August Reunion

Description

August Reunion is det debut album by the American singer and songwriter Dave Mattson (on this album credited to David Mattson with Sailor), independently released by Mattson in 1975. The album was engineered by Randy Gill with David Mattson and Gill producing.

Three of the tracks would later be re-recorded on Mattson’s next album, the major label release Lead Me Home on Myrrh Records (featuring musicians connected to the Solid Rock Records label).

August Reunion is an earlier custom production featuring Mattson on vocals and guitar, Frank Whitney on bass, Terry Rosen on second guitar, and some folks known as Sailor on vibes, piano, drums and guitar (the record label actually reads “David Mattson with Sailor”). The album also happens to be a masterpiece, easily one of the most captivating in the male singer/songwriter category. I’ve always respected Lead Me Home, but I must admit it sounds softened and over-produced when compared to the more natural dreamy melody-rich folk-rock vibes coming through here. Reminds me of the best moments of John Denver, but with more of an edge (and none of the fluff). Lucid layers of acoustic guitar work are beautifully blended with Mattson’s soft self-harmonized vocals. Also some electric guitar as on the excellent «Fourth Of December». That track as well as «Holly Lake» and «Claudia’s Hour» would later appear on Lead Me Home, though I find the versions here more interesting. I especially liked the fresh upbeat numbers «Vancouver Bay» and «As Long As I Do». Other titles include «Memorial Union», «Beneath The Lights», «Sail Me Away», «More Than You Knew», «The Way You Are» and «Good-bye San Francisco». Mattson also did the attractive cover art of a boy holding a feather on top of his head. A mega obscurity well worth tracking down. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Memorial Union”
A2. “Vancouver Bay”
A3. “Beneath the Lights”
A4. “Holly Lake”
A5. “Sail Me Away”
A6. “More Than You Knew”

Side Two
B1. “Claudia’s Hour”
B2. “As Long As I Do”
B3. “The Way You Are”
B4. “Fourth of December”
B5. “Good-bye San Francisco”