James Mason - Rhythm of Life

MY GOD! I've just read an almost identical post at Dilated Choonz even down to a Ready Brek comment posted two weeks prior to this one. How embarrassing.

Ready Brek. In 1989, when I was 13, I was given a tape. I can still picture it. A black 'limited edition' TDK. On side one were people like Eric B and Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and EPMD with every track detail written out in full. On side two, just two words: Rare Groove. I now recognise (most of) the tunes and it had classics from Bill Withers, Roy Ayers and Gil Scott Heron among others. This tape rocked my world, and I still cherish it (although I have no tape player any more). It opened with this first James Mason track which I later learned came from this, his only album; an album that almost defines Rare Groove since it was rescued from obscurity by the Acid Jazz scene. James Mason was heavily involved in Roy Ayers's supreme Running Away and took much of that feeling into this 1977 record, particularly on Sweet Power Your Embrace. But Mason's album is more impassioned, urgent and less polished than anything the great Ayers achieves - Roy, I guess, is just too cool. In the liner notes James says "For making the music that has inspired and shaped my musical values over the years, SPECIAL THANKS to The Crusaders, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joseph Zawinul, Stevie Wonder, The Pointer Sisters and Stanley Clarke. And for the learning experience working as a member of his band afforded me, THANK YOU to Roy Ayers". Quite right. I love this sound and hope you do too.

James Mason - Sweet Power Your Embrace
James Mason - Free
James Mason - I've Got My Eyes On You