Reviews
In 1968, after disbanding their garage-rock outfit, Terry Talbot enlisted his younger brother, John Michael Talbot, and put together Mason Proffit, a quintet fusing folk-rock, country and high-concept lyrics laced with Native American mysticism, Gnostic Christianity and Western Americana. The band swung harder than most of the West Coast's country-rock heavies. Terry, meanwhile, crooned as if he'd grown up listening to Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard. Mason Proffit disbanded in 1973, but not before making a huge impression on a couple of upstarts in California. Yessir, the Eagles' desperado/outlaw image owes a lot to the brothers Talbot. So if you want to pass Country Rock 101, you need a serious dose of the Proffit.
- Justin Farrar, Rhapsody / 2008
Though this group's recordings charted only briefly when released, time has been kind to Mason Proffit, and their albums are now hailed as works of genius. Justifiably so, since every track is proof of a band with wonderful instincts for melody and how to frame a musical idea. Mason Proffit was an ensemble that played a blend of music that was more country than rock, with occasional folk and blues influences to make things interesting.
Other bands were experimenting with country-rock but never achieved this subtlety and grace, and there was a whole genre of protest music which lacked those same two attributes. The fact is that with Mason Proffit, both were in the same package. This band's catalog cries out for a re-evaluation and re-release.
- Richard Foss, All Music Guide 2003
“Mason Proffit changed the face of rock music forever. Taking up where The Byrds and The Buffalo Springfield left off with the melding of folk, country and rock, they were a major influence on the yet to be discovered Eagles.”
- MusicMoz open music project 2003
“Mason Proffit is widely considered by rock aficionados to be one of the best bands who briefly made it to the big time. Along with the Byrds, Michael Nesmith, and others, they helped to invent country-rock.”
- MSN Entertainment 2003
