Dave Mason, co-founder of the band Traffic, has died.

His career with Traffic was by no means smooth (and he later went on to play with various luminaries) but he wrote and sang their biggest UK hit, a No 2 in 1967.

Traffic: Hole in my Shoe

Mason’s song Feelin’ Alright became something of a standard with many other artists covering it. 

Traffic: Feelin’ Alright

David Thomas Mason: 10/5/1946 – 19/4/2026. So it goes.

I saw in the Guardian on Wednesday that Chip Taylor has died.

Though he was a performer in his own right he is better known as a songwriter; perhaps best remembered for Wild Thing, a song The Troggs had a huge hit with and was then taken up by Jimi Hendrix.  The Troggs later recorded Taylor’s very different Any Way That You Want Me but in the meantime Taylor composed Angel of the Morning,  brought to prominence by Merrilee Rush and later a hit in the UK for P P Arnold.

I must confess that until I read Taylor’s wiki page  I hadn’t realised that he was a brother of actor Jon Voight (and therefore uncle to Angelina Jolie) nor that he had co-written I Can’t Let Go, a UK no. 2 for The Hollies in 1966.

The Hollies: I Can’t Let Go

James Wesley Voight (Chip Taylor): 21/3/1940 – 23/3/2026. So it goes.

The Alan Price Set was the band Price formed after he left The Animals. This wasn’t their first hit – that was the Randy Newman song Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear* – but it was the first which Price wrote.

The Alan Price Set: The House That Jack Built

*Edited to add: I just remembered The Alan Price Set released I Put a Spell on You and Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo which were both hits before Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear.

No apologies for repeating this song from earlier in the category. Country Joe died a few days ago. This one’s a studio recording, though.

Country Joe and the Fish: I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag

Joseph Allen (Country Joe) McDonald: 1/1/1942 –  7/3/2026. So it goes.

Bowie’s first hit (no 5 in 1969) and a bit of a false start as he wouldn’t have another till Starman (no 8 in 1972.)

Atmospheric and eerie at the same time. Utterly memorable.

David Bowie – Space Oddity

Founder member of Jethro Tull, Mick Abrahams, died on 19/12/25. He only played on Tull’s first LP This Was before leaving the band due to wanting to pursue more in the line of the blues than flautist, singer and main songwriter Ian Anderson.

This, from that LP, is a song he co-wrote with Anderson.

Jethro Tull: Beggar’s Farm

Abrahams went on to form the unforgettably named Blodwyn Pig. Their first single was Dear Jill.

Blodwyn Pig: Dear Jill

Michael Timothy (Mick) Abrahams: 7/4/1943 – 19/12/2025. So it goes.

Influential guitarist Steve Cropper died last week.

He made his name with Booker T and the MGs on such songs as Green Onions, Time is Tight and Soul Limbo.

Over his long career he was invited to contribute to the work of various soul and rock luminaries.

He co-wrote (Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay for Otis Redding, Soul Man for Sam and Dave and the following two for Wilson Pickett and Eddie Floyd respectively.

Wilson Pickett: In the Midnight Hour

Eddie Floyd: Knock on Wood

Steven Lee (Steve) Cropper: 21/10/ 1941 – 3/12/2025. So it goes.

And now Jimmy Cliff also has gone.

Cliff was among the first artists to bring Jamaican music to the wider world.

This was his first big UK hit and his highest chart placing – no. 6 in 1969. Joyful stuff.

Jimmy Cliff: Wonderful World, Beautiful People

James Chambers (Jimmy Cliff:) 30/7/1944 – 24/11/2025. So it goes.

For many people their favourite Creedence song but I always preferred Proud Mary as a 60s track and Have You Ever Seen the Rain? overall.

But I suppose this is iconic Creedence.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bad Moon Rising

A further tribute to John Lodge, who died last week.

This track, which he wrote (and whose mediæval and “orchestral” interludes in many ways presage Procession from Every Good Boy Deserves Favour,) was split into two for its appearance on In Search of the Lost Chord, with the Ray Thomas penned Legend of a Mind making the meat in the sandwich.

This TV appearance from 1968 –the Colour Me Pop session the Moodies did – puts it all together though.

The Moody Blues: House of Four Doors