Who was/is John Mayall ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

John Mayall's Bluesbreakers

When Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds in the wake of their 1965 breakthrough hit For Your Love for going too pop, he quickly gravitated to the godfather of the British blues scene, John Mayall, and his Bluesbreakers.

Born November 29, 1933 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Mayall was inspired by his dad's extensive record collection. He became proficient on guitar, piano, and harmonica as he progressed, spending four years in art school and a stint in the Army during the Korean War. In 1962, Mayall opened for Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated, Korner subsequently mentoring the relative newcomer. In early '63, Mayall, by then in London, formed his first line-up of Bluesbreakers. Decca staff producer Mike Vernon helmed their debut single Crawling Up A Hill in 1964, which sold 500 copies.

After many personnel changes, Mayall's rhythm section solidified with bassist John McVie and drummer Hughie Flint. Decca cut their first album, a live set, that year (Roger Dean was their guitarist, with Mayall on piano and harp), and another studio single, Crocodile Walk, before letting the Bluesbreakers go. Clapton joined the ranks in April of '65, Jimmy Page producing I'm Your Witchdoctor with the new line-up for Immediate before they reunited with Vernon in April of '66 to cut a full-length studio LP for Decca.

'Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton' was the name of that incendiary affair, loaded with well-chosen American blues covers (Clapton shared Mayall's purist tendencies) and a handful of originals including Have You Heard, written by Mayall about his then-girlfriend Christine. Clapton fed his solid-bodied Gibson Les Paul (he switched from a Telecaster after seeing Freddy King cradling one on an album cover) through a powerful Marshall amp, affording him sonic superiority. Alan Skidmore's jazzy tenor sax opens the luxuriously downbeat Have You Heard, Mayall on organ and impassioned vocal, but it's Clapton's blasting, Freddy-influenced axe that ignites it.

The album was a smash in Great Britain, peaking at #6, but that didn't stop Eric from splitting to form Cream with bassist Jack Bruce (another Bluesbreakers alumnus) and drummer Ginger Baker just after its release that July. Peter Green had already served a brief stint with the Bluesbreakers, and he rejoined in time for the band's next LP, 1967's 'A Hard Road.' When Green left later that year along with drummer Mick Fleetwood to form Fleetwood Mac (McVie quickly followed), Mayall turned to yet another promising young British guitarist, Mick Taylor.

Mayall modernized his approach during the late '60s, freely experimenting with extended jazz-rock formats. At the dawn of the '70s, he relocated to California. No matter where he resided, Mayall retained his uncanny knack for unearthing terrific players: guitarist Harvey Mandel and electric violinist Don 'Sugarcane' Harris were in his first U.S. band. Mayall remains musically active and on the road, that knack having yet to desert him: guitarists Coco Montoya, Walter Trout, and Buddy Whittington have passed through the ranks in more recent times.

Bill Dahl
Chicago, Illinois

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MAYALL, John: Notice To Appear - A Banquet In Blues (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDBGOCD495

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Two original LP records on two compact discs.

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John Mayall: The Sun is Shining Down (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFBR026

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(Forty Below Records) 10 Tracks On his 2022 album, The Sun is Shining Down, Blues legend John Mayall teams up with a stellar cast to deliver a funky soulful affair punctuated by brass, violins, harmonica and electric ukulele. Special...

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John Mayall: Find A Way To Care (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFB11

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(2015/Forty Below) 12 tracks. 2013 signed John Mayall at Forty Below Records, the label of producer Eric Corne, and experienced since then a revival of his artistic work and career. They recorded 'Find A Way To Care' in the House of...

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MAYALL, John: Live In 1967 Vol. 3 (LP) Art-Nr.: LPFBR032

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(Forty Below Records) 8 Tracks - Here is the third and final volume of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers 'Live in 1967', starring Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood just before they formed Fleetwood Mac. These historic performances...

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MAYALL, John: Live In 1967 Vol. 3 (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFBR032

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(Forty Below Records) 8 tracks Here is the third and final volume of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers 'Live in 1967', starring Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood just before they formed Fleetwood Mac. These historic performances were...

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MAYALL, John: Bare Wires (LP, 180g Vinyl) Art-Nr.: LPUMCLP38

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(Decca Records) 12 tracks, gatefold cover John Mayall came from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and grew up in Cheadle Hulme. He had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before moving to London in 1963 at the urging of...

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MAYALL, John: Blues From Laurel Canyon (LP, 180g Vinyl) Art-Nr.: LPUMCLP035

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(Decca Records) 12 tracks, gatefold cover, 180g vinyl. John Mayall came from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and grew up in Cheadle Hulme. He had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before moving to London in 1963 at...

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MAYALL, John: The Turning Point (LP) Art-Nr.: LP397544

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MAYALL, John: Crusade (LP) Art-Nr.: LPUMC037

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(Decca Records) 12 tracks, John Mayall came from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and grew up in Cheadle Hulme. He had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before moving to London in 1963 at the urging of Alexis Korner....

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MAYALL, John: The Blues Alone (LP) Art-Nr.: LPUMC033

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MAYALL, John: A Hard Road (LP) Art-Nr.: LPUMC036

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(Decca Records) 14 tracks, John Mayall was from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and grew up in Cheadle Hulme. He had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before moving to London in 1963 at the urging of Alexis Korner. In...

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MAYALL, John: John Mayall Plays John Mayall (LP) Art-Nr.: LPUMC034

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(Decca Records) 12 tracks, recorded Live At Koks Kleek John Mayall came from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and grew up in Cheadle Hulme. He had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before moving to London in 1963 at...

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MAYALL, John: Live In France (2-CD, 1 DVD) Art-Nr.: CDREPUK1459

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(Repertoire) 42 tracks Deluxe two CD + NTSC,Region 0 DVD edition. Direct from French TV archives this is the first official CD,DVD release to document the giant of British blues on stage and in the television studio. · Charting his...

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John Mayall: The First Generation (35-CD Deluxe Box Set) Art-Nr.: CDBOX914055

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(Madfish) 30 cm x 30 cm x 7 cm - Limited Edition There are box sets and then there are BOX SETS. John Mayall’s The First Generation 1965 - 1974 set sits firmly in the latter category, being substantial both in the artefacts contained...

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Blues For The Lost Days (LP, 180g colored Vinyl, Ltd.)

MAYALL, John: Blues For The Lost Days (LP, 180g colored... Art-Nr.: LPMOV3117

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(Music on Vinyl) 12 tracks, green marbled vinyl, 25th anniversary edition, limited to 1500 individually numbered copies with insert. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers is an English blues rock band led by singer, songwriter and...

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John Mayall: The Sun Is Shining Down (LP) Art-Nr.: LPFBR026

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(Forty Below Records) 10 Tracks - On his 2022 album, The Sun is Shining Down, Blues legend John Mayall teams up with a stellar cast to deliver a funky soulful affair punctuated by brass, violins, harmonica and electric ukulele. Special...

$31.63

John Mayall: Live At The Marquee 1969 - Filmmusik (CD) Art-Nr.: CD0213361EMX

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(Ear Music) 7 tracks, digisleeve. Original film soundtrack from the movie The Turning Point , produced and directed by Peter Gibson and Alex Hooper in 1969. Recorded at The Marquee Club, London, June 30, 1969.

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John Mayall: Road Show Blues (CD) Art-Nr.: CDCLO2563

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(Cleopatra Blues) 9 tracks, digipack Roadshow Blues shows Mayall in exuberant mood and joy of playing. One notices immediately how he inspires and carries away the audience. His band was not as prominent as some of the earlier line-ups,...

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John Mayall: Road Show Blues (LP, 180g colored Vinyl, Ltd.) Art-Nr.: LPCLO2563

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(Cleopatra Records) 9 tracks, limited Edition red marble vinyl, gatefold cover. A very special vinyl reissue of the third album by influential British bluesman John Mayall, who gave a boost to a young Eric Clapton when Mayall asked...

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John Mayall: Rolling With The Blues - Live (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDIGODD004

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(Indigo) 22 tracks Double CD retrospective of John Mayall with extensive sleeve notes. The seven concerts from which these recordings are taken span just 10 years (1972 to '82) in John Mayall's 60 years-plus-and-still-going-strong...

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John Mayall: A Hard Road (CD) Art-Nr.: CD9842225

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(Decca (28 tracks. The groundbreaking album, augmented by 14(!) additional tracks (singles, the Butterfield EP, four live tracks recorded for BBCs 'Saturday Club' in 1967). JOHN MAYALL - voc/gtr/hca/pno, PETER GREEN - gtrm JOHN McVIE -...

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John Mayall: Moving On Art-Nr.: CDLEM116

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(1972 'Polydor') (47:26/09) 'Recorded live at the Whiskey A Go Go, Los Angeles - July 10, 1972' -JOHN MAYALL - voc/hca/gtr/pno, FREDDY ROBINSON - gtr, LARRY TAYLOR - electric bass, VICTOR GASKIN -upright bass, KEEF HARTLEY - drums, plus...

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John Mayall: Blues From Laurel Canyon Art-Nr.: CD9840839

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In the summer of '68 Mayall had disbanded his Bluesbreakers. He left Europe for a three week vacation in California. This album contains his experiences with life in Laurel Canyon. Bonus tracjks: a single version, and a previously issued...

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John Mayall: Rock The Blues Tonight: Canada 1970/71 (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDTE354

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(Talking Elephant) 14 tracks. This double CD contains over two hours of material with 14 previously unreleased live performances from Canada (1970-71). Guest musicians at this blues spectacle included friends like Harvey Mandell, Freddy...

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John Mayall: Live From Austin, Texas Art-Nr.: CDNW6134

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Excellent live set, thanks to Coco Montoya as his keeps tearing off one solo after the other. Also available on DVD. Digipak. JOHN MAYALL - voc/gtr/pno/hca, COCO MONTOYA - gtr/voc, RICK CORTES - bass/voc, JOE YUELE - drums. Special...

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