John Mayall Albums (45)
'Live from Austin TX'
Release Date 10/16/2007
Tracks 9
Label New West
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'The Private Collection'
Release Date 10/10/2006
Tracks 22
Label Recall
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'Road Dogs'
Release Date 6/6/2005
Tracks 15
Label Eagle Rock Entertain
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What The Critics Say
John Mayall's stature in the world of blues-rock cannot be understated, as his Bluesbreakers outfit was the launching pad for such renowned players as Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, and Peter Green. And while there are no musicians as recognizable as Clapton on the Bluesbreakers' 2005 release, Road Dogs, Mayall (who handles vocals, piano, harmonica, guitar, and synthesizer duties) has assembled a worthy supporting cast -- Joe Yuele (drums), Buddy Whittington (guitar), Hank Van Sickle (bass) and Tom Canning (organ/piano). While the production may be a bit "cleaner" than it was on his classic-'60s era work, Road Dogs should definitely please fans of modern day blues-rock. As evidenced by the solo on "So Glad," Whittington has obviously studied his Clapton, while Mayall and co. have no problem cooking up a bluesy swamp stomp on the title track. Elsewhere, "To Heal the Pain" puts forth the usual "love is the answer" message -- and while it's an amiable message, others have similarly regurgitated it countless times over the years. Of course, Road Dogs is not the groundbreaking blues-rock of 1966's Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton (aka "The Beano Album"), but it shows that the veteran bluesman is still rockin' along at the age of 71. And most importantly, Mayall is remaining true to the style he helped popularize decades ago. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide
'70th Birthday Concert'
Release Date 11/10/2003
Tracks 19
Label Eagle
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What The Critics Say
Though almost always well-intentioned, events like this usually don't pan out on record, let alone on DVD. Thankfully, this is not one of those occasions. John Mayall in his 70th Birthday Concert is as spry, ferocious, and on top of his game as ever. There is nothing tired about the presentation or the performances. Mayall's own umpteenth version of the Bluesbreakers is yet another example of his uncanny ability to pick the right cats for the job. They play with plenty of fire, brilliant musicianship, and taste. There are two discs in this package encompassing 19 cuts. The show broke down as follows: the bland play two burning tracks on their own -- "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "Jacksboro Highway," -- before Mayall joins them for three, including a stunning rendition of "Dirty Water." Mayall then invites Mick Taylor to the stage for no less than four cuts -- two of which are "Blues for the Lost Days," and "Oh Pretty Woman." But it gets better. Eric Clapton and Chris Barber join the Bluesbreakers for seven cuts -- "Hideaway" (what else?), and a beautiful duet performance of "No Big Hurry" between Eric and John. Both Clapton and Taylor are in hungry, fine form, and hold nothing back. The last finale features Taylor and Clapton, and is a guitar orgy, as one would expect. What it all adds up to, however, is a stinging, overdriven performance of modern electric blues by a master bandleader who shows no signs of slowing down physically, and most importantly, creatively. Highly recommended. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The Fuel 2000 reissue of Blues Forever highlights John Mayall's re-formed Bluesbreakers of the '80s. This live date is an early showcase for Coco Montoya and Walter Trout, the featured guitarists who secured their musical reputations during this stint with Mayall. While Blues Forever is mainly a guitarist showcase, Mayall leads the proceedings but doesn't dominate them. These eight digitally remastered cuts include strong versions of the Willie Dixon/Otis Rush classic "All Your Love," "Ridin' on the L & N," and Mayall's signature tune, "Room to Move." ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide
'Rolling with the Blues'
Release Date 1/1/2003
Tracks 23
Label Shakedown
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What The Critics Say
Rolling with the Blues chronicles seven John Mayall concerts played between 1972 and 1982. Mayall had given up trying to maintain and support a regular backing group by the early '70s, and was instead working with different configurations for specific gigs. For the 1972 Frankfurt show that opens this two-disc set (a third disc is a DVD interview with Mayall from 2002), Mayall works with a lineup of Keef Hartley on drums, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Clifford Solomon on sax, Freddy Robinson on guitar, and Victor Gaskin on upright bass. Red Holloway replaces Solomon on sax for a second show in Frankfurt a year later in 1973. A 1980 show in Huntington Beach, CA, finds James Quill Smith on guitar. Two 1982 concerts, one in Minneapolis and one in Chicago, feature John McVie of Fleetwood Mac on bass, while two shows in Italy later in the year, one in Rome and one in Lugo, sport a stripped-down lineup of Mick Taylor, Steve Thompson, and Colin Allen. For all these personnel differences, the sound is remarkably consistent and the live recordings are quite balanced, although things red-line occasionally and now and then there are some obvious dropouts, but nothing too serious. Among the highlights are the over 12-minute jazz blues "Got You on My Mind" and a scuffling "No Holds Barred" from the 1972 Frankfurt show and an appropriately ragged John Lee Hooker homage, "John Lee Boogie," from the 1980 Huntington Beach performance. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
'Stories'
Release Date 8/26/2002
Tracks 14
Label Eagle Rock Entertain
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What The Critics Say
John Mayall, 69 years of age at the time of this recording, is at the very least irrepressible. He and his many versions of the Bluesbreakers have hit the road every year for decades, and the five years leading up to the release of Stories offer a flurry of activity that hasn't been seen from him since the 1970s. The Bluesbreakers lineup here has been with him since Spinning Coin, and includes Joe Yuele on drums, guitarist Buddy Whittington, Hank Van Sickle on bass, and Tom Canning on keyboards. Like the young hip-hop kids who self reference ubiquitously, Mayall writes more songs about blues music or playing the blues than virtually any musician in history, and Stories seems to be a series of narrative songs that are, for the most part, about various blues giants of the past, such as a reminiscence about seeing Little Walter in "Southside Story" or a paean to Leadbelly in "Oh, Leadbelly," various blues myths such as "I Thought I Heard the Devil" and "The Witching Hour," or exhortations for young people to take up the blues mantle ("Kids Got the Blues"). There are other tracks, however, like the excellent political minor-key shuffle "Dirty Water" -- no, not that one. The best track on the album is a country-style Bo Diddley shuffle called "Feels Just Like Home," the only love song on the record and it's a stunner. The production is crisp, perhaps a little too, and the playing is inspired. Mayall's harmonica playing is as fine as ever, and if there is one complaint about the last few records, it's the overplaying of Whittington, who is a stunning guitar player in the modern style. Mayall reins him in a bit here (though not enough) and as a result the songs -- because Mayall is a fine writer -- come shining through the instrumental prowess. This is a worthy inclusion in one of the most prolific and consistent catalogs in blues-rock history. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
By the time this was released in 2001, John Mayall was more known for the people who played in his seminal British band, the Bluesbreakers rather than his own accomplishments. The success of 1999's Padlock on the Blues afforded Mayall the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and gather an all-star lineup of blues and rock luminaries. "A World of Hurt" and "That's Why I Love You So" both typify the good but not great groove that permeates Along for the Ride. Better tracks "Yo Yo Man" and "Early in the Morning" are easygoing blues that feature the great rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fellow Fleetwood Mac and Bluesbreaker alum, the reclusive Peter Green plays acoustic slide guitar on "Yo-Yo Man." "So Many Roads" has Mayall dueting with Otis Rush, and it soon becomes a contest on who sounds more disgruntled. The playful "Testify" features vocals and subtle guitar lines from blues phenom Shannon Curfman. This ends on the strong note. The powerful and wry "She Don't Play By the Rules" has Mayall with arguably the strongest and most subtle band with Mick Taylor on lead guitar and Andy Fairweather Low on acoustic guitar. Along for the Ride is produced, engineered, and mixed by David Z. Despite the camaraderie, a lot of the hooks here don't stick, and fans of Mayall and superstar sessions will get the most from this effort. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide
'Reaching for the Blues'
Release Date 9/19/2000
Tracks 9
Label Purple Pyramid
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'Live at the Marquee 1969'
Release Date 1/18/2000
Tracks 7
Label Spitfire
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