Record Reviews

JOHN MAYALL ~ A SPECIAL LIFE FORTY BELOW 006 (Barcode: 888295039918) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2013 Released: 2014 This is an album by the Godfather of British Blues, vocalist / multi-instrumentalist / composer / bandleader John MayallFind albums by this artist, recorded with guitarist Rocky AthasFind albums by this artist, bassist Greg RzabFind albums by this artist and drummer Jay DavenportFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven songs, four of which are Mayall originals, one is by Rzab and the rest are by Blues standards. This is the first album on the Forty BelowFind albums on this label Records label, which is Mayall’s current label, and the first album after almost a five years of recording break following the release of “ToughFind albums with this title” in 2009. The music is everything Mayall’s fans expect from him, great songs, excellent vocals and superb instrumental performances. Mayall’s stability as an Artist is one of his great assets and he never recorded a bad album, despite his prolific recording career. He has been lucky to work with some of the best instrumentalists over the years, and his recorded legacy is a triumphant evidence that sticking to one’s Artistic truth is the shortest way to success and recognition. Overall this is “another brick in the wall” of Mayall’s six-decades long career, which puts his love of the Blues idiom at the spotlight and made the life of his devoted followers more interesting over the years. Blues does not get any better that this… A Special Life indeed!

Updated: 04/08/2021Posted: 04/08/2021

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JOHN MAYALL ~ FIND A WAY TO CARE FORTY BELOW 011 (Barcode: 888295265669) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 Despite the fact that British Blues Guru John MayallFind albums by this artist is already in his eighth decade of his life, he continues to release new albums with a Swiss Clock regularity, as if time stood still for him. This album, recorded in a quartet setting, finds Mayall singing and playing a plethora of keyboard instruments, including the Hammond organ. He is supported by guitarist Rocky AthasFind albums by this artist, bassist Greg RzabFind albums by this artist and drummer Jay DavenportFind albums by this artist. Some of the tracks feature brass arrangements. The album presents twelve tracks (two being bonuses on CD only), five of which are Mayall originals and the rest are by other Blues songwriters. The music is as fresh and sparkling as always and although Mayall has been at it for six decades, his talent to reinvent himself and his music remains unexhausted. Following him on a regular basis, his faithful fans have been exposed to an ever changing panorama of excellent instrumentalists, whom he picks up carefully, always fitting his idiosyncratic style like a glove. Many musicians reach a point in their lives that clearly indicates a time to retire and pass the torch to the next generation, but in Mayall’s case that time is simply not here yet. Thank you John for all these marvelous years and the Blues, which always was a part of the Soundtrack Of My Life.

Updated: 27/05/2021Posted: 27/05/2021

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JOHN MAYALL ~ TALK ABOUT THAT FORTY BELOW 015 (Barcode: 888295485630) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 Despite the fact that British Blues Guru John MayallFind albums by this artist is already in his eighth decade of his life, he continues to release new albums with a Swiss Clock regularity, as if time stood still for him. This album, recorded in a quartet setting, finds Mayall singing and playing a plethora of keyboard instruments, including the Hammond organ, as well as guitar and harmonica. He is supported by guitarist Rocky AthasFind albums by this artist, bassist Greg RzabFind albums by this artist and drummer Jay DavenportFind albums by this artist. Guitar legend Joe WalshFind albums by this artist guests on two tracks. Some of the tracks feature brass arrangements. The album presents eleven tracks, eight of which are Mayall originals and the rest are by other Blues songwriters. The music is as fresh and sparkling as always and although Mayall has been at it for six decades, his talent to reinvent himself and his music remains unexhausted. Following him on a regular basis, his faithful fans have been exposed to an ever changing panorama of excellent instrumentalists, whom he picks up carefully, always fitting his idiosyncratic style like a glove. His awareness of current social / political matters and his honesty about them are another steady feature of his artistic path and he was never shy to criticize the illnesses of our society. Many musicians reach a point in their lives that clearly indicates a time to retire and pass the torch to the next generation, but in Mayall’s case that time is simply not here yet. Thank you John for all these marvelous years and the Blues, which always was a part of the Soundtrack Of My Life.

Updated: 03/06/2021Posted: 03/06/2021

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JOHN MAYALL ~ TOUGH EAR MUSIC 4029759148593 (Barcode: 4029759148593) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2009 Released: 2020 This is a reissue of an album recorded by the Godfather of British Blues guitarist / keyboardist / vocalist / songwriter / bandleader John MayallFind albums by this artist, which was his fifth studio album in the new Millennium and his last release on the EagleFind albums on this label label. He is accompanied by a splendid team which includes seasoned American Blues musicians: guitarist Rocky AthasFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Tom CanningFind albums by this artist, bassist Greg RzabFind albums by this artist and drummer Jay DavenportFind albums by this artist. John’s wife Maggie MayallFind albums by this artist sings some background vocals. The album presents eleven songs, three of which are originals by Mayall and the rest are written by various contemporary songwriters. Mayall stepped boldly into the new Millennium as if time has absolutely no meaning for him and the first two decades saw him releasing nine new studio albums (and a plethora of live albums, mostly archival), which for a person in their seventies, eighties and nineties is quite astounding. No less amazing is the fact that his music stays as young, vigorous and kicking as it was in the early days of his career. Despite the limitations of the Blues idiom, Mayall seems to be able to reinvent himself on every new album and his superb sense of melody and the Blues of course are simply unparalleled. On this album the tunes flow smoothly one after another, featuring Mayall´s wonderfully idiosyncratic vocals and superb playing by his band, which are undisputed Blues / Blues-Rock heaven. God bless you John for the sixty years of great music you shared with all of us!

Updated: 31/01/2021Posted: 31/01/2021

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