John Mayall
THE FIRST GENERATION 1965-74
MADFISH/SNAPPER MUSIC
++++The pre-eminent talent scout and bandleader
of his era, John Mayall’s contribution to the
British blues scene is without parallel. His
Bluesbreakers band were the fi nishing school
for some of the UK’s fi nest musicians –
Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood,
John McVie and Aynsley Dunbar all rose to
prominence during their time with the group,
while soon-to-be Rolling Stone Mick Taylor
and Free’s Andy Fraser joined as teenagers,
woodshedding with Mayall at the helm.
As a frontman, Mayall was merely a
serviceable vocalist, guitarist and harmonica
player. As a songwriter and lyricist, he stuck to
well-worn tropes. His main talent lay in
developing others and providing a purist
platform for them to shine.
This voluminous 35CD boxset
is an exhaustive tribute to his
unerring focus on the founding
principles of the blues. Not for
Mayall, a simple chart-friendly
tweaking of the blues format by
the likes of The Animals orThe Yardbirds – if it was wasn’t authentic,
he wasn’t interested. Clapton, in particular,
relished that obsessive puritanical streak
and his immersion in Mayall’s record
collection would prove to be hugely infl uential
on his career.
This boxset compiles Mayall’s pomp years in
some style – all his Decca and Polydor albums
from the period have been remastered and
they’re paired with era-specifi c singles and
gritty (or defi antly lo-fi , depending on your
perspective) unreleased live shows including
gigs in Windsor, Gothenburg, Berlin and San
Francisco. Meanwhile,
Clapton, Green and Taylorfeature on 28 unreleased BBC tracks that more
than merit their place in the box.
The 1965 live debut John Mayall Plays John
Mayall, straightahead no-nonsense R&B, only
hints at what was to come. The following
year’s thundering Blues Breakers album –
with Clapton notably given equal billing on the
cover – is the long-player that really kicks the
doors down.
Peter Green replaced Slowhand
in style on 1967’s A Hard Road, with The
Supernatural a showcase for his wonderfully
delicate guitar tone. Mick Taylor’s fl uid style
elevates that same year’s Crusade and 1968’s
Bare Wires, an examination of the break-up of
Mayall’s marriage, was a successful change of
direction. Back-to-basics The Turning
Point found Mayall retreating from
electrifi ed blues for an unplugged
approach that stands up brilliantly.
Limited to just 5,000 copies
worldwide, this lavish package is
fl eshed out by a signed photo
by Mayall, hardback book of
rare images as well as
memorabilia, replica
posters, fan club letters
and correspondence,
plus a press pack. SHVarious Artists
HALCYON DAYS – 60S MOD, R&B, BRIT SOUL
& FREAKBEAT NUGGETS
CHERRY RED
++++Released on new imprint Strawberry and inspired by RPM’s bespoke
compilations Looking Back, Keep Lookin’ and Night Comes Down,
this 3CD 87-track selection is a fi ne exercise in crate digging that
traces the development of the mod-centric 60s beat scene. While
mainstays The Kinks, The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group and
The Yardbirds and are all present and correct here – what comp of
this era could go without the latter’s Stroll On, after all – many of
Halcyon Days’ most intriguing aspects are the juvenilia of emerging
artists including David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Rod Stewart, Greg Lake,
Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord. Elsewhere, The Union career through
a funky Hammond organ-charged version of Aretha’s See Saw, while
Tony Rivers and The Castaways add Shadows swing and harmony
backing vocals to reinvent John Lee Hooker’s Dimples for I Love
The Way You Walk. Bolstered by an array of Brit rarities that make
their debut on CD, including
The Athenians, The Fingers,
The Candy Dates, Barney
J. Barnes & The Intro and
Kevin ‘King’ Lear, as well as
track-by-track annotations,
rare photos and sheet music,
this is a well-executed
diversion from the beaten
path that’s uncovered some
underappreciated gems. SHStage Frite
REVENGE OF THE KILLER COYPU
WESTERN STAR
+++
The reformed 80s Norfolk
psychobillies take no prisoners on
their new LP. Creeping instrumental
opener One Flew Over The Heron’s
Nest glowers like Black Sabbath, but
Stage Frite charge out of the blocks
on riff -heavy Army Of The Dead and
Taken. The punky squall of I Got A
Love rattles along nicely and their
version of old favourite Slippin’ In
boasts rocking rhythm and solo
work from guitarist Joe Mason.
Meanwhile, The Replacements’ Lay
It Down Clown is given a hefty kick
in the pants that leaves the original
sounding positively pedestrian. SHVarious Artists
THAT’LL FLAT GIT IT VOL.37 –
ROCKABILLY & ROCK N ROLL
FROM THE VAULTS OF
CAPITOL RECORDS
BEAR FAMILY
++++
Crammed with rockin’ highlights,
there was a lot more to Capitol’s
roster than Sinatra and The Beach
Boys. This 35-track compilation
includes big-hitters by the likes of
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps,
Wanda Jackson, Jack Scott and
Jerry Reed, alongside worthwhile
entries by Bob Luman, Hank
Thompson and Cliffi e Stone. Fully
remastered, this set also includes
informative sleevenotes by our very
own Bill Dahl. SHCD Album Reviews