Steve Mason
Steve Mason is a Scottish musician, best known as the lead singer and one of the founding members of The Beta Band. He has also been a member of Black Affair with Jimmy Edgar.
Selected releases
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Lightnin’ Hopkins - Blues in my Bottle
I bought this album many years ago and it’s one of my favourite blues albums. Hopkins has a cheekiness about him that I really like and I’m always a sucker for simple guitar and vocal blues.
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Johnny Moped - Cycledelic
Possibly the most punk of all the bands from the UK scene. I love the story of how they were desperate to play the Fairfield Halls in Croydon but they knew it was never going to happen so they set up in the car park and played.
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Jean Jacques Perrey - Moog Indigo
Great cover and the music within is startling stuff. Perrey has been sampled by many and everyone recognises ‘E.V.A.’ It’s like kids music in a way, fun.
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The Prisoners - Last Fourfathers
One of my favourite British bands ever. Russ Wilkins from the Milkshakes produced this and though the band were not 100% happy (ever) I think this is their best sounding album. A great album that influenced many that came later.
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Stained Glass - A Scene In-Between 65-67
I thought I knew a lot of Psych bands but I had never heard of these. Great thing about Ace is still discovering so much I don’t know. This is well worth checking.
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Link Wray - Early Recordings
More of a historical document than an album. You have to own this. I have most of his albums but this is wall-to-wall killer.
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The Chiswick Story
From pub rock to New Romantic slap bass, Chiswick put out a bit of everything from 75-82. One of the lesser-known British labels that knew no boundaries! Just as it should be.
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For Dancers Only
The first Kent album I bought. This and “For Dancers Also” are for me, the best Kent albums ever released. I still play these today; some dance floor destroyers on this.
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Slim Harpo - I’m A King Bee
A mod’s first love is the blues and for some reason I always thought of Slim Harpo as the Mod Bluesman. I don’t know why. His voice is just so cool and understated, like he is hardly even trying and the rhythms and playing are amazing. It’s a totally essential album.
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The World Of Guy Stevens - UK Sue Label Story
Speaking of mods, this has to be the ultimate mod label. Guy Stevens was hired by Chris Blackwell to run this label after hearing him DJ at The Scene in Ham Yard in Soho. Another essential album, this is just the bedrock of mod. Classic Soul and R&B, pure dance music. When I was a mod in the mid-80s, Sue singles were not easy to get but one day I got a cassette compilation called “The Sue Story” and I wore it out. There are many more tracks on this comp than on that tape, so feel privileged and enjoy.
