Daniel Reviews...
John Mayall’s Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton
Released: 1966
Rating: 9/10
Track Listing: 1. All Your Love/ 2. Hideaway/ 3. Little Girl/ 4. Another Man/ 5. Double Crossin’ Time/ 6. What I’d Say/ 7. Key To Love/ 8. Parchman Farm/ 9. Have You Heard/ 10. Ramblin’ On My Mind/ 11. Steppin’ Out/ 12. It Ain’t Right
It cannot be stressed enough just how important John Mayall was for the British blues scene. He guided numerous artists into careers far more successful than he himself would ever achieve. Today he is mostly remembered as the guy who Eric Clapton left behind to join Cream. People seem to forget that Mayall actually had some talent of his own, and was far more than just someone who discovered good, young and promising musicians (even if that is his most important contribution). He shows some of his own skills on numbers such as “Parchman Farm” and “Another Man”. Yet, no matter how good a singer, harmonica player or keyboardist Mayall might be, there’s no denying that the album belongs mostly to Eric Clapton. With his raw and pure blues licks he offers another dimension that hadn’t been heard previously. At least not on white blues records. The actual sound is so soothing and relaxing, but at the same time raw and brutal. No matter if he’s up front as in “Steppin’ Out” and “Hideaway” or staying in the background as in “Little Girl”, Clapton’s playing is always distinct and focused. And when he let’s loose on “Have You Heard” there’s no question about who was the best guitarist in Britain at the time.
Blues Breakers is filled with anecdotes and trivia. Clapton’s first vocal performance, the engineer’s fight with Clapton, an attack on Jack Bruce (“Double Crossin’ Time”), songs that would grow into Cream favorites (“Steppin’ Out” and “Hideaway”) and it is also fun to read the band members names and find out where they went from here on. It was a revolutionizing album at the time, and even if it haven’t stayed original, its musical and emotional qualities surely didn't lessened over the years. After the release of this album Clapton moved on to Cream. For the next album, A Hard Road, his place was taken by Peter Green who eventually would form Fleetwood Mac together with fellow Blues Breaker John McVie.
Crusade
Released: 1967
Rating: 8/10
Track Listing: 1. Oh, Pretty Woman/ 2. Stand Back Baby/ 3. My Time After A While/ 4. Snowy Wood/ 5. Man of Stone/ 6. Tears In My Eyes/ 7. Driving Sideways/ 8. The Death of J.B. Lenoir/ 9. I Can’t Quit You Baby/ 10. Streamline/ 11. Me And My Woman/ 12. Checkin’ Up On My Baby
Peter Green left the Blues Breakers after just one album, which forced Mayall to find a new guitarist. It was hard to find someone able to match Clapton’s abilities, but Mayall had succeded when recruiting Green. One might think that it’d be next to impossible to find a third monster guitarist. Mayall picked Mick Tayalor. A very young guitarist that managed to fill the void. With this trio Mayall had been disposing over a guitar arsenal probably only matched by The Yardbirds (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page). And considering Clapton’s huge improvement with Mayall compared to his work with The Yardbirds, I’m tempted to say the Mayall-guitarists were the better ones. At least when comparing their work within their groups and ignoring what happened after that.<p>
Now, this album may not be as impressive as Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, but it certainly is good. Particularly Mick Taylor shines through out the album. His playing is more similar to Clapton than to Green and that appeals to me. His touch and feeling may not be quite up at Clapton’s level, but the sound and technique is flawless and very tasteful. Just as Clapton had his own moments in “Hideaway” and “Steppin’ Out” and Green had his on A Hard Road (“The Supernatural”), Taylor is given his chance to be in the spotlight with the instrumental “Snowy Wood”. A neat thing with soothing organ and tasty guitar performance. Probably the peak of the album. The high points are many and the low points are extremely few. Yet, the high points were even higher and there were more of them on the Clapton-album. If you liked Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, there is no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy this one.
The Blues Alone
Released: 1967
Rating: 5/10
Track Listing: 1. Brand New Start/ 2. Please Don’t Tell/ 3. Down The Line/ 4. Sonny Boy Blow/ 5. Marsha’s Mood/ 6. No More Tears/ 7. Catch That Train/ 8. Cancelling Out/ 9. Harp Man/ 10. Brown Sugar/ 11. Broken Wings/ 12. Don’t Kick Me
Drummer Hugh Flint (Blues Breakers-album) left for Alexis Korner and was replaced by Aynsley Dunbar (A Hard Road-album), who in turn left to join The Jeff Beck Group. The Jeff Beck Group featured Jeff Beck who had replaced Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds. Beck then left The Yardbirds and formed his own band, which featured Rod Stewart and bass player Ron Wood. Dunbar was replaced by Keef Hartley. Hartley himself had replaced a certain Ringo Starr in Rory Storm And The Hurricanes when Starr joined another Liverpool band. Hartley had also played with The Artwoods, in which Ron Wood’s brother was the vocalist.
Eric Clapton came from The Yardbirds and moved on to Cream which also included bassist Jack Bruce. Bruce had been playing with The Blues Breakers for a short time and also Manfred Mann and The Graham Bond Organization, which also featured future Cream drummer Ginger Baker. In 1963 Clapton had been in a band called The Roosters, in which Tom McGuinness played bass. McGuinness later gained success with Manfred Mann.
Peter Green replaced Clapton and later formed Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac featured Blues Breakers bassist John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, who had recorded some singles as a member of the Blues Breakers.
Peter Green was replaced by youngster Mick Taylor. Taylor would leave Mayall to join The Rolling Stones. After a few albums Taylor quit the Stones and was replaced by Ron Wood, previously member of The Jeff Beck Group, remember?
To this you can also add that a few singles that Mayall recorded with Clapton was produced by former Yardbirds and future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.
All this happened in less than two years. No wonder Mayall grew sick of the turbulence and decided to record an album all by himself. And no matter how much respect I have for Mayall, I must confess that some limitations are being revealed. On his previous albums, you could always rely on some hot guitar when the songs themselves weren’t that interesting. On The Blues Alone, you are left with John Mayall’s own playing. He has overdubbed all the songs, so you do get more than one instrument, but it isn’t that exciting. Competent? Yes. Interesting? No. The actual sound and atmosphere is great, though. Reminds me of Clapton’s comeback album 461 Ocean Boulevard and the echoes and reverbs recalls Daniel Lanois’ production work with Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris. However, that alone isn’t enough to sit through this album more than once or twice. It is boring to not have a band on fire or a guitarist that loves to shine every now and then. Although, I’m sure Mayall found it a relief having not to worry about his band members showing up the next day.