Record Reviews
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  | JOHN MAYALL ~ ROAD DOGS
EAR MUSIC 4029759147961 (Barcode: 4029759147961) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005
This is a studio album by British Blues Guru John MayallFind albums by this artist and his band The BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, which at the time included guitarist Buddy WhittingtonFind albums by this artist, bassist Hank Van SickleFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe YueleFind albums by this artist. Keyboardist Tom CanningFind albums by this artist guest on all but three tracks and a couple of other guests are featured on two additional tracks. The album presents fifteen original songs composed and written by Mayall except for two co-created by Whittington and Yuele.
The music is all classic Blues-Rock, every bit as original and typical of Mayall´s charismatic presence as all his other albums. Taking a look back at Mayall´s recording legacy he is probably the most consistent recording artist in the last sixty years, and although the Blues seems often as a very limited idiom with strictly defined boundaries, Mayall manages to stay creative and time and again also innovative, completely ignoring the tides of time.
Mayall, as usual, sings and plays the piano, guitar and harmonica, exactly as he did forty years earlier when he started his impressive career. His lyrics remain biting as always, with social issues always clearly on the agenda, emphasizing his ideology of anti-war and justice, he expresses consistently over the years.
I have somehow missed this album when it was originally released fifteen years ago, but listening to it now confirms my complete confidence in his musicality and endless energy, which luckily for us continues to this very day.
For Blues / Blues-Rock connoisseurs this is a no brainer and a must in the extensive but wholly excellent discography of a truly remarkable musician. If you miss it in your collection, now is the time to fill the gap!
| | Updated: 28/10/2020Posted: 28/10/2020 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN MAYALL ~ STORIES
EAR MUSIC 4029759148647 (Barcode: 4029759148647) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock
Recorded: 2002 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 second album in the new Millennium. The lineup of the BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist on this album includes seasoned American Blues musicians: guitarist Buddy WhittingtonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Tom CanningFind albums by this artist, bassist Hank Van SickleFind albums by this artist and drummer Joe YueleFind albums by this artist. Percussionist Lenny CastroFind albums by this artist guests on several tracks. The album presents fourteen songs, six of which are originals by Mayall and the rest are written by the members of the band or Blues classics.
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: 30/04/2021Posted: 14/01/2021 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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