*300 copies limited edition* But wait, because there’s more. Here is the only complete representation of this fierce band, fronted by a vocalist channeling Morrison — sometimes in control of his instrument, sometimes very much not, such as on the rough and tumble ‘Easy Girl’, which has some distinctly heavy metal chord changes and fiery organ blazing away throughout, underneath the yowling and brooding vocals. Some tracks, like ‘Forest Queen of the Night’ are brooding reflections with (perhaps) a sinister undertone. But The Masque like to cut loose, as they do on the seven+ minute rollicking blast, ’House of Meat.’
The Masque recordings stem from February, May and October of 1970, a fertile time for producer and music publisher Charlie Booth. Booth honed his craft working with BJ Thomas, and by the mid-1960’s was working with such stellar acts as The Outcasts (‘1523 Blair’ b/w ‘Smokestack Lightning’); The Iguanas (‘Black Suit’); and in 1970, The Masque, Flower Power, and Pure Jade Green (ie. The Jades Of El Campo). The Masque’s rare single, released on Booth’s Master Record Co. label (which also released the lone single by Jade, and a handful of others) was until now the only proof — and at a cost of $400+ — that The Masque truly existed. We are glad to remedy that with a full album’s worth of music by The Masque, showcasing their hard-rocking chops.