Ian Mason - Nobody Takes Me Seriously Album

Ian Mason’s “Nobody Takes Me Seriously” is a Concept Album (as were many in the Seventies) and is meant to convey a Soul's Journey Through Life From Birth To Death.
This can be heard in the liquid light drops of the cosmic essence at the start of-
"Umbilical Chords"-the embryonic gestation and the build up to the pain of birth-if you listen closely you can hear the baby crying (The "baby" was a lady Session Voice/Over Impressionist) just before-
"I Know This Is Life"-Where the realization Life is really just a Game is apparent in its joyful exuberant childish playground style-(it is a pity the System we now live in is designed to squash this reality)-
"Gotta Lotta Love" then is the child's realization we are filled with love but a lot is locked inside due to the fear of being hurt.
"Make My World A Heaven" is the realization that when you put this fear aside and dare to fall in love-the world becomes like heaven.
Then doubt rears its head in-
"Castaway" where the mind plays tricks on one's sense of well-being and purpose creating loneliness and other illusionory states.
We then see through-
"To Look For Love" the sadness these illusions bring to so many lives and then have the realization you have to give love to receive love.
"Overture Of Nowhere" shows how self-doubt exists even amongst people who are geniuses as seen through the eyes of the man who wrote the William Tell Overture and wondered if the world would remember it. (As we know-most Composers are only famous after they die…)
"Let Me Forgive You..." is the Soul's deal with its Maker as to Forgiveness of sins-turned around-to the Soul Forgiving its Maker for putting it through this life-for the Maker's experience.
"My Lady Elizabeth" is a True Love Song which shows the best thing that can happen once human partner-love has run its course is to have an enduring friendship and-
"Smile" (Ian’s McDonald & Giles Tribute) takes us on the journey back to our Maker ending in an orgasmic climax where we all end up having a good laugh about the life that was.

Produced by Ian Mason:-The Album was recorded in 1978 at TCS Studios in Melbourne with legendary Engineer John French. Assistant Engineer was Lindsay Farr. Tony Buettel-Drumkit Technician. Graham Owens Engineer-Make My World A Heaven-Rhythm Section.
Gotta Lotta Love was Produced by John Farrar and the Rhythm Section recorded at TCS in 1977. John Farrar played guitar and mixed it in Los Angeles during 1978.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra features on most tracks and was Conducted by Tweed Harris.
Tweed and Ian Arranged the Orchestration.
The Brass Section:-Reg Walsh, Norm Harris, Peter Salt, Bob Venier, (Trumpets) Peter DeVisser, Don Lock, Greg Flood, John Buckley, (Trombones) Billy Harrower, Ted White, Peter Martin, Eddie Oxley, (Woodwinds)
Musicians and Singers:-
Keyboards & Vocals-Ian Mason
Drums:-Graham Morgan
Bass:-Mike Clarke
Guitars:-Rick Formosa, Tony Naylor, Ron Peers, David Briggs
Classical Guitar-Peter Martin
Ladies Vocals:-Cheryl Webb, Wendy Stapleton, Neva Philips, Sandy Maddocks, Helen Cornish
Mens Vocals:-Ian Mason, Peter Cupples,(Who also played Congas on Castaway) Adrian Campbell, Peter Roberts, Paul Meaney
Backing Vocals:-“Gotta Lotta Love” Paul Meaney, Ross & Pat Wilson
Sax Solos:-Billy Harrower
“Smile”-Big Bass Drum-Peter Best-SynDrums by Derek Pellici

Song Titles are:-

Umbilical Chords/I Know This is Life
Gotta Lotta Love-(First Single)
Make My World A Heaven
Castaway
To Look For Love-(Second Single)
Overture Of Nowhere?
Let Me Forgive You...
My Lady Elizabeth/Smile
The Title itself-
"Nobody Takes Me Seriously" is a pun-to show that NOBODY-that includes you-should take themselves too seriously.
Ian certainly doesn't! Getting two pies in his face on St. Kilda Esplanade at peak hour for two sunset photo sessions-for art's sake-and coming up grinning with cream everywhere proves that!
You would have loved the Inner-Sleeve Photo with this manic slapstick look-it was very funny! The other side of the Inner-Sleeve showed all the Lyrics to the Songs and the players separated by little strawberry and cream pies in the sky. It was beautiful!
The Cover was Photographed by Gilles Terrier and Artwork finished to an incredible standard by Ian’s friends Myles Pederson and Ian McGill at their Agency-Mumble Grunt.
Unfortunately this Artwork-the Inner Sleeve-which is the punch-line to the entire artistic concept-was axed due to EMI Australia going broke which was hidden from Ian by their hopeless, deceitful, penny-pinching A&R manager Stephen Shrimpton. When Ian learned of this he offered to pay for it but Shrimpton wouldn’t let him just to prove his power at the time-a non-artistic Philistine! The Album was released through Oz Records-Oz1010-an offshoot label of EMI Australia started by Glenn Wheatley who was Ian’s Manager at the time. It received no Promotion and only 1200 copies were printed.
Its recording budget was over $100,000. (Quite a considerable amount of money then-If only EMI had someone else in the A&R job; and someone who could actually run a Record Company-they might have had some money to Promote it as it truly deserved! )
Anyhow…Finally-It is now properly released-worldwide-and Digitally Re-Mastered! In all its honesty!
A Vinyl Re-Release will be issued in 2018 and the CD is available at CD Baby.
No Click-Tracks! No MIDI! No Time-Code!
No Samples or Electronic Machines!
Just Real Music!
Played and sung by Real Musicians-who were the cream of Melbourne then-1977/1978-and at their very best!
Beautifully Recorded! By John French (1942-2017) Who I now dedicate this Album to...
Enjoy!