Every weekend I try to post some artists I never have posted before and this weekend it’s John Mayall and another band tomorrow. I’ve read his name and I’ve heard bits and pieces but never dove in so to speak. The one thing I can say…is tone. His band has some of the best tones I’ve ever heard from a guitar.
I could have picked about anything they did so I searched out some and found this one. This British blues band was formed in the early 1960s by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall. The band is known for its huge role in the British blues boom and for launching the careers of many great musicians. Just to name a few, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Chris Mercer, Harvey Mandel, Jesse Ed Davis, and the list keeps going.
Their most famous album I’m aware of is the album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (often referred to as the “Beano” album due to Clapton reading a Beano comic on the cover). This album helped make Clapton a superstar guitarist to many. It was released in 1966 and was the debut studio album of the band. The album peaked at #6 in the UK. I love that the band was fluid with members. Who is on this album? John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie, and Hughie Flint.
The song was originally composed by American blues musician Otis Rush. It was first recorded by him in 1958 as “All Your Love (I Miss Loving).” I added a later live version by Otis Rush with Eric Clapton below. Make sure to listen to the studio cut of it as well…why is that? It’s because of the tone and playing by Clapton. It was back when Clapton was still playing a Les Paul through a Marshall. In the Cream reunion, he played a Fender and you could tell the difference.
John Mayall sadly passed away July 22, 20024. He was 90 years old.
All Your Love
All the love I miss loving, all the kiss I miss kissing
All the love I miss loving, all the kiss I miss kissing
Before I met you baby, never knew what I was missing
All your love, pretty baby, that I got in store for you
All your love, pretty baby, that I got in store for you
I love you pretty baby, well I say you love me too
All your loving, pretty baby, all your loving, pretty baby
All your loving, pretty baby, all your loving, pretty baby
Since I first met you baby, I never knew what I was missing
Hey, hey baby, hey, hey baby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby, oh, oh, baby
Since I first met you baby, never knew what I was missing

I’m glad you’re writing about John Mayall, he’s had some great songs over the years. This one’s great (and am listening to the live version you’ve got here, in a different browser while I type this!) but also check out my own faves which are the two songs ‘Another Kind of Love’, and ‘The Supernatural’ from the album ‘A Hard Road’; and ‘Walking on Sunset’, and ‘The Bear’, both of which are from his ‘Blues from Laurel Canyon’ album. ‘The Bear’ (my all time favourite of his and which is about Bob Hite, the singer of Canned Heat) has a great, atmospheric bassy-type intro and then changes in tempo. It always takes me right back to that time. Peter Green was a force to be reckoned with, and it’s great to have enjoyed his music while he was in Mayall’s band. And yep, Mayall’s still going strong – though I’ve not heard much of his newer stuff that I’ve liked as much as his older music.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Val! I had planned to for a long time. I basically picked this album out of the blue because I’ve read about it before…but yes I plan to explore a lot more. I love what I’ve heard…I’ll check those out.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ll love it.
Btw, I’ve just sussed out why wordpress was logging me out when I clicked a link in an email to your blog – the comment email gives the URL without the ‘s’ at the end of the http. I’d forgotten about that. It works now I’m adding it back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cool! If you would have been born a little later…you would have been in IT for a career!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very enjoyable, Max thanks for sharing this. As famous as John Mayall is, I have only written one post on his song ‘Room to Move’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I almost picked that one…what an incredible fluid band they were/are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Certainly a name ‘everyone’ knows but music most of us don’t. Like a music equivalent to a baseball AAA farm club. I hadn’t realized the Fleetwood and the Mac in Fleetwood Mac had been a part…that helps explain their early sound a bit more
LikeLiked by 1 person
McVie was on this and Jack Bruce played with them at the same time off and on. They were about as fluid as you could get as far as members.
LikeLike
I bought that album on a whim last year. It was the remastered double CD set. Disc 1 had the mono mix and the stereo mix. Disc 2 had 19 session and live tracks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel stupid Glyn for not listening to him earlier…I bet it really sounds great remastered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does indeed and the bonus disc is great
LikeLiked by 1 person
John Mayall could well be called The Father of British Blues. He is an amazing guy. He got me to listen to J.B. Lenoir when I heard his song “I’m Gonna Fight for you JB”. I didn’t get to see him in the early phase but did see him with his more acoustic band featuring Jon Mark (acoustic guitar), Johnny Almond (saxophones and flute), and Steve Thompson (bass).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the comment…I feel I’ve been missing out in not listening sooner. I’ve read about him but never dove in. The covers they pick and the tone…is wonderful.
I can see where Cream was coming from as well more closely now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have given my eye teeth to have seen that lineup. very cool.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A club band my older brother followed (so of course I’d tag along) would play ‘Snowy Wood’ as an outro before taking a break. Sometimes it would ramble on for ten minutes if they were in the mood an d in the groove.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will check that out! I was amazed on how great and vibrant they sound….and yes this is the musician in me but that tone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Again you’re taking me back to the beginning of my getting into all this music we dig. This cut sounds just as good today (maybe better). “Tones”? Mayall knew musicians and was place where so many cut their teeth. You mentioned a few. Through John I heard so many great gutar players. Eric did some of his best work here (I think). I have lots of Mayall in my pile and a few of the albums are blue ribbon winners including this one. John stayed true to himself and the music that moved him. Good take Max.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks CB…you know what this did for me? First I wish I would have listened more closely sooner….but it was like an awakening…so THIS is where Cream was coming from…it shed light on them somewhat continuing this…keeping the blues and going a little further also…still keeping this vibe. It was like watching the full movie instead of missing the first quarter or half of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was doing album takes i managed a couple JMs. ‘Back To The Roots’ might be one for you to check out. I caught him a couple times. Harvey Mandell was his guitarist on one show. He was fantastic. Mayall is staple with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok…I’ll check that out CB….I appreciate it! The only thing I know about Mandell…was that he was almost a Stone…that is it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess they figured that anyone that played with John was a good bet. He is good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I listened to his new album…it’s great.
LikeLike
His later work still has it. I get on a jag once in a while. have to spread my listening around. looking forward to seeing what’s on the menu tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Beano album. Glad you’ve discovered it. A big favourite. Didn’t know this was a cover. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t either….of course it’s all new to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All I needed to read was the title of your post, and I knew I’d love it. John Mayall, where do you even start? This man truly provided apprenticeships for many of the most amazing blues rock musicians. Just look at your list: Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce…I might also add Walter Trout, a guitarist I’ve come to love over the 5 years or so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never really listened to them before much…but I will now! I love the tone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Check this one out, a true late career gem. Sorry for being a bit self promotional! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chrisitan…I knew he had a recent album because of your post….in fact it brought him back on my map and I made a note of it….and I meant to link you in it. I love those tracks…I listened to it while picking a song I would cover.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chrisitan…I knew he had a recent album because of that post and I appreciate it….and I meant to link you in it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No worries! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quicksilver Messenger Service song sounds so close to this.
LikeLike
You know I’m on board with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Didn’t know the Otis Rush original and the first video is so good. Agree on the “tone.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Otis Rush original…I wish I would have picked another song and featured Rush’s version as well. It’s that good and sounds ahead of its time.
LikeLiked by 1 person