Record Reviews
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  | EDDIE BOYD ~ THE COMPLETE BLUE HORIZON SESSIONS
BLUE HORIZON 676968 (Barcode: 828767696829) ~ USA ~ Blues
Recorded: 1967 - 1968 Released: 2006
US Blues Giant Eddie BoydFind albums by this artist hails from the Mississippi Delta. Like many of his Blues companions, he left the South and settled in Chicago in the early 1940’s, where he developed his original style as pianist and singer, but mostly as a gifted composer of many Blues standards, universally performed all over the world today. In 1965 Boyd decided to leave the US, deeply disenchanted by the segregation and racism still prominent there at the time, and settled in Europe, first in Belgium and then in Finland, where he died in 1994. While in Europe, his career flourished both as a performer and a recording artist. Among his many recordings, the sessions he recorded in 1967-1968 for the UK label Blue Horizon (owned and headed by one of the most important Blues producers Mike VernonFind albums by this artist) stand out as truly remarkable. At that time the greatest UK Blues band Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist was practically the Blue Horizon “hose” band and accompanied many musicians on their recording sessions. So here it is – some outstanding blues music performed by the Master Eddie Boyd on piano / vocals and Fleetwood Mac (Peter GreenFind albums by this artist – guitar, John McVieFind albums by this artist – bass and Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist – drums) supporting him with passion and vigor. For a Blues fan it does not get much better.
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FLEETWOOD MAC ~ 1969 - 1974
REPRISE 603497851300 (Barcode: 603497851300) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1969 - 1974 Released: 2020
This Box Set includes remastered / expanded CD reissues of the seven studio albums by the iconic British Blues / Rock group Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist, recorded between 1969 and 1974 and a bonus previously unreleased live CD recorded in 1974.
The reissued albums are “Then Play OnFind albums with this title” (1969 with four bonus tracks), “Kiln HouseFind albums with this title” (1970 with four bonus tracks), “Future GamesFind albums with this title” (1971 with six bonus tracks), “Bare TreesFind albums with this title” (1972 with three bonus tracks), “PenguinFind albums with this title” (1973 with no bonus tracks), “Mystery To MeFind albums with this title” (1973 with two bonus tracks) and finally “Heroes Are Hard To FindFind albums with this title” (1974 with one bonus track). Those are the group’s third to ninth studio albums.
The Box Set shows the transition of the group from the Blues and Blues-Rock idioms, which characterized their early period and the first two studio albums recorded in 1968, with guitarist Peter GreenFind albums by this artist at the helm. That style is still predominantly heard on the “Then Play On” album, which the lineup including also guitarist Danny KirwanFind albums by this artist, bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist.
“Kiln House” marks the departure of Green and features guitarist Jeremy SpencerFind albums by this artist in addition to Kirwan, McVie and Fleetwood. “Future Games” marks the departure of Spencer, who was replaced by American guitarist Bob WelchFind albums by this artist and the addition of singer / keyboardist Christine McVieFind albums by this artist. “Bare Trees” featured the same lineup as its predecessor. “Penguin” marks the departure of Kirwan, who was replaced by guitarist Bob WestonFind albums by this artist. “Mystery To Me” was the last album to include Weston. “Heroes Are Hard To Find” was the last album to include Welch and the first album to be recorded in the US.
Over the years Fleetwood Mac managed to develop a superb Classic Rock act, with excellent songwriting and perfect musicianship, although their commercial breakthrough was about to happen following the release of their next (tenth) studio album, their second eponymous album “Fleetwood MacFind albums with this title”.
Overall, this Box Set is a brilliant collection of great tunes, which are worth being remembered and cherished, despite the fact that they were created before fortune smiled to them Big Time.
Side Note
The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty.
The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations.
In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!
| | Updated: 22/09/2023Posted: 22/09/2023 | CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | FLEETWOOD MAC ~ STRANGER BLUES - LIVE
LONDON CALLING BOX 3 (Barcode: 5053792300334) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2020
This Archival Box Set collects radio / concert recordings by one of the greatest Blues guitarists of all time, Peter GreenFind albums by this artist, and his seminal group Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist. Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist (on drums) and Green formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967 and the group included also guitarist Jeremy SpencerFind albums by this artist and bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist, and eventually a third guitarist Danny KirwanFind albums by this artist. That early lineup lasted until May 1970, when Green left the group, and recorded a number of albums, which are absolute Blues-Rock classics to this very day.
This Box Sets presents 4CD worth of material. The first CD collects nineteen tracks of Fleetwood Mac BBC recordings between January and October 1968. The second CD presents a live concert recorded at the Carousel Ballroom in San Francisco in June of 1968, recorded by a local FM station. The third CD presents a live concert in Helsinki in September of 1969, recorded by the Finnish YLE. The fourth CD presents a live concert in Gothenburg in November 1969, recorded by the Swedish radio.
The music includes the familiar Fleetwood Mac repertoire, about half of which was written by Green, including the everlasting icons like “Man Of The World”, “Oh Well”, “Albatross” and “Black Magic Woman”, but more importantly dozens of Blues classics and long jams, which emphasize green’s incredible guitar pyrotechnics and his genuine fondness and deep understanding of the Blues.
The sound quality of these historic recordings varies, but is certainly good enough to enjoy the music, and the material is an incredible document of the two crucial and most innovative years in music history, as reflected by only one of its heroes.
For Blues / Blues-Rock fans this album is an absolute must of course, and hopefully it will also open the eyes / ears of some young listeners to the treasures of days passed, which still glimmer more potently than anything recorded today.
Side Note
Obiterdictum Ltd, a company based in Cyprus (oh well you know the story… copyright laws and legal issues) releases mostly live recorded radio broadcasts from the 1960s on and offers an amazing source of music which was never officially released by some of the best Classic Rock and Jazz artists. The catalogue offers five hundred releases, which is an absolute treasure chest of music history, often appearing for the first time.
Although the sound quality and sometimes also music quality range from absolutely brilliant to pretty poor, most of the material is surely listenable, especially after being remastered recently, and more importantly offers music which is not available elsewhere.
The company releases the albums under several sub-labels: Air CutsFind albums on this label, EchoesFind albums on this label, Hi HatFind albums on this label, HotspurFind albums on this label, InterferenceFind albums on this label, KeyholeFind albums on this label, KlondikeFind albums on this label, Live On VinylFind albums on this label, London CallingFind albums on this label, OrbitFind albums on this label, Rox VoxFind albums on this label and Sound StageFind albums on this label. There is no ironclad logic as to what material appears on which label, except perhaps some internal considerations by the Obiterdictum owners.
Approach with caution, but keep in mind that some of these releases are absolutely brilliant!
| | Updated: 23/09/2022Posted: 05/06/2021 | CD 4 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICK FLEETWOOD & FRIENDS ~ CELEBRATE THE MUSIC OF PETER GREEN AND THE EARLY YEARS OF FLEETWOOD MAC
BMG 4050538669336 (Barcode: 4050538669336) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2020 Released: 2021
This 2CD album, recorded live at the legendary Palladium in London in February 2020, is a document of a special concert organized to pay tribute to one of the greatest Blues guitarists of all time, Peter GreenFind albums by this artist, and his seminal group Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist. Mick FleetwoodFind albums by this artist (on drums) and Green formed Fleetwood Mac in 1967 and the group included also guitarist Jeremy SpencerFind albums by this artist and bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist, and eventually a third guitarist Danny KirwanFind albums by this artist. That early lineup lasted until May 1970, when Green left, and recorded a number of albums, which are absolute Blues-Rock classics to this very day. Green died a few months after this concert took place.
This concert, three years in planning in making, presents no less than twenty-three songs from the Fleetwood Mac repertoire, about half of them written by Green, including the everlasting icons like “Man Of The World”, “Oh Well”, “The Green Manalishi”, “Albatross” and “Black Magic Woman”. The list of names of the guest musicians appearing on this album reads like a Rock / Blues encyclopedia and includes musicians such as David GilmourFind albums by this artist, John MayallFind albums by this artist, Bill WymanFind albums by this artist, Noel GallagherFind albums by this artist, Christine McVieFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. Christine PerfectFind albums by this artist), Jeremy Spencer, Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist and many others. The overall level of performances is simply staggering.
The fact that this concert actually took place, despite the nightmarish logistics involved with bringing so many musicians on one stage, not mentioning the contractual complications, is a symbol of Peter Green’s influence on generation of musicians all over the world. His contribution to the Blues idiom is simply immeasurable and goes way beyond the British Blues Revival of the 1960s, as his music proves to be simply everlasting.
For Blues / Blues-Rock fans this album is an absolute must of course, and hopefully it will also open the eyes / ears of some young listeners to the treasures of days passed, which still glimmer more potently than anything recorded today.
| | Updated: 05/06/2021Posted: 29/05/2021 | CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MAYALL ~ EUROPEAN UNION (LIVE IN THE UK & GERMANY)
LONDON CALLING 5067 (Barcode: 5053792506712) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 1966 - 1970 Released: 2020
This an archival album by the Godfather of British Blues vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist / songwriter / bandleader John MayallFind albums by this artist presenting three early iconic lineups of his BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist. The music was recorded live and broadcasted on the radio / TV.
The first six tracks originate from 1966 and were performed by perhaps the most recognizable Bluesbreakers lineup featuring guitarist Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, bassist John McVieFind albums by this artist and drummer Hughie FlintFind albums by this artist.
The next five tracks originate from 1969 and were performed by the Bluesbreakers featuring guitarist Mick TaylorFind albums by this artist, bassist Steve ThompsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin AllenFind albums by this artist.
The last track originates from 1970 and was performed by the revolutionary drumless lineup (not called Bluesbreakers), which recorded the “The Turning PointFind albums with this title” album, and two guests, with guitarists Jon MarkFind albums by this artist and Duster BennettFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Johnny AlmondFind albums by this artist and bassists Steve Thompson and Alex DmochowskiFind albums by this artist.
Although the sound quality of these recordings is problematic, especially the 1966 tracks, the quality of the music is excellent and Mayall’s bands at the time were the undeniable pinnacle of the British Blues Rock explosion. For Mayall’s completists, who don’t have this material in their collection, this is of course a must!
| | Updated: 24/10/2021Posted: 24/10/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MAYALL ~ PLAYS JOHN MAYALL (EXPANDED EDITION)
DECCA 984177 (Barcode: 602498417799) ~ UK ~ Blues
Recorded: 1964 - 1965 Released: 2006
1st album by the hero of my youth and to this date one of my very favorite musicians of all times. John MayallFind albums by this artist is the absolute Godfather of British blues. Since the early 1960s he’s led a streak of blues groups, called The BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, which were a breeding ground for entire generations of future blues and rock superstars. If the names of Peter GreenFind albums by this artist, Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Aynsley DunbarFind albums by this artist, John McVieFind albums by this artist and Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist (to mention just a very few of his alumni) mean anything to you than you can understand his importance. But Mayall is far more than a bandleader. He plays many instruments and writes superb melodies, some of which are amongst the best blues songs ever written. And of course he sings the blues like nobody else. Mayall not only deeply loves the blues, but he understands it probably more than anybody else, which made it possible for him to expand the art of blues way beyond its original form. Thank God he keeps doing it now for over 50 years – a truly remarkable man and an unprecedented career. This album is a live recording at the London’s Klooks Kleek club (a famous meeting place for UK blues musicians). Mayall and his Bluesbreakers perform a brilliant set of songs, composed all by Mayall and this is one of the best examples of how the British blues revival crystallized around that period. Although this music was recorded over 40 years ago, it sounds remarkably fresh and up-to-date, losing nothing of its charm and beauty. Every John Mayall album is an absolute must for any blues fan, this one especially so for its added historical value.
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MAYALL ~ ROLLING WITH THE BLUES - LIVE
INDIGO 004 (Barcode: 5036436131228) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 1972 - 1982 Released: 2021
This is a reissue of an archival release by the Godfather of British Blues vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist / songwriter / bandleader John MayallFind albums by this artist presenting live recordings captured between 1972 and 1982 by several different lineups of his groups. The 2CD album was initially released in 2003 and also included a DVD with an interview by Mayall, which is omitted on this release. All the music, except for two tracks, which are Jazz / Blues standards, was composed by Mayall.
CD1 presents twelve tracks recorded in Germany in 1972 and 1973, which feature the sextet version of Mayall’s group with trumpeter Blue MitchellFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Clifford SolomonFind albums by this artist or Red HollowayFind albums by this artist, guitarist Freddie RobinsonFind albums by this artist, bassist Victor GaskinFind albums by this artist and drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist, which document the period when his groups featured brass instruments, as documented on the live “Jazz Blues FusionFind albums with this title” and “Moving OnFind albums with this title” albums and the “Ten Years Are GoneFind albums with this title” studio album recorded at that time.
CD2 presents four tracks recorded in the US in 1980, which feature the quintet version of his group with saxophonist Red Holloway, guitarist James Quill SmithFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Soko RichardsonFind albums by this artist. These are followed by six tracks recorded in the US in 1982, which feature the classic quartet version of the BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, with guitarist Mick TaylorFind albums by this artist, bassists John McVieFind albums by this artist or Steve ThompsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin AllenFind albums by this artist, as documented later on the “Return Of The BluesbreakersFind albums with this title” album.
The album is a great document of Mayall’s dexterity and diversity, with his music and the lineups of his groups constantly changing, but never leaving the Blues path.
Overall, this is a wonderful glimpse at the continuous life story of one of the greatest musicians to walk the earth, who now, for over six decades, still keeps making great music and laughing at the time passing by. A must to all Mayall many fans, followers and collectors of his recordings.
| | Updated: 05/11/2021Posted: 05/11/2021 | CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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