Carolyne Mas - Carolyne Mas (1979)

Carolyne Mas (born October 20, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and producer. Mas broke out of the Greenwich Village music scene boom of the late 1970s, along with other artists such as Steve Forbert, The Roches, and Willie Nile. Although she remains relatively unknown in the United States, except for a loyal cult of fans, she managed to gain popularity in Europe and Canada, mostly due to the use of television as a promotional tool in these markets.
Mas's energetic live shows, especially during the late 1970s and early 1980s whilst signed to Mercury Records, were well received. She toured the United States, Canada, and Europe extensively with a band of musicians including Crispin Cioe of the The Uptown Horns who later went on to play with acts such as The Rolling Stones. Her association with Springsteen included her involvement with him in the 'Jersey Artists for Mankind' project in May 1986.

In July 1979: Carolyne's self-titled debut album is released on Mercury Records.
Carolyne's first single, "Stillsane," makes Billboard's Hot 100.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sound is polished and the cover shows her in classy tophat, jacket and a bath robe belt as a tie and Carolyne later tells,"That picture was taken in my bathroom and I was wearing unbelievably ripped-up pants. That all got cropped out. She gives street-smart rock 'n' roll and new elegance.

Carolyne is singled out with high praise from their Vic Garbarini: "Mas is the most talented and compelling American singer-songwriter to emerge since Bruce Springsteen, and this is her 'Born To Run.' She pumps more heart and soul into her superbly crafted three-minute pop anthems than anybody I've heard in years." Mas' songs vary from reveries to roughhouse declamations without missing a beat, and if she keeps up this pace she may be dogging Randy Newman's tracks in a few years." Comparing her ballads to Patti Smith, Barbra Streisand, and Carly Simon. "The world needs more rock & rollers like her."

 

 

Carolyne Mas, however, never achieved a whole lot else - though she became a cult figure in Germany and stuck it out in the music business for more than 30 years, sporadically releasing albums while raising a family and pursuing other interests (including animal protection and painting). Along the way, she went broke at least once, nearly got stabbed to death, got kicked out of her home, and was routinely screwed over by managers, record companies, publishers, bootleggers, the legal system, and, arguably, life in general. Years later, Mas would opine, "I believe that I would have been a happier person if I had never made a record."

 

Side one
A1.  Stillsane  - 2:46   
A2.  Sadie Days  (Backing Vocals: Bernie Shanahan)  - 3:08 
A3.  Snow  - 5:00  
A4.  It's No Secret  - 3:28   
A5.  Call Me (Crazy To)  (Backing Vocals: Bernie Shanahan)  - 5:03 

 

Side two
B1.  Quote Goodbye Quote  (Backing Vocals: David Landau)  - 2:28  
B2.  Never Two Without Three  - 4:01  
B3.  Do You Believe I Love You  - 3:11  
B4.  Sittin' In The Dark  - 4:39  
B5.  Baby Please  - 5:22

 

Credits
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar – Carolyne Mas
Tambourine, Synthesizer – Steve Burgh
Bass – John Siegler
Acoustic Guitar – David Landau
Drums – Andy Newmark
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – David Landau
Saxophone – Crispin Cioe
Keyboards – Robbie Kondor
Percussion – Jimmy Maelen
Management – Faris Bouhafa
Mastered By – Ted Jensen
Mixed By – Bob Clearmountain
Mixed By [Assistant] – Raymond Willhard
Engineer – Glenn Berger
Engineer [Assistant] – Brad Leigh
Written-By – Carolyne Mas
Label - Mercyry Records
Genre - Pop, Rock
Producer – Steve Burgh
Marketed By – Phonogram
Recorded At – A&R Studios
Mixed At – Power Station
Mastered At – Sterling Sound

 

Notes
Produced for Actual Music
All songs published by Eggs and Coffee and Music Ltd. except A1, B1 and B4 published by Eggs and Coffee and Music Ltd. and Landau Music. All songs ASCAP.
Recorded at A&R Studios, New York City. Mixed at Power Station, New York City. Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City.
© 1979 Phonogram, Inc. a Polygram Company

 

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