If you have any blues album recorded after 1960, odds are they guitarist has either a) played with or b) been influenced by the Father of the Modern Blues, John Mayall. Back in 1962, Mayall was part of the London scene that took American (black) blues, and sent it back to the US in the form of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Fleetwood/Mac. His albums “Bluesbreakers”, “Laural Canyon” and “The Turning Point” are absolute essentials, and you miss them at your own peril. A 3cd box set of his latest material, as well as his just released disc, shows that he’s still got his mojo working.
The recently released A Special Life has Mayall with a working band of Rocky Athas/g, Greg Rzab/b, Jay Davenport and CJ Chenier/acc getting down and dirty with a hint of Zydeco on material like “Why Did You Go Last Night.” Eddie Taylor’s vintage “Big Town Playboy” is boogie-liscious, while Albert King’s “Floodin’ In California” has the strings moaning in agony. Mayall’s voice sounds earthier than ever, and his own “World Gone Crazy” and “Heartache” are as riveting as anything from the 70s. A bucketful of beautiful blues.
For the 3 cd set, the 2002 Stories has Mayall leading the pack of Joe Yuele/dr, Hank Van Sickle/b, Tom Canning/key and Buddy Whittington/g delivering some hard hitting material such as “Southside Story” and “Dirty Water.” Mayall sounds convincing in his tribute to the blues master on ”Oh, Leadbelly” while the rhythm section sizzles on “Kids Got the Blues.” In 2005, Road Dogs came out with the same team, with Wittington tearing apart the strings on “So Glad” in Slowhand fashion. The ringer of the three releases, though, is the tribute to Freddie King in which Robben Ford joins in with some tunes and picking. Classics like “I’d Rather Be Blind” and “Going Down” is like beans and rice, while Ford’s own “Cannonball Shuffle” is a rip roaring joy. Put on your stompin’ boots!
Forty Below Records
Eagle Rock Entertainment