HEADLINE: MARK'S RUSE EXPOSED BY TONY MADS

Well, it didn't start out that way. I already had the "by Don Mason" buried in the title. So, it started out with....Don did such an incredible job on this song, I had to look twice to see if I labeled it correctly. Then I thought let me see if everyone recognizes the "gentleman from Louisiana?" Because...I've never heard him pour so much emotion into a tune like he did here. Even his trademark guitar background was some of the best work he's ever done. I listened to his guitar licks note for note.

Seriously. Don might have just thrown the song out there with the rest of the batch, but his interpretation of this song was one of his finest moments. Now I have to wonder if he was sober when he did it or did he just have a Don Mason day where everything he touched turned to gold.

Keep 'em coming Don. I don't think there's a person in this room that doesn't enjoy listening to your music. As for me, I like the singing AND your guitar work behind it!

Thank you! Whatever else might have been happening I assure you I was sober. I didn't even have my glass of champagne this NY Eve, which is about the only drinking I do other than iced tea.

I never understood why players that drink or smoke on stage..?

As long as I can remember, going back to when I started playing with the band in the late 50's, just about every musician I knew smoked on the bandstand, and if there was a bar in the venue, there were drinks as well ... It's just 'what was done' ... man, all the cigarette burns on house pianos in those days ... started smoking at age 15, quit cigs at age 31 ...
Still the occasional cigar though - but NOT during a gig (or in my house )...
The awakening came when the smoking bans started and the next day there was no headache from breathing in all the second hand smoke ...
Of course nowadays you can hardly smoke anywhere other than your own bathroom ...

When I was visiting Don mason in Louisiana one night we went to a local bar club to see some bands.....oh man when they opened the front door a cloud of smoke flew out...we went in sat down and the smoke was so thick you could hardly see the band on stage thru the fog!! My clothese stunk of smoke too lol..
I think we lasted 15 minutes before we left for a late night snack at the Waffle House.

https://www.wafflehouse.com/

Meanwhile, back at the OP:
Yes, Don did his usual excellent job on this song, and YES, it could be taken as a top C&W recording ...

Donny...you've got to remember that not everyone was born the perfect human being that YOU were. People have problems, pressures, obligations, responsibilities, financial situations and other burdens. Smoking or drinking is a "release" for them, and, at the very least, a "temporary distraction" needed at the moment. Not sure you can understand that as you are probably one of the "flawless" that roams the Earth.

No, I take that back. You do have ONE flaw. You think nothing about hijacking a post and taking it South, including my Don Mason "song tribute" post. But thanks to Tony, it's redirected North again.

PS But if you're talking about drinking/smoking "on stage" as compared to "off-stage" that's a different story. "On stage" is a strict no-no. I even get ticked off when I see people drinking bottled water during public speeches, lectures etc

Tony...that's exactly what I was thinking when I first heard the song. With a bit of grooming here and there, I really think Don could turn that loose on the market and see where it goes.

Meantime, I'm nominating him as official emissary for the Synthzone.

mark I see you woke up angry again...?..
Hmmmmm...I'll just keep ignoring you.

Donny...you've got to remember that not everyone was born the perfect human being that YOU were. People have problems, pressures, obligations, responsibilities, financial situations and other burdens. Smoking or drinking is a "release" for them, and, at the very least, a "temporary distraction" needed at the moment. Not sure you can understand that as you are probably one of the "flawless" that roams the Earth.

No, I take that back. You do have ONE flaw. You think nothing about hijacking a post and taking it South, including my Don Mason "song tribute" post. But thanks to Tony, it's redirected North again.

I tried responding to your "hijack" post above politely, but you always have to get the last "dig" in, I'm noticing.

No, Donny, I didn't wake up angry...I woke up using the other "A" word....annoyed. Why is it you feel you have to leave a footprint in everyone's post? Is it to remind people that you have to keep reminding yourself that you can "walk on water...whenever you want and wherever you want?"

So what annoyed me? This post was meant to be somewhat of a tribute to Don. Speaking for MYSELF, I was so impressed with that rendition of what he did with that song, that I wanted to share it with everyone else. So what happens? Donny comes along, and in his role as traffic officer mindlessly directs the post South with with a completely off-topic remark. The topic was about Don, my personal opinion of a truly outstanding musician! Need I say more.

I try to watch my P's & Q's in this room and when I sense a post is important to someone I don't step on it.

I dated Ann in my early 20s and she made a remark I never forgot: "There is no excuse for bad manners!"

Mark: Thank you God, thank you.