Mason Proffit

Band members               Related acts

- Tim Ayres -- bass (1969-73)

- Bill Cunningham -- guitar, fiddle, mandolin, backing vocals

  (1973)

- Rick Durett -- keyboards (1969-73)

- Creeper Kurnow -- keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals

  (1973)

- Art Nash -- drums (1969-73)

- Tom Radtke -- percussion (1973)

- Kinky Schnitzner -- guitar (1973)

- Ron Schuetter -- vocals, guitar (1969-73)

- John Talbot -- vocals, guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo

  (1969-73)

- Terry Talbot -- vocals, lead guitar, percussion (1969-73)

 

 

- Sounds Unlimited (John and Terry Talbot)

- John Talbot (solo efforts)

- Terry Talbot (solo efforts)

- The Talbot Brothers

- Tucker's Fault (Art Nash)

 

 

 

 

 

Genre: country-rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Wanted Mason Proffit

Company: Happy Tiger

Catalog: HT-1009

Year: 1969

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 4772

Price: $15.00

Cost: $1.00

 

Brothers John and Terry Talbot were founding members of Chicago's Sounds Unlimited.  When that band called it quits in 1969 as Mason Proffit the two continued their musical partnership with bassist Tim Ayres, keyboard player Rick Durett, drummer Art Nash and guitarist Ron Schuetter.

 

The band were quickly signed to the Chicago based Happy Tiger label.  Interestingly, anyone expecting to hear Sounds Unlimited-styled garage rock was in for a major surprise with the release of their debut "Wanted Mason Proffit". Co-produced by Bill Traut and Terry Talbot, the collection found the band introducing a then cutting edge blend of country and rock moves.  Exemplified by songs like 'Walk On Down the Road' and 'It's All Right', the collection was full of killer tunes that should have made bands like The Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco turn green with envy.  Moreover on tracks like 'Voice of Change' and 'A Rectangle Picture' these guys managed to churn out some of the most impassioned and thought provoking political and social commentary that you've never heard.  Sure, occasionally it was a little too country for my tastes ('Stewball' and the bluegrass instrumental 'Johnny's Tune'), but there was enough rock and oddball stuff here to warrant the investment - check out the bizarre lyric on 'Two Hangmen'.  Elsewhere I'm still not sure how a CCR-styled track like 'Sweet Lady Love' (with a classic fuzz guitar solo) missed becoming a major hit.  

 

Two singles were drawn from the album:

- 'A Rectangle Picture' b/w ' Voice of Change' (Happy Tiger catalog number HT-545)

- 'Two Hangmen' b/w 'Sweet Lady Love' (Happy Tiger catalog number HT-552)

 

"Wanted Mason Proffit" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Voice of Change   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:51

2.) A Rectangle Picture   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:19

3.) You Finally Found Your Love   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 4:20

4.) Sweet Lady Love   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:50

5.) Stewball    (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:30

 

(side 2)
1.) Two Hangmen   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 4:58

2.) Buffalo   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) -  2:00

3.) Walk On Down the Road   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:54

4.) It's All Right   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:30

5.) Till the Sun's Gone   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:22

6.) Johnny's Tune (instrumental)   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 1:16

 

 

 

 

Genre: country-rock

Rating: *** (4 stars)

Title:  Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

Company: Ampex

Catalog: A-10138

Year: 1971

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4773

Price: $20.00

Cost: $1.00

 

Not to imply they don't deserve their share of fame and recognition, but I find it depressing to see all the acclaim heaped on Gram Parsons and other early country-rock exponents, while these guys remain all but unknown outside of a small cult following.

 

After two albums for Happy Tiger, 1971's "Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream" saw the band signed by Ampex Records.  Produced by James Lee Golden, the band's third studio set found them continuing their cutting edge exploration of country-rock, though this time out the emphasis was increasingly on the country part of the equation.  With the Talbot brothers responsible for eight of the ten tracks the album was also notable for their increasingly direct social and political commentary.  Powered by the Talbot's attractive voices, the album was full of nifty melodies, but with the exception of '24 Hour Sweetheart' virtually every one of the songs sported some sort of message - some more subtle than others (check out the harrowing anti-war track 'Mother').  The activist stance reflected on songs such as the pro-ecology 'In the Country', the title track, 'Hope' and the rockin' stand-up-for-your-beliefs 'Eugene Pratt' probably didn't do much to endear the band to top-40 radio.  In hindsight the album also serves as an indication of John Talbot's future religious direction.  Probably a little too country for most rock fans, but well worth investigating if you're interested in the genre.  Elsewhere Ampex tapped 'Hope' b/w 'Jewel' as a single (Ampex catalog number 11048).

 

"Come & Gone" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) In the Country/Sparrow   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 7:48

2.) 24 Hour Sweetheart   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 2:54

3.) Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream   (Ed McCurdy) - 3:42

4.) Hope   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:14

 

(side 2)
1.) Freedom   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 2;48

2.) 500 Men   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:11

3.) Jewel   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:51

4.) Eugene Pratt   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 3:51

5.) Mother   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:37

6.) My Country (traditional) - 0:46

 

 

Genre: country-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Bare Back Rider

Company: Warner Brothers

Catalog: BS-2074

Year: 1973

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve; 'B' on inner sleeve; cut lower right corner

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4774

Price: $15.00

Cost: $1.00

 

 

 Produced by Bill Halverson, 1973's "Bare Back Rider" served to showcase the band's exceptional country-rock moves.  The Talbot brothers again handled the bulk of writing duties, but perhaps under pressure from their label this time their social and political activism was largely kept in check.  The only overtly political statement here was 'Black September/Belfast'.  Highlights included the Latin-flavored 'Lilly' (as good as anything Stephen Stills and Manassas ever did), the pretty ballad 'Cottonwood' and the Jerry Lee Lewis-styled rocker 'Setting the Woods On Fire' (worth the admission price just for the kazoo solo).  Easily as good as any mid-1970s release by The Eagles or Poco, the album should have been a major hit.  Unfortunately Warner Brothers simply couldn't figure out how to market the band and in the end they simply proved too country for rock audiences and too rock for country fans.  The end result was indifference among critics and the buying public and shortly after the album was released the band called it quits.

In a curious marketing move 'Lilly' b/w 'I Saw the Light' (Warner Brothers catalog number 7709) was released as a single credited to 'The Talbot Brothers'.

"Bare Back Rider" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Lilly   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 2:19

2.) Cottonwood   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:17

3.) Setting the Woods On Fire   (Ed Nelson - Fred Rose) - 2:56

4.) Dance Hall Girl   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:50

5.) To a Friend   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:12

 

(side 2)
1.) Stoney River   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 3:50

2.) Black September/Belfast   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 3:47

3.) I Saw the Light   (Williams) - 2:58

4.) Five Generations   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:44

5.) Sail Away   (John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 3:11

 

 

 

Genre: country-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Come & Gone

Company: Warner Brothers

Catalog: 2S-2746

Year: 1974

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4771

Price: $12.00

Cost: $1.00

 

I have to admit that my earlier exposure to the Mason Proffit catalog wasn't particularly enjoyable.  Bland country-rock was my general impression and I filed their albums away without a second thought.  Accordingly my hopes for this one were pretty low.  Wow was I ever wrong!  I'd love to know how I missed this band's charm ...

 

Released just as Warner Brothers was getting ready to drop the band from it's recording roster, 1974's "Come & Gone" was kind of an odd album in that it served to repackage the band's two earlier releases for Happy Tiger: "Wanted! Mason Proffit" and "Moving Toward Happiness".  As an affordable retrospective it's a wonderful introduction to the band's then cutting edge blend of country and rock moves.  Exemplified by songs like 'Walk On Down the Road' and 'It's All Right', the collection is full of killer tunes that should have made bands like The Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco turn green with envy, on tracks like 'Voice of Change' and 'A Rectangle Picture' these guys also managed to churn out some of the most impassioned and thought provoking political and social commentary that you've never heard. Sure, occasionally it's a little too country for my tastes ('Stewball' and the bluegrass instrumental 'Johnny's Tune'), but there's enough rock and oddball stuff here to warrant the investment - check out the lyric on 'Two Hangmen'.  Elsewhere I'm still not sure how a CCR-styled track like 'Sweet Lady Love' missed becoming a major hit.

 

"Come & Gone" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Voice of Change   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:54

2.) A Rectangle Picture   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:19

3.) You Finally Found Your Love   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 4:21

4.) Sweet Lady Love   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:56

5.) Stewball    (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:31

 

(side 2)
1.) Two Hangmen   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 4:56

2.) Buffalo   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) -  2:07

3.) Walk On Down the Road   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:55

4.) It's All Right   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:31

5.) Till the Sun's Gone   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:25

6.) Johnny's Tune (instrumental)   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 1:16

 

(side 3)

1.) Michael Dodge   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:58

2.) Hard Luck Woman   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:57

3.) Children   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:49

4.) Hokey Joe Pony   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2;24

5.) Flying Arrow   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:31

6.) Old Joe Clark (traditional arranged by John Talbot - Terry Talbot) - 4:00

 

(side 4)

1.) Good Friend of Mary's   (Camero) - 2:46

2.) He Loves Them   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:31

3.) Melinda   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 3:40

4.) Let Me Know Where You're Going   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 2:29

5.) Everybody Was Wrong   (Mason Proffit - Talbot) - 5:17

 

 

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