The Song That Never Quit
There’s one song that has kept Dave Mason on stage and on tour for over six decades—his iconic hit, “Feelin’ Alright.” First recorded by Traffic in 1968, it has since been covered by a wide range of legendary artists including Joe Cocker, The Jackson Five, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Black Crowes, and more.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mason pulled together a virtual Zoom jam session of the song, featuring classic rock icons like Mick Fleetwood, Sammy Hagar, Michael McDonald, and members of the Doobie Brothers.
🎵 Watch the video here: Feelin’ Alright – Dave Mason & Friends (YouTube)
A Song That Sounds Upbeat—but Isn’t
Mason wrote Feelin’ Alright at just 19, while vacationing on a Greek island. Despite its feel-good vibe, the lyrics tell a different story. The famous hook—“Feelin’ alright”—is immediately followed by “not feeling too good myself.”
Some say the song was written after a breakup. Others speculate it was about Mason’s uncertainty over staying with Traffic. Mason himself keeps the mystery alive, refusing to confirm either tale.
“No Process, Just Paper Napkins”
When I spoke to Mason, now 76 and preparing for a 17-city U.S. tour (including two stops in Atlanta), I was curious about his songwriting process.
“There is no process,” he shrugged. “I write on whatever’s around—paper, envelopes, napkins. I can go months without writing. I just write what comes into my head.”
Why He Left England and Chose Nevada
Mason moved to the U.S. in the late ’60s, escaping what he called “95% tax” in the U.K. He first settled in the artsy town of Ojai, California, but now calls Lake Tahoe, Nevada home—partly due to the state’s lack of income tax.
Despite having lived in the U.S. for over 50 years, Mason is still a Resident Alien, never applying for U.S. citizenship.
Still Touring—and Still Playing to Packed Rooms
With nearly 1,500 performances under his belt, Mason continues to tour, playing mostly small venues packed with Boomers, Gen Xers, and nostalgic music lovers.
“What am I supposed to do? Sit around the house?” he said with a laugh. “Touring is the only way musicians can survive now.”
He points out that music streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora pay next to nothing in royalties. “If they paid correctly, they wouldn’t exist,” he said bluntly.
Rock Royalty Collaborations—and One Story Left for the Book
Mason’s resume is a timeline of classic rock history. He played or recorded with:
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Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominos)
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George Harrison (All Things Must Pass)
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Paul McCartney & Wings
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The Rolling Stones (Beggar’s Banquet)
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Fleetwood Mac
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Graham Nash & David Crosby
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Cass Elliot
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The Spencer Davis Group
One of his most legendary moments? Playing on “All Along the Watchtower” with Jimi Hendrix.
When asked about it, Mason replied with a sly grin:
“That’s in the book.”
That book—Only You Know and I Know, co-written with Chris Epting—is expected to be released in May.
London in the ‘60s: A Rock Melting Pot
Mason attributes many of his high-profile collaborations to being in the right place at the right time—London in the 1960s.
“Everybody ended up in London. You’d see Lennon, Hendrix, McCartney—it was a very small circle. Not like in the U.S., where music scenes were split between LA, New York, San Francisco, Nashville.”
Beyond the Music: Supporting Veterans with Rock Our Vets
In 2015, Mason co-founded Rock Our Vets, a charity providing laptops, clothing, wheelchairs, and scholarships to veterans and first responders.
“I’m a post-war baby. My dad served in World War I, my brother in World War II. I want to give back to those who served,” he said.
Legacy? “No Idea.”
Despite a resume most musicians would dream of, Mason is refreshingly humble.
“I don’t think about legacy. One song can mean 50 different things to 50 different people. I guess the music is what it is.”
With Feelin’ Alright as his enduring anthem and decades of stories to tell, Dave Mason’s legacy is already sealed—and still going strong.