Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports

Template:Use dmy dates Template:Redirect {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: 1 May 1981 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Profiles1985AlbumNick Mason's Fictitious SportsFictitious-sports.jpgNick Mason1 May 1981October 1979Grog Kill, Willow, New YorkJazz-rock, progressive rock36:15Harvest (UK)
Columbia (US)* Nick Mason

• Carla Bleyx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports is the debut solo studio album by the English drummer Nick Mason, most known for his work with Pink Floyd, released in May 1981. Mainly creatively driven by American jazz composer Carla Bley, it is Mason's first major work outside of Pink Floyd.<ref name=allmusic>{{#ifeq: | yes | https://www.allmusic.com/album/r44232{{

 #if: 
 | /{{{tab}}}
 }}

| {{#if: r44232

 | {{#if: Olewnick
   | {{#if: |[[{{{author-link}}}|Olewnick{{#if: Brian|, Brian }}]]|Olewnick{{#if: Brian|, Brian }}}}. 
   }}[https://www.allmusic.com/album/r44232{{
   #if: 
   | /{{{tab}}}
   }} {{
   #if: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports
   | Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports
   | Template:PAGENAMEBASE
   }}] at AllMusic{{
   #if: 
   | . Retrieved .
   }}

 | {{#if: {{#property:P1728}}
   | Template:First word {{#if: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

   | {{#if: {{#property:P1729}}
     | Template:First word {{#if: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

     | {{#if: {{#property:P1730}}
       | Template:First word {{#if: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

       | {{#if: {{#property:P1994}}
         | Template:First word {{#if: Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports | Template:PAGENAMEBASE }} at AllMusicTemplate:EditAtWikidata

         | Template:Main other

         }}
       }}
     }}
   }}
 }}

}}</ref>

Writing and recording

Bley performing in 1979

Though Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports was released under Mason's name, it is effectively an album by jazz composer and keyboardist Carla Bley and her ensemble, for whom Mason is merely the drummer. Bley wrote all the music and lyrics for the album. All of the songs have lyrics, which are sung by Robert Wyatt (formerly of Soft Machine) except for the first track, where Karen Kraft takes lead.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=whitlock>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=palmer>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=yliruusi>Template:Cite news</ref>

The album was recorded in October 1979 at Grog Kill Studio (owned by Bley and her then-husband Michael Mantler) in Willow, New York.<ref name=yliruusi/><ref name=allmusic/><ref name=stone/> The sessions took place while production for Pink Floyd's The Wall was still ongoing. The album was co-produced by Mason and Bley.<ref name=whitlock/>

The album is more pop-oriented compared to Bley's earlier writing, with Olewnick describing its music as more rock or jazz-rock in style with humorous lyrics.<ref name=allmusic/> Music writer Robert Palmer, reviewing the album for The New York Times, remarked that "If there's such a thing as punk jazz, this is it." Bley had herself noted punk rock as a heavy influence on the album's music.<ref name=palmer/>

Release and reception

Despite being recorded in 1979, the album's release was delayed for almost two years,<ref name=stone/> eventually releasing on 1 May 1981.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The decision to release it under Mason's name has been described by critics as a promotional one to entice Pink Floyd fans to listen to the album.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=whitlock/><ref name=yliruusi/> In the end, the album did not chart, and only developed a "rather cautious cult reputation" years later.<ref name=yliruusi/> However, despite its relative lack of success compared to Pink Floyd's work, it actually "may well be the biggest commercial hit of Bley's singular career".<ref name=whitlock/>

The album (along with Profiles and the soundtrack to the film White of the Eye) was remastered and reissued on August 31, 2018 as part of the box set Unattended Luggage.<ref name=stone>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Critical reception

Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports has received mixed to positive critical reviews. Janne Yliruusi reviewed the album positively, praising it as one of the best solo albums by a Pink Floyd member.<ref name=yliruusi/> Brian Olewnick gave the album a mixed review, describing its music as "fairly pedestrian if occasionally catchy".<ref name=allmusic/> At the same time, Olewnick and other critics generally praised the humor of the album's lyrics and Robert Wyatt's vocals.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=whitlock/><ref name=yliruusi/>

Aftermath and legacy

After the album's recording, Mason returned to Pink Floyd for the band's 1980–1981 The Wall Tour, and recorded the band's final album with founding member Roger Waters, The Final Cut (1983).<ref name=yliruusi/> Bley moved away from the punk-influenced sound of Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports. In reference to punk rock, she remarked: "I'm no longer infatuated with it; I'm bored to tears by the whole thing. My new songs aren't influenced at all by that scene."<ref name=palmer/>

The song "Wervin'" from the album was later sampled by Danny Brown for his song "Ain't It Funny" on his 2016 album Atrocity Exhibition.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Track listing

All songs written by Carla Bley.

Personnel

• Nick Mason – drums, percussion, co-producer, assistant recording engineer
• Carla Bley – keyboards, songwriter, co-producer
• Robert Wyatt – vocals (except on "Can't Get My Motor to Start")
• Karen Kraft – lead vocal on "Can't Get My Motor to Start", duet vocal on "Hot River", backing vocals
• Chris Spedding – guitars
• Steve Swallow – bass guitar
• Michael Mantler – trumpets, recording engineer
• Gary Windo – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, additional voices
• Gary Valente – trombones, additional voices
• Howard Johnson – tuba
• Terry Adams – piano on "Boo to You Too", harmonica & clavinet on "Can't Get My Motor to Start"
• Carlos Ward – additional voices
• David Sharpe – additional voices
• Vincent Chancey – additional voices
• Earl McIntyre – additional voices
• James Guthrie – mixing engineer
• Hipgnosis and Geoff Halpin – cover design