Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports
| Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1 May 1981 | |||
| Recorded | October 1979 | |||
| Studio | Grog Kill, Willow, New York | |||
| Genre | Jazz-rock, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 36:15 | |||
| Label | Harvest (UK) Columbia (US) | |||
| Producer |
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| Nick Mason chronology | ||||
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Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports is the debut solo album by drummer Nick Mason, most known for his work with Pink Floyd, released in May 1981. Mainly creatively driven by American jazz composer Carla Bley, it is Mason's first major work outside of Pink Floyd.[1]
Writing and recording
[edit]
Though Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports was released under Mason's name, it is effectively an album by jazz composer and keyboardist Carla Bley and her ensemble, for whom Mason is merely the drummer. Bley wrote all the music and lyrics for the album. All of the songs have lyrics, which are sung by Robert Wyatt (formerly of Soft Machine) except for the first track, where Karen Kraft takes lead.[1][2][3][4]
The album was recorded in October 1979 at Grog Kill Studio (owned by Bley and her then-husband Michael Mantler) in Willow, New York.[4][1][5] The sessions took place while production for Pink Floyd's The Wall was still ongoing. The album was co-produced by Mason and Bley.[2]
The album is more pop-oriented compared to Bley's earlier writing, with Olewnick describing its music as more rock or jazz-rock in style with humorous lyrics.[1] Music writer Robert Palmer, reviewing the album for The New York Times, remarked that "If there's such a thing as punk jazz, this is it." Bley had herself noted punk rock as a heavy influence on the album's music.[3]
Release and reception
[edit]Despite being recorded in 1979, the album's release was delayed for almost two years,[5] eventually releasing on 1 May 1981.[6] The decision to release it under Mason's name has been described by critics as a promotional one to entice Pink Floyd fans to listen to the album.[1][2][4] In the end, the album did not chart, and only developed a "rather cautious cult reputation" years later.[4] However, despite its relative lack of success compared to Pink Floyd's work, it actually "may well be the biggest commercial hit of Bley's singular career".[2]
The album (along with Profiles and the soundtrack to the film White of the Eye) was remastered and reissued on August 31, 2018 as part of the box set Unattended Luggage.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports has received mixed to positive critical reviews. Janne Yliruusi reviewed the album positively, praising it as one of the best solo albums by a Pink Floyd member.[4] Brian Olewnick gave the album a mixed review, describing its music as "fairly pedestrian if occasionally catchy".[1] At the same time, Olewnick and other critics generally praised the humor of the album's lyrics and Robert Wyatt's vocals.[1][2][4]
Aftermath and legacy
[edit]After the album's recording, Mason returned to Pink Floyd for the band's 1980–1981 The Wall Tour, and recorded the band's final album with founding member Roger Waters, The Final Cut (1983).[4] Bley moved away from the punk-influenced sound of Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports. In reference to punk rock, she remarked: "I'm no longer infatuated with it; I'm bored to tears by the whole thing. My new songs aren't influenced at all by that scene."[3]
The song "Wervin'" from the album was later sampled by Danny Brown for his song "Ain't It Funny" on his 2016 album Atrocity Exhibition.[7]
Track listing
[edit]All songs written by Carla Bley.
Side one
[edit]- "Can't Get My Motor to Start" – 3:39
- "I Was Wrong" – 4:12
- "Siam" – 4:48
- "Hot River" – 5:16
Side two
[edit]- "Boo to You Too" – 3:26
- "Do Ya?" – 4:36
- "Wervin'" – 3:58
- "I'm a Mineralist" – 6:16
Personnel
[edit]- Nick Mason – drums, percussion, co-producer, assistant recording engineer
- Carla Bley – keyboards, songwriter, co-producer
- Robert Wyatt – vocals (except on "Can't Get My Motor to Start")
- Karen Kraft – lead vocal on "Can't Get My Motor to Start", duet vocal on "Hot River", backing vocals
- Chris Spedding – guitars
- Steve Swallow – bass guitar
- Michael Mantler – trumpets, recording engineer
- Gary Windo – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, additional voices
- Gary Valente – trombones, additional voices
- Howard Johnson – tuba
- Terry Adams – piano on "Boo to You Too", harmonica & clavinet on "Can't Get My Motor to Start"
- Carlos Ward – additional voices
- David Sharpe – additional voices
- Vincent Chancey – additional voices
- Earl McIntyre – additional voices
- James Guthrie – mixing engineer
- Hipgnosis and Geoff Halpin – cover design
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h Olewnick, Brian. Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports at AllMusic
- ^ a b c d e Whitlock, Kevin. "Nick Mason: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports". Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Palmer, Robert (31 July 1981). "Carla Bley And Her Band In Village". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Yliruusi, Janne (13 June 2024). "Review: Nick Mason – Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports (1981)". Pienemmät Purot (in Finnish). Retrieved 20 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Blistein, Jon (12 June 2018). "Pink Floyd's Nick Mason Preps Solo Albums Box Set". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Timeline 1981". Pink Floyd Official Site. Archived from the original on 15 February 2025.
- ^ Van Dalsem, William (5 October 2016). "Danny Brown Tries to Right a Downward Spiral with Drugs in 'Atrocity Exhibition'". The Heights. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017.
"Ain't It Funny" employs a jarring, brittle synth sample of Nick Mason from Pink Floyd's "Wervin,'" which complements Danny's relentless, paranoid verses.
