Waiting for Speedway Fowler

Carolyne Mas has announced on her webpage that she is quitting the music business. Well, why not? The music business quit her a long time ago.

In the opinion of too few people out there, Mas was one of the greatest rock stars ever.. but in a culture where Madonna somehow gets inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame and no one, it seems, sees that as a joke, Mas never had a chance. She released two landmark albums and one merely great album during the late 70's and early 80's, had some success in Europe, was responsible for an infamous underground live bootleg, and earned rave reviews for all her music.

But the rock-soul Jersey sound of that period quickly fell out of vogue, despite it being responsible for the Greatest Album of All Time: "Hearts of Stone" by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Even Springsteen can't get radio airplay these days. Mas, who was a woman in a particularly male genre, never stood a chance. Like Janey Street, she got fantastic write-ups, but mainstream America quickly became more interested in fey boy bands like Wham! and the Backstreet Boys.

The rest of her story is pretty typical. Some tours in Germany and a European double-live release, some label difficulties back home, and a small, loyal and devoted fan base that listened to her over the years. We're still out here, Sam Lorac.

Carolyne Mas's albums are available if you look for them. EBay is a great resource. Sadly, she's using eBay to sell her guitars as well. Pick up her debut or her follow up, "Hold On", which was recorded live in the studio, and hear her genius.

Maybe someday the world will catch up to Carolyne Mas.