call Your Name – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Do You Wanna Dance – Bobby Freeman
- Go Where You Wanna Go – John Phillips
- California Dreamin’ – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Spanish Harlem – Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector
- Somebody Groovy – John Phillips
- Hey Girl – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- You Baby – Steve Barri, F. Sloan
- The ‘In’ Crowd – Billy Page
The Mamas & The Papas: Deliver
On February 2, 1967, “Dunhill” label released “The Mamas & The Papas Deliver”, the third Mamas & the Papas album. It was recorded in 1966, and was produced by Lou Adler.
Personnel:
- Denny Doherty- vocals
- Cass Elliot- vocals
- John Phillips- vocals, guitar
- Michelle Phillips- vocals
- “Doctor” Eric Hord – guitar
- F. Sloan- guitar
- Larry Knechtel- keyboards
- Joe Osborn- bass guitar
- Hal Blaine- drums, percussion
- Gary Coleman – percussion, bells, marimba
- Jim Horn- flute, saxophone
Track listing:
All tracks by John Phillips except where noted.
- Dedicated to the One I Love – Ralph Bass, Lowman Pauling
- My Girl – Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
- Creeque Alley – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Sing for Your Supper – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
- Twist and Shout – Phil Medley, Bert Russell
- Free Advice – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Look Through My Window
- Boys and Girls Together
- String Man – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Frustration
- Did You Ever Want to Cry
- John’s Music Box
The Mamas & Papas: People Like Us
In November 1971, “Dunhill” label released “People Like Us”, the fifth and the final Mamas & the Papas (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1971, and was produced by John Philips.
Personnel:
- John Phillips– vocals, guitar
- Michelle Phillips– vocals
- Denny Doherty– vocals
- Cass Elliot– vocals
- Donald Peake, Louie Shelton, David T. Walker– guitar
- Joe Sample– keyboards
- Clarence McDonald– keyboards
- Tony Newton– bass guitar
- Gary Coleman – drums, tambourine, bells, vibraphone, shaker
- Ed Greene– drums
- Earl Palmer– drums
- Bobbye Hall– conga, tambourine, shaker, cabasa
- Jim Horn– flute, saxophone
- Gene Page- orchestral arrangement
- Dave Hassinger– engineer
- Rick Heenan, Val Garay- engineer assistant
- Henry Diltz – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by John Phillips, except where noted.
- People Like Us
- Pacific Coast Highway
- Snowqueen of Texas
- Shooting Star
- Step Out
- Lady Genevieve
- No Dough
- European Blueboy
- Pearl
- I Wanna Be a Star – John Phillips, Michelle Phillips
- Grasshopper
- Blueberries for Breakfast
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