We are going to mix it up this morning. Instead of focusing on one song, let’s hit 3 with 3 different guitarists. John Mayall is one of those people whose influence is much larger than his record sales would suggest. Before the blogs, I read about the guy but never knew much about him. I can’t tell you how much I think this man gave to blues and rock.
Mayall became one of the central figures in the British blues movement of the 1960s. His Bluesbreakers became almost a school for musicians. John McVie, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood, and Aynsley Dunbar all passed through at different times. Think about that for a second. That is crazy talent and led to iconic bands. Then there were the guitar players.
Eric Clapton. Peter Green. Mick Taylor.
That’s a damn great list!
What I like is that they didn’t sound alike. Mayall didn’t seem interested in finding another Eric Clapton every time somebody left. He found great players and gave them room to be themselves. You can hear that by picking three songs from three different periods.
Looking Back – Peter Green
Peter Green had one of the toughest jobs imaginable when he joined the Bluesbreakers. He replaced Eric Clapton, who had become a guitar hero during his time with Mayall. Green didn’t try to become another Clapton. His playing was more economical and sometimes darker. This song, originally written and recorded by Johnny “Guitar” Watson, gives us an early glimpse of Green with Mayall. It’s a short song, but Green gets plenty into it without taking it over. Green would soon leave Mayall and take John McVie with him to form Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood joined them shortly afterward.
Oh, Pretty Woman – Mick Taylor
Then Mayall had to replace Peter Green.
Enter 18-year-old Mick Taylor.
This song appeared on the 1967 album Crusade. The song came from Albert King, which gave Taylor some serious shoes to fill before he even played a note. What strikes me is how mature Taylor already sounds. He isn’t just playing fast because he can. His guitar lines are clean and melodic and you can already hear some of the qualities he would later bring to the Rolling Stones. Taylor stayed with Mayall for about two years before joining the Stones in 1969.
Mayall had now watched Eric Clapton leave for Cream, Peter Green leave to form Fleetwood Mac, and Mick Taylor leave for the Rolling Stones. Everytime he lost someone, he would pick up another future legend.
Prisons on the Road – Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton eventually came back. This song appeared on Mayall’s 1971 album Back to the Roots. The album was something of a reunion, with several former Mayall musicians returning to play with him. Clapton was among them, along with Mick Taylor and others.
By this point Clapton had already gone through Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos. He wasn’t the young guitarist who had joined the Bluesbreakers a few years earlier. But hearing him back with Mayall brings the story around nicely. That’s what people keep coming back to with Mayall.
The Bluesbreakers changed constantly, but Mayall was the center of it. He gave young musicians a place to play blues seriously and then watched many of them move on to some of the biggest bands of their generation.
Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. Three very different guitar players.
One John Mayall.
Oh Pretty Woman
Oh, pretty woman, you’s a rising sun
You say your cheap change in powder ain’t gonna help you none
‘Cause you’s a pretty woman right down to your toes
So you just might as well leave your skin alone
Pretty woman, what’s the matter with you?
Can’t make you love me no matter what I do
Oh, pretty woman, what you trying to do?
You kept on fooling ’round just like I stepped on you
So you just drop that mask and come down off your throne
Stop using my poor heart as just a stepping stone
Pretty woman, what’s the matter with you?
Can’t make you love me no matter what I do
Oh, pretty woman, that’s all right for you
But you just go on doing what you want to do
Some day when you think that you have got it made
You’re gonna need my help, and it’ll be too late
Pretty woman, what’s the matter with you?
Can’t make you love me no matter what I do
Can’t make you love me no matter what I do
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I saw Mayall several times. He was still going when he was older than 90. The funny thing is, back in the time of the beginning of the Bluesbreakers he was already considered to be old (born in 1933). If it weren’t for Papa John Creach, he might be the oldest (in terms of being born early) rock musician (in the broadest sense). (Creach was only in his 50s when he was called Papa because he was so much older; he was born in 1919 and had a really interesting life: classically trained as a Black man in the 1920s and 30s, a few years on cruise ships, playing with jazz greats, joining Jefferson Starship.). No slouch himself, Mayall played guitar, sang, played keyboards, played harmonica, and wrote songs.
Phillip…I apologize; your comments were caught in my spam folder, and I just checked. I’m really envious of you getting to see Mayall. Lately I’ve found out he was much more than just blues…he spread out some.
I’ve heard of Papa John Creach but never posted anything by him…I will.
Thanks so much for the comment, Phillip and I’m sorry again that it sent your comments to spam.
I saw Mayall several times. He was still going when he was older than 90. The funny thing is, back in the time of the beginning of the Bluesbreakers he was already considered to be old (born in 1933). If it weren’t for Papa John Creach, he might be the oldest (in terms of being born early) rock musician (in the broadest sense). (Creach was only in his 50s when he was called Papa because he was so much older; he was born in 1919 and had a really interesting life: classically trained as a Black man in the 1920s and 30s, a few years on cruise ships, playing with jazz greats, joining Jefferson Starship.). No slouch himself, Mayall played guitar, sang, played keyboards, played harmonica, and wrote songs.
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Great idea for a post. John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers truly were the equivalent of an apprenticeship program sponsor, in this case for musicians, guitarists in particular. The number of guitarists who would become stars thereafter is mind-boggling. I think they rightfully called Mayall the “godfather of the British blues!”
Thanks Chrisitan! I couldn’t pick one and this seemed like the natural thing to do. Yes he is and I should include that phrase in the post! The musicianship was off the charts for this band!
The connections are quite astounding! Just with Cream alone. I am at the Doctors office so I will listen later!
Randy…I feel awful…I just checked my spam and found A LOT of your comments. Man…why does WP do this to you? I’ll start checking now. It’s odd because your comments came through on my ship site this last time. It makes no sense.
Nice post, Max as it is easy to forget how good John Mayal and the Bluesbreakers were, because they barely dented the charts.
Yeah…they deserved more praise than they got. The musicans that went through this band was just incredible.
Good post. I knew his name but not much at all of his music. I like ‘Looking Back’. With its horns and tempo it sounds a bit like early Chicago. Certainly all 3 sound quite different and distinctive (which can be commercially sabotaging)
You brought up what I was trying to say…they WERE different. It didn’t sound the same nor did they do the old blues (which I love) over and over again. They moved about…yea I don’t think his blues would have hit the charts…although Fleetwood Mac, the PG version did.
My favorite Mayall album is Turning Point, with John Mark and Johnny Almond. Because it does not have an electric lead guitar on it, it is different from the other stuff. All of Mayall’s stuff is worth listening to.
THANKS
Wow…you will be happy tomorrow! Thats all I have to say.
Yea I like that he didn’t stay the same…he kept evolving.
I’m with you purple.
Being a rock fan since my childhood, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers were my gateway to the blues! My respect and love for his work is huge. Most people mention him because of the famous musicians he took in his band, but he was an expressive and soulful singer, a great harmonica player, very good on the keyboards and (maybe most importantly) a songwriter who used the blues format in all its aspects, and took it a step forward. I had the chance to see him live much later in his career, when his guitarist was the great Buddy Whittington.
You might want to also write a post about the other British blues pillar, who also nurtured many young artists that later became legendary: Alexis Korner.
I will admit…I just learned more about Mayall since I’ve been blogging. The more I hear the more I like. He didn’t just rehash the old blues (which I love), he moved ahead and evolved. So cool that you got to see him…I’ll check some of Whittington out.
You know what? I’ve heard Alexis Korner in relation to Brian Jones and I know the guy was hugely important and have listened to some of his music…tell you what…next weekend I’ll have something on him. I’ve actually wanted to do one on him for a long time…but something else would come up. Thank you for that.
Good comment. Now you have me looking for Whittington.
He obviously didn’t have the same following in the States as in the UK/Commonwealth but here he had his followers. Three distinct players and sounds, that’s for sure.
On a boring personal note; the band at the club we frequented as young music fans (also known as young guys with a roving eye for some no-strings female company) played all the usual top 40 covers of day, but then when they took their break their sign off music was always a few bars of ‘Snowy Wood.’ And sometimes they enjoyed it so much it stretched out for much longer. I guess they loved their blues!
Yea he wasn’t as known here, I had read about him but never heard him before I started to blog…at least not much. Maybe something a friend’s older brother played…that was about it.
Oh those lovely days! I know exactly what you mean as well. I had a place I went to with a band that played covers but during the end…when everyone was going home…that is when they would start playing blues.
That blues breakers album is a must..I think anyone that’s vent just owned a guitar had the vinyl, with John McVie on bass……I think I remember Jack Bruce joined the band at some point…..Mayall trained some great musicians…I never heard much about how he was as a band leader, I’m guessing a task master kind of like Ronnie Hawkins…..bot so much history
Whatever he did…worked for sure. Eric came back for a while so it must not have been too bad lol. But yeah I agree…he probably was a task master…I didnt know how much they changed through the years. It wasn’t just the old blues.
3 distinct styles and sounds. Hard to pick a fave. All 3 sound good to my ear. I like how Sugarcane and Eric trade solos. Mayal was staple for me for a long time. I caught him a few times. Harvey Mandell was the lead ax man on one of the shows and he was lights out. Like how you put this together Max. John should be remembered. He provided a place for musicians to get to the roots of the music we love.
Interesting CB. I assume his shows weren’t sold out in the US? Brit based Blues would be a niche/music aficionados type of show? What I mean is, not say, someone who was Brit hot at the time, like, f’rinstance, Frampton Comes Alive era Frampton?
Small venue obb (Vancouver) and shows were packed from what I recall. No definitely not the Frampton, Stewart crowds. As you know those two guys could more than hold their own in John’s world. Mayall was a special guy. Thing is his shows never felt like like the band was playing by numbers . The music was fresh and with lots of feeling and energy. John was a pretty vibrant guy.
This was different CB but I thought it worked. It’s not right just to pick one period so I thought…what the hell…lets go with all three.
I’ve heard quite a bit about Harvey Mandell but never heard him…I’ll check him out.
Worked for me Max. Cool that you just presented the songs. Green’s crisp sound always grabs me.
My brother had an 8-track tape of his in his car in the early 70s, but I can’t tell you which one. That was the first I had seen his name. I bought a couple cassettes of his in the late 80s, early 90s, A Sense Of Place and Wake Up Call. I need to look into the older stuff. A very important catalyst in British blues. Very interesting looking guy, especially in the early days. Kind of intimidating. All guitarists were excellent, of course. Very good post.
Thank you so much! Yes, I haven’t dived into him as much as I should have…I am now. I didn’t want to pick one guitar player…so I pick three!
I grew up on “Oh, Pretty Woman” – the Albert King original (written by A.C. Williams) and the version by my brother’s band. While I’m not a big fan of Mayall’s voice, he handles this well. (And Mick Taylor filled those shoes pretty well.) As for Peter Green, when Clapton left, Mayall was quoted as saying, “Don’t worry, we got someone better.” And B.B. King said (about Green), “He was the only guitarist who made me sweat”.
Wow….when you get a comment like that from BB King…you are doing something right.
Team Taylor here, although that Clapton solo is pretty cool.
Yea…I can see that with Taylor. You know how I feel about him.