On July 22, 2024, John Mayall died aged 90. He was musician (keyboards, harmonica, guitar), singer, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians, including Sammy Prosser, Davey Graham, John Gilbey, Ricky Brown, Pete Burford, Sam Stone, Brian Myall, Keith Robertson, Bernie Watson, John McVie, Peter Ward, Martin Hart, Roger Dean, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John Weider, John Slaughter, Geoff Krivit, Peter Green, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Micky Waller, Mick Fleetwood, Terry Edmonds, Keef Hartley, Chris Mercer, Rip Kant, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Paul Williams, Keith Tillman, Henry Lowther, Andy Fraser, Tony Reeves and Jon Hiseman. John Mayall was referred to as the “Godfather of the British Blues”, and the “Pioneer of the British Blues”, with career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death. He released seventy albums (studio and live).
Tag Archives: John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
Sugarcane Harris
On November 30, 1999, Don Francis Bowman “Sugarcane” Harris died aged 61. He was musician (violin, guitar), a pioneer in amplification of the violin. He was member of the doo-wop band The Squires, the duo Don and Dewey, Pure Food and Drug Act, performed with Little Richard, recorded and performed with John Mayall & the Bluesbrakers, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, John Lee Hooker, Harvey Mandel, Tupelo Chain Sex, Johnny Otis, Billy Bang, Freddie Roulette, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. As leader Harris released nine albums.
Peter Green
On July 25, 2020, Peter Allen Greenbaum aka Peter Green died aged 73. He was singer, songwriter, and musician (guitar), member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, member of Katmandu, and founder of Peter Green Splinter Group. Green was one of the most important figures of the British blues movement, praised by famous guitarists like B.B. King and Eric Clapton. Magazine “Rolling Stone” ranked him at number 58 in its list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Magazine “Guitar Player” rated his tone on “The Super-Natural” as one of the “50 Greatest of All Time. Magazine “Mojo” rated Green In June 1996, Green was voted the third-best guitarist of all time. In 1998, as a member of Fleetwood Mac he was inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. As leader, Green recorded six albums:
Andy Fraser
On March 16, 2015, Andrew McLan Fraser died aged 62. He was songwriter and musician (bass), worked with Alexis Korner, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Toby and Sharks, but was best known as founding member and bassist of Free.
John Mayal & The Bluesbreakers: Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton
On July 22, 1966, “Decca” label released “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton”, an album by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. It was recorded in April 1966, at “Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Vernon. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 195 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- John Mayall– lead vocals, piano, Hammond B3 organ, harmonica
- Eric Clapton– lead vocals, lead guitar,
- John McVie– bass guitar
- Hughie Flint– drums
- Alan Skidmore– tenor saxophone
- Johnny Almond– baritone saxophone
- Derek Healey – trumpet
- Gus Dudgeon– engineer
Track listing:
- All Your Love – Otis Rush
- Hideaway – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson
- Little Girl – John Mayall
- Another Man – John Mayall
- Double Crossing Time – Eric Clapton, John Mayall
- What’d I Say – Ray Charles
- Key to Love – John Mayall
- Parchman Farm – Mose Allison
- Have You Heard – John Mayall
- Ramblin’ on My Mind – Robert Johnson
- Steppin’ Out – C. Frazier
- It Ain’t Right – Little Walter
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers: A Hard Road
On February 17, 1967, “Decca” label released “A Hard Road”, the second John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers studio album. It was recorded October – November 1966, at” Decca Studios” in London, and was produced by Mike Vernon.
Personnel:
- John Mayall– vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, organ, covert art
- Peter Green– vocals, guitar
- John McVie– bass
- Hughie Flint, Aynsley Dunbar– drums
- John Almond, Alan Skidmore– saxophones
- Ray Warleigh– wind instruments
Track listing:
All tracks by John Mayal, except where noted
- A Hard Road
- It’s Over
- You Don’t Love Me – Willie Cobbs
- The Stumble – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson
- Another Kinda Love
- Hit the Highway
- Leaping Christine
- Dust My Blues – Elmore James, Joe Josea
- There’s Always Work
- The Same Way – Peter Green
- The Supernatural – Peter Green
- Top of the Hill
- Someday After a While (You’ll Be Sorry) – Freddie King, Sonny Thompson
- Living Alone
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