Listened to mistriss on Israeli radio while in Jerusalem ()

Kenneth hopkins singing whos side are you on, was a big hit in Israel. He was also my music minister when I was a young pastor in Marin County, we travelled all through Europe together, while he sang and wrote gospel music, search my lifes greatest missionary journey

what happened ()

Too bad these guys didn't stick it out, as pointed out this album wasn't released until 1979 (2 yrs AFTER it was recorded).I really enjoyed listening to this Band back then, and just recently was able to find their songs on the Internet. Love this stuff! I was buying unheard music back then, also from reading Record Reviews as well. Somehow I Came across Mistress. I believe, that with Promotion and had people heard of these Guys, That they would have been Big ! Definately worth Hunting down-Type Mistress (with one of Their songs) High on the ride,Whose side are You on, etc (might even have to go to a Russian site to Hear them)

Letter to California ()

Love all the music but Letter's always been my favorite.

Charlie came to me many years ago when he was doing promotional work for the Raddison in Sacramento, wanting to know about publicity for the concerts; many years past the time that Mistress was out there.

We developed a working relationship over time and he gave me an incredible music education, in the blues especially, that laid a solid foundation for me in entertainment writing, which I continue to do these many years later.

The music rocks! The question though, is where can we get CD's as the tapes have worn out! Or, is anyone planning to re-release any of this for the next generation?

Mistress RSO 3059 ()

Very Good record from the San Francisco band that featured 2 Southern Rockers, David Brown Original Bass-Vocals for Boz Scaggs and Band, Cowboy, Gregg Alman.
Lead singer Charlie Williams from the Atalnta Based Carrie Nation Band.
This configuartion with Brown, Williams, and Paulsen originally performed with Dave Walker and Gregg Douglas who left the band to join Steve Miller.Walker left to Join Black Sabath leaving the rythmn section and Williams on Vocals to find a new sound.
They Added Danny Chauncey current of 38 Special on lead guitar and an unkown writer -guitarist Kenny Hopkins. After a year of studio and clubs they landed a deal with RSO.
Top tracks are You got the love, Tellin Me lies, China Lake, and Walker- Paulsen tune High on the Ride.
Dave Walker did come back to the US and made a visit to the studio and may have lent some BGV to high on the ride, this album was recorded and released in 1979. The album also featured a top 40 single Mistrusted Love.
Find a copy and check this out

Above average corporate rock ()

What this boils down to is that Dave Walker was in this band at one point but for legal reasons he was not able to continue with them in 1976 so by the time this album was recorded in 1977 he was not present though I'm sure I can hear his backing vocals on the choruses in the song he co penned on this album called "High on the ride" (a very good riff orientated shouting rocker). Dave said when asked at his Penguin Q & A that they may very well have used some parts of the demo tracks (which he had cut with them previously) on the finished product so if he's anywhere at all on this album uncredited, this is the track you may hear him on. Unfortunately, there is no way to really have a picture of this album's cover present as it's just a plain white cover with the word "Mistress" embossed towards the top in the center of the cover (the M as the side of two female legs). The tracks that surround the aforementioned track with possible Walker involvement are also highlights here, the catchy, numbing opening rocker "Situations" and the popular ballad "Mistrusted love" with pleasant mid tempo acoustics, this song was almost a hit, making it in to the US top 50. Unfortunately, RSO Records sat on this album (most likely due to the legal troubles that had been following the band) for two years before finally releasing it in 1979 by which time Mistress had already broken up. It makes one wonder how big a hit this track could've been had it been released in '77 backed by some promotion. Anyways, I'm sorry to say that it's after this song ends we start to go downhill in to bland corporate rock excesses. Though the first three tracks represent the best elements of that genere, the rest of the tracks display it's bad side. "Dixie flyer" has guitar fills which try to liven this bland chunker up but it's not enough. "China lake" tries to come across as adventurous as it's mostly instrumental with the chanting chorus parts being the only vocals but you can see it coming a mile away though the music is fairly dramatic on it's own. "Whose side are you on" includes lightweight material that tries to be rocking, "You got the love" is a punchy rocker that just seems like it's missing something, the quiet verses work OK but it fails at it's attempts for Bad Company type soulfulness. "Tellin' me lies" is a chirpy rocker that sounds better than the last few but it doesn't have a great hook. Then we get a standard cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon girl" which actually works pretty good but they should've done away with the "open up and let me in" chanting at the end as that kind of ruins it. Finally, "Letter to California" isn't too interesting a ballad, with it's banjo/electric piano arrangement and it lacks a hook as well. So for those of you that like the corporate rock that ruled the airwaves in the early 80's, you may like more than what positives I've listed here, though the first three tracks I do find essential listening for this genere.