I had this song in my drafts for 6 months, but never completed it after I heard this song on a Traffic and Dave Mason binge I went on. A few weeks ago, Mason passed away, and I wanted to get this out now. I do want to thank halffastcyclingclub for bringing him up last week. He could play anything, it seems, and had a huge range in music.
Dave Mason was a founding member of Traffic in the late 1960s, and they had a cool mix of folk, rock, psychedelia, and blues. Mason wrote some of Traffic’s best-known songs, including Feelin’ Alright, which later became a major hit for Joe Cocker.
Mason had a reputation for leaving and then rejoining Traffic several times because of creative differences, but he was a key part of the band’s sound. During the late 1960s and 1970s, he became one of rock’s most respected session musicians, appearing on recordings by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Derek and the Dominos, Fleetwood Mac, and Paul McCartney.
His solo career took off with songs such as Only You Know and I Know and some strong songwriting. Mason’s guitar playing was off the charts as well. This song appeared on his 1977 album Let It Flow, a record that was more toward the smoother California rock sound that was popular on the radio at the time.
This album also produced We Just Disagree, which became Mason’s biggest solo hit and helped push the record into a wider audience. Because of the song’s popularity, this song sometimes gets overlooked, but it helped establish the album’s tone from the beginning. By this time, he had been living in the United States for several years, and the album had that West Coast influence more than the English psychedelia of his Traffic days.
The album Let It Flow peaked at #41 on the Billboard Album Charts and #36 in Canada in 1977. The song peaked at #45 on the Billboard 100.
Let It Go, Let It Flow
When I’m alone, I sometimes get to thinkin’How it’s gonna be when we’re gone?Are we moving closer togetherOr is it gonna take forever and ever?
Let it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through youLet it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through you
Searching everywhere just tryin’ to find a reasonA misunderstanding in doubtDon’t want to preach it, push it or teach itJust take a good look all around
Let it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through youLet it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through you
Was it gonna follow that angels gonna call on youTo help you on your wayTime spent together, like now, is foreverSo, don’t ever let this smile slip away
Let it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through youLet it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through you
Let it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through youLet it go, let it go, let it flow like a riverLet it go, let it go, let it flow through you
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Awesome artist! 😎
LikeLike
Good stuff, Max. Without meaning to sound I’m full of myself, it’s the kind of song I knew I’d love after listening to the first few bars. That guitar and organ sound in the intro sealed the deal. Also love the vocals. Dave Mason is yet another artist whose name I’ve known for longer than I can remember, yet I’ve never explored their solo work. You just keep adding to my pile! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yea…it’s as smooth as you can get. He did about every kind of music you could do…I’ve never explored as much as I should either…trying to correct that! Nice to see you Christian.
LikeLike
Despite the name, I always thought of The Spencer Davis Group as Steve WInwood’s backing band. Traffic, on the other hand, had an embarrassment of riches. And that often leads to conflict. Both Winwood and Mason were capable of leading a band. Chris Wood’s saxes and flutes took them to another level. Jim Capaldi was no slouch, either. I also think that tension pushes a band to greater heights and new directions. (You knew I couldn’t pass up another chance to mention the marbled vinyl of his album “Alone Together” – and the pop-up cover featuring a giant Dave Mason looking over his smaller self.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve became a larger Traffic fan as I’ve been blogging. I mean I knew the bigger songs…Dear Mr. Fantasy is what brought me to them in the 80s. I still think that song is one of the best songs the sixties ever produced.
I agree…they were a supergroup level now when you look at them.
I love hearing about it…what a great name and concept for an album. Love the album as well…it’s on my album playlist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How are those cute puppies doing Max?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very…but Jim…I know this sounds dumb…but I never knew they were this small. I never saw puppies this…new before. It’s amazing to see our dog turn into this big time mother. We have her setup in a room with an old matress…she trots back there to check on them constantly when she is not with them. We check on them every 30 mins or so now…but Martha has it under control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That sounds so precious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
you always throw that ear worm into my head…only you know and I know has me thinking Delaney and Bonnie with Eric Clapton, for some reason I’m thinking of when Miller Anderson joined Savoy Brown, and when Mason’s short term membership with Fleetwood Mac, which is actually an era of that band I liked, seems like I am the only one
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thats what I do…I didn’t know other people did that as much. One song can have my brain pinging to other things and in the end…far away from the original song or subject.
LikeLike
You highlighted the 3 songs of his I know! All decent listens too. He’s popped up on a lot more records than most would guess, he was quite a talent
LikeLike
I continued to follow Dave after he left traffic and gobbled up his albums. I really like his guitar sound (Winwood has a unique guitar sound also). Like halffast said, an embarrassment of riches in Traffic
LikeLike