We Just Disagree

This song was written by Jim Krueger, a guitarist from Manitowoc, Wisconsin who joined Dave Mason's band in 1974. Affectionately and ironically known as "bruiser" (he was actually very soft-spoken), Krueger became Mason's trusted musical partner at a time when he sorely needed the help. Mason, a former member of the band Traffic, signed a deal with Columbia Records in 1973 that demanded two albums a year from him. It was Clive Davis who signed Mason, but Davis departed the label soon after, leaving Mason in the lurch.

The song is about a couple who have parted ways, possibly via divorce, and have agreed to set aside their differences and stop assigning blame. The song could describe any number of scenarios where a relationship goes sour; Mason connected with the song based on his numerous conflicts with band members, love interests and record labels. In our interview with Mason, he explained: "I did it because I thought it was a great song. An unusual chord arrangement behind it. And it stood up - it was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, 'Yeah, that's the song.' Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I'm going to do something. If it holds up like that I'll put the rest of the icing on it. I was going to cut it anyway, but I frankly thought it was too good a song to be a hit. Sounds strange. And it wasn't a huge hit, it got to #12. But it's been around. It's a great song. It's a timeless song."

Mason included the song on his 1977 album Let It Flow, but it wasn't chosen as the first single: that honor went to "So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)," which peaked at #89. "We Just Disagree" was the second single, and it became Mason's biggest hit as a solo artist.