If you got the first volume of these “official bootleg” sessions blessed by John Mayall that were released last year, I’m sure your first response was “could there be any more?” Well, proof of a benevolent God exists, as He saw fit to follow up that first disc with one that is just as blueswailing as the first.
The music was originally performed at UK clubs like Bromley, the Marquee Club, The Ram Jam Club and Klook’s Kleek in the spring of 1967. The team of Mayall with Peter Green/g, John McVie/b and Mick Fleetwood/dr is lean and mean, and yes the fidelity of sound isn’t exactly His Master’s Voice, but it’s more than made up for in the fidelity of the blues. Mayall on the harp is simply a whirlwind on”Your Funeral and My Trial” and “Bye Bye Bird.” Green makes the strings bend like it’s Cirque Du Soleil on ”Tears In My Eyes” and shows you the grit under his fingernails on “Chicago Line.” Mayall’s organ grinds and moans like a Baptist preacher on “So Many Roads” and his voice is as thick and malleable as Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy throughout. The energy emitted from tunes like “Stormy Monday” (with Ronnie Jones’ vocals) could light up San Diego for a week, and the barometric pressure gets ready for a tornado on “Greeny.” This is the real deal; everything else you get this year will feel like an overripe banana. Even better-he’s still around and sounding as inspired as ever. There’s no one after him, so see him while you can!
Forty Below Records