On the occasion of
John Mayall's 70th Birthday, the father
of the British blues boom held a special
concert at Liverpool docks on July 19th,
2003. Thankfully the concert was recorded
for posterity, as it is - without doubt
- the finest British blues album in decades.
The music kicks off with a couple of
numbers from the Bluesbreakers minus their
illustrious leader. Although this sets
the standards for the rest of the night
already very high, things really start
to cook when the great man arrives and
whips out his harmonica for their third
song. After a few more numbers the festivities
truly begin with the introduction of Mick
Taylor on lead guitar. Now remember, Mick
Taylor originally made his name with the
Bluesbreakers before he was poached away
by the glimmer twins for a five year stint
as a Rolling Stone. Mick Taylor has certainly
lost none of his chops and leads the ensemble
through a riotous collection of blues
and boogie.
Then Mick Taylor leaves the stage to
give space to John Mayall's most famous
protégé, a certain Mr. Eric
’Slowhand’ Clapton. The selection
of songs from the seminal John Mayall
and the Bluesbreakers album featuring
Eric Clapton, let’s one step back
and wonder with awe.
Next up is the inspired inclusion of
Chris Barber on trombone, who sets up
some wonderful duels with Clapton. In
the late fifties Chris Barber was responsible
for bringing over to the British shores
such artists as 'Big Bill Broonzy’,
Sister Rossetta Tharpe, Sonny Terry, and
the great Muddy Waters. So, who knows
what state the British music would be
in without the introduction of these American
greats to further inspire the likes of
'The Beatles’, 'The Kinks', and
'The Pretty Things'?
Although all these great musicians are
on stage, the actual Bluesbreakers are
never overawed. In the contrary, they
leave the featured artist space to excel,
none more than to the man himself - John
Mayall. Mayall, entering his eighth decade,
shows no sign of slowing down or losing
his amazing abilities.
The concert is brought to a climax with
twenty-five minutes of encores with the
entire cast on stage. Everybody fights
for space to solo, but usually politely
await their turns. The whole thing really
rocks.
At just over two and a half hours there
is not a moment on this two disc set that
is not covered in magic. The concert was
recorded for DVD, which is also available.
It is quite fun to have a look at all
the artists who could of been invited
to this show, who have at one time or
another passed through the ranks of John
Mayall's Bluesbreakers. There's Jack Bruce,
Eric Clapton's old running buddy in Cream.
The third part of that particular trio,
Ginger Baker, also played with the Bluesbreakers
once, but only sitting in for a jam on
the drums. Peter Green; John McVie; Mick
Fleetwood, who left Mayall to form Fleetwood
Mac; Aynsley Dunbar; a fifteen year old
Andy Fraser of Free fame, and Micky Waller.
John Hiseman, Tony Reeves, and Dick Heckstall-Smith
who all sneaked off together to form Colosseum.
Keef Hartley; Hughie Flint…. Oh!
the list is endless, but it does go to
show how important John Mayall and his
Bluesbreakers are to British blues.
After a particularly brilliant interchange
between Clapton and Barber, which brings
'Have You Heard' to a dramatic finish,
John Mayall shouts from the stage “The
blues does not get better than that”.
The man is correct.
Bluesed by Mott the Dog
Slid past by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
Disc One
1. Grits Ain’t Groceries –
Bluesbreakers
2. Jacksboro Highway – Bluesbreakers
3. Southside Story – Mayall/Bluesbreakers
4. Kids Got The Blues – Mayall/Bluesbreakers
5. Dirty Water – Mayall/Bluesbreakers
6. Somebody’s Acting Like A Child
– Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Taylor
7. Blues For The Lost Days – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Taylor
8. Walking On Sunset – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Taylor
9. Oh, Pretty Woman – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Taylor
10. No Big Hurry – Mayall/Clapton
Disc Two
1. Please Mr. Lofton – Mayall/Clapton/Barber
2. Hideaway – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton/Barber
3. All Your Love – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton
4. Have You Heard – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton/Barber
5. Hoochie Coochie Man – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton/Barber
6. I’m Tore Down – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton/Barber
7. It Ain’t Right – Mayall/Bluesbreakers
8. California – Mayall/Bluresbreakers/Taylor/Barber/Lowther
9. Talk To Your Daughter – Mayall/Bluesbreakers/Clapton/Taylor/Barber
