Legendary rock musician and songwriter Dave Mason has unveiled a new version of the timeless Traffic hit, ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’, breathing new life into the classic song with the help of modern blues rock icon Joe Bonamassa.
The collaborative effort delivers a fresh yet reverent take on a song that has captivated audiences since its original release in 1967 on the album of the same name, as composed by Mason, Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi.
A cornerstone in Mason’s live sets to this day, with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer still performing over 100 shows a year to sold-out crowds, “’Fantasy’ has been a favourite song of mine since its release in 1967,” Mason remarked. “I’ve played it live for years in a number of different arrangements. As I’ve often said, there are no old songs, just good songs, and ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’, in my mind, is one of the finest examples around.”
Mason’s enthusiasm about collaborating with Joe Bonamassais palpable: “To have the opportunity to incorporate one of the modern-day great guitar players, Joe Bonamassa, is as exciting to me as playing with Jimi Hendrix. He is the first person I wanted to include on this new version of ‘Fantasy’”.
In and of itself, few can deny the beautiful of the original song, something that’s carried over in the various covers made over the years. This rendition, removes its more passive qualities, with subtle nuances made in the arrangement, guitars swimming in precise formation, vocals biting; the song’s same plea that Mr Fantasy make us happy, once more poignant in these troubled times.
“The combination of talent with great song structure is exhilarating to me, and I knew Joe would play it like nobody else,” Mason expressed. “He has a uniquely keen sense of precise timing, unobstructed by a bluesy groove that’s perfect for this song.”
Thus, this collaboration is more than just a revisit to a beloved classic; it’s a fusion of tradition and innovation. Bonamassa’s contribution is not limited to his guitar playing; singing too so adding a new dimension to the track. Mason celebrated this, saying, “He brings everything up, and ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’ is both classic and current, an exceptionally difficult balance to do but Joe Bonamassa pulled it off powerfully with grace and genius.”
The single is available on all streaming platforms via Joe Bonamassa’s KTBA Records here and you can watch the new animated music video for it here at RAMzine.
