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- Stephen Downs -- vocals, guitar

- Cassandra Morgan -- vocals

- Joe Madison -- vocals, guitar

- Stephen Downs (solo efforts)

- The Trout (Cassandra Morgan)

Genre: folk

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title: Morganmasondowns

Company: Roulette

Catalog: ST 42047
Year: 1970

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: DJ stamp on back cover; white label promo copy

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $30.00

This was one of those yard sale purchases that I bought without any knowledge of who these folks were.  To be honest I bought if for the album cover which featured what looked like a trio of self-indulgent '60s bon vivants.  Plus Morgan (the tall guy on the cover)  looked a bit like a young Mick Fleetwood.  In case you hadn't figured out the band name, the trio featured vocalist Cassandra Morgan, Joe Madison and Stephen Downs - the latter two handling vocals and acoustic guitars. 

Both actors, Madison and Downs met at a New Orleans party.  They ran into each other in New York and decided to collaborate on writing a Broadway musical.  Mason was dating Morgan who in addition to also being an actor and had been a member of the New York-based sunshine-pop band The Trout.  The trio recorded some demos and flogged them to various New York publishers who suggested they consider recording an album. With help from their management company Herre, Block and Shanaberg (H.B.S.) they eventually signed a recording contract with Morris Levy's Roulette Records. Bad choice for both parties since Roulette had little interest in promoting the group.  1970's "Morganmasondowns" was co-produced by the trio and Allan Nicholls (himself an actor).  Having listened to the album a couple of times over the last year I'll admit that the cover was cooler than any of these eleven performances.  With Downs and Madison Mason responsible for penning all of the material, the predominant sound was Peter, Paul and Mary-styled folk ballads. Had I been paying attention, I think a quick glance at song titles like 'The Time is at Hand', 'Daffodil' and 'Day of the Fair' would have warned me about their laidback, "hippie" vibe. The sheer number bland acoustic ballads was depressing - by the time you hit the side two trilogy of 'Ah, the World Goes Round', 'Sea Song' and 'Listen to the Time' all hope was over.  To be honest, all three members had okay voices, though on tracks like 'Knowing' and 'Daffodil' the arrangements and deliveries came off as "Broadway-ish".  I guess that shouldn't have come as a surprise given their acting backgrounds.  Was there anything worth hearing?  Best of the lot was the sunshine-pop 'Day at the Fair.' 

Apologies to those who disagree, but this collection was simply a hard "no" to my ears.  One of the few albums I've heard where not a single song made much of an impact on me. Okay, the back cover showing the trio and a young child (I guess belonging to Morgan), walking through New York snow was priceless.

"Morganmasondowns" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Heather Morning (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:12 rating: ** stars

Opening up with some nice acoustic slide guitar, 'Heather Morning' started going south with the "la la la" vocals.  The group sung vocals and pap lyrics reminded me of the most irritating aspects of The Mamas and the Papas.  This was something grandma could sing to the grandkids and feel cool about herself. Listening to the tune again, The Mamas and Papas comparison was quite apt.  La, la la ...

2.) Home (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:49 rating: * star

Not sure whether Downs or Morgan handled the lead vocals, but it really didn't matter since 'Home' was a sickly sweet acoustic ballad.  LOL - listening to this one I always think of the scene in Animal House where John Belushi finds the guy (Steven Bishop) playing guitar on the stairs in the middle of the frat's toga party: Animal House Guitar Scene 

3.) Knowing (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:10 rating: ** stars

I wasn't enthralled by Cassandra Morgan's voice. She had a nice voice, but on the acoustic ballad her delivery had kind of a Broadway feel.  That comparison was only underscored by the backing chorus.

4.) Come with Me (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:50 rating: ** star

Accompanied by medieval-styled flute and strumming guitars, 'Come with Me' found Cassandra and the two guys sharing lead vocals.  The arrangement gave the tune an English folk feel.  Though the results were mildly pretty, you weren't going to mistake this for a Fairport Convention effort.

5.) The Time is at Hand (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 4:27 rating: * star

OMG - this one sounded like a bad Peter, Paul & Mary effort with mildly "serious" lyrics.  And yeah, this one resulted in another Animal House flashback ... I just don't do well with hyper-sensitive singer/songwriter numbers.  Sure, they tried to inject a more contemporary edge to the second half of the song.   It was simply painful to sit through.

(side 2)
1.) Daffodil (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:40 rating: *** stars

Well, at least 'Daffodil' included some pleasant electric guitar, though the fragile, breathy lead vocals were an acquired taste.  The spoken word segment was about as deep as a rain puddle. Still, it was probably the album's standout performance.

2.) Ah, the World Goes Round (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 2:40 rating: * star

Geez, the forced optimism and childish feel were simply irritating.  Never thought I'd prefer to hear a Peter, Paul and Mary album.

3.) Sea Song (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 2:30 rating: * star

Downs on lead vocals?  Acoustic guitar and harmonica - perhaps one of the dullest ballads I've ever sat through.

4.) Listen to the Time (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:39 rating: * star

Mason on lead vocals?  Music to fall asleep to.

5.) Day of the Fair  (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 2:57 rating: *** stars

With a bright, bouncy keyboard powered sunshine-pop melody 'At the Fair' was easily the most commercial and likeable tune on the album.  It was also one of the few songs that showcased their singular and blended voices.  Definitely a '60s timepiece (yes, I know it was released in 1970).

6.) Lullabye (Madison Mason - Stephen Downs) - 3:07 rating: * star

The mixture of Mason's fragile vocals, Downs spoken word background and Morgan's operatic backing was just so over-the-top pretentious.  

 © Scott R. Blackerby May, 2025

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