Carolyne Mas – Let’s Come Together – Live In Bremen 1989
Carolyne Mas has retired from the music business and engaged in scholarly pursuits. She resides in Arizona where she now focuses on pursuing a career in healthcare and nutrition.
Granted, it’s unusual for a musician – particular one as dedicated and defiant as Carolyne Mas, to focus so fully on such practical pursuits. Yet, it’s also important to remember that music has always had healing qualities of its own.
It’s with that in mind, that this new live recording, Radio Bremen – originally recorded on 28 September 1989 – offers a timely reminder of all Mas had to offer when she was at the peak of her potential, as evidenced her by this display of unrelenting passion and purpose. Backed by her dynamic backing band – Randy Watson on keys, Richie Rebuth on guitar, bassist Ed Hines and drummer Ron Gremp – Mas exudes an enduring energy and exuberance throughout each of the 15 tracks that encompass this searing and sensational set of songs. “I don’t know what to do,” she maintains on one of her many standout offerings, “Lovers From the Start,” but indeed there’s not a single selection here that doesn’t contradict that notion with a display of drive and determination. As always, the band offer up a momentous performance, borne by such memorable Mas classics as “Hold On”, “When Love Is Right”, “So Hard To Be True”, “Red Lights”, “You Bother Me” and of course “Sittin’ In The Dark,” among them many. Likewise, the bluesy bluster of “So Hard To Be True” shows that Mas was more than simply a robust rocker but a superb singer as well. The set contains a pair of covers that resonate to an equal degree – a riveting take of Steve Forbert’s “Samson and Delilah’s Beauty Shop” and the Beatles’ “Come Together”. Both ring with the same anthemic urgency as Mas’ memorable originals.
The comparisons to Springsteen and the E Street Band have never been more apt or exacting. (US Rolling Stone: “Boss ladies? Three women who don’t Bruce easily: Ellen Foley, Ellen Shipley and Carolyne Mas.”).
Tracklist:
- Hold On 03:25
- You Bother Me 03:07
- Where One Meets Two 05:57
- Sittin’ In The Dark 12:17
- I’m Lucky 03:04
- Thomas Dunson's Revenge 05:38
- When You're Near 05:42
- When Love Is Right 04:36
- Running From The High Life 04:53
- So Hard To Be True 05:09
- Red Lights 04:21
- Stillsane 05:00
- He’s Everything I Want (But A Little Bit Less) 05:39
- Samson And Delilah’s Beauty Shop 04:09
- Come Together 06:21
total: 79:18 min