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John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

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John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
OriginLondon, England
GenresBlues, blues rock
Years active1963–1969, 1982-2008
LabelsDecca, Deram
Past membersSee: Members
Websitewww.johnmayall.com

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and the name has been kept since then. The name has become generic without a clear distinction which recordings are to be credited just to the leader or to leader and his band. The Bluesbreakers have included luminaries such as:

History

The band that would evolve to the Bluesbreakers in 1965[1] was formed in January 1963 and became an ever-evolving lineup of more than 100 different combinations of musicians performing under that name.[2] Eric Clapton joined in April 1965 just a few months after the release of their first album. Clapton brought guitar-led blues influences to the forefront of the group; he had left The Yardbirds in order to concentrate on the blues.

The first single released by John Mayall and his band, in May 1964, was the song "Crawling Up a Hill" with "Mr. James" as the b-side, the band on the single were Peter Ward, John McVie on bass, Bernie Watson on guitar, and Martin Hart on drums."[3] After the single release Bernie Watson was replaced by Roger Dean and Martin Hart was replaced by Hughie Flint. This line-up played with John on John Mayall Plays John Mayall. After this the band released a single called "Crocodile Walk" with "Blues City Shakedown" as the b-side. The single was produced by Decca producer Tony Clarke.[4] Roger Dean then left the group and was replaced by Eric Clapton.[5]

The group lost their record contract with Decca that year, which also saw the release of a single called "I'm Your Witchdoctor" (produced by Jimmy Page) in October 1965, the first credited to John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers,[1] followed by a return to Decca in 1966. Then in August 1966 The Bluesbreakers released the single "Lonely Years" with the b-side "Bernard Jenkins",[1] which was released by Purdah Records.[6] The album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton was released in July;[1] it reached the Top Ten in the UK.

Shortly after Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton was released Eric Clapton went to see Buddy Guy in concert, and being impressed by his trio, the idea for Cream was formed and he left to form this new group with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.[7] Clapton was replaced by Peter Green for A Hard Road, after which he left to form Fleetwood Mac.

Then Mick Taylor joined the group and they recorded Crusade on July 12, 1967. Soon after, McVie joined Fleetwood Mac and was replaced by Tony Reeves for the album Bare Wires which was their highest charting UK album. Taylor then left to join The Rolling Stones and the name "Bluesbreakers" was dropped from John Mayall albums.

By the time the 1960s were over, the Bluesbreakers had finally achieved some success in the United States.

Joe Yuele, drummer with the band, 2008

With some interruptions, the Bluesbreakers have continued to tour and release albums (over 50 to date), though they never achieved the critical or popular acclaim of their earlier material. In 2003, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber reunited with the band for John Mayall's 70th Birthday Concert in Liverpool — the concert was later released on CD and DVD. In 2004, their line up included Buddy Whittington, Joe Yuele, Hank Van Sickle and Tom Canning, and the band toured the UK with Mick Taylor as a guest musician.

In November 2008 Mayall announced on his website he was disbanding the Bluesbreakers to cut back on his heavy workload and give himself freedom to work with other musicians. A 2009 solo tour with Rocky Athas (formerly of Black Oak Arkansas) was the first musical venture John Mayall undertook after disbanding his former band.[8] Former band member, Johnny Almond died on 18 November 2009 from cancer, aged 63.[9]

Discography

Albums

  • 1965: John Mayall Plays John Mayall (Decca*) (features future Bluesbreakers members)
  • 1966: Blues Breakers - John Mayall - With Eric Clapton (Decca*)
  • 1967: A Hard Road (Decca*)
  • 1967: John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield (Decca EP 45)
  • 1967: Crusade (Decca*)
  • 1968: Diary of a Band Volume 1 (Decca*)
  • 1968: Diary of a Band Volume 2 (Decca*)
  • 1968: Bare Wires (Decca*)
  • 1969: Looking Back (compilation, includes Bluesbreakers recordings) (Decca*)
  • 1969: Thru the Years (London)
  • 1969: Primal Solos (Decca)
  • 1982: Return of the Bluesbreakers (Aim Australia)
  • 1985: Behind the Iron Curtain (GNP Crescendo*)
  • 1987: Chicago Line (Entente - Island*)
  • 1988: The Power of the Blues (Entente*)
  • 1988: Archives to Eighties (Polydor*)
  • 1990: A Sense of Place (Island*)
  • 1992: Cross Country Blues (One Way*)
  • 1993: Wake Up Call (Silvertone*)
  • 1994: The 1982 Reunion Concert (One Way*)
  • 1995: Spinning Coin (Silvertone*)
  • 1997: Blues for the Lost Days (Silvertone*)
  • 1999: Padlock on the Blues (Eagle*)
  • 1999: Rock the Blues Tonight (Indigo*)
  • 1999: Live at the Marquee 1969 (Eagle*)
  • 2000: Time Capsule (Private Stash) Limited release, website only, no longer in print
  • 2001: UK Tour 2K (Private Stash) Limited release, website only, no longer in print
  • 2001: Boogie Woogie Man (Private Stash*) Limited release, website only
  • 2001: Along for the Ride (Eagle/Red Ink*)
  • 2002: Stories (Eagle/Red Ink*)
  • 2003: No Days Off (Private Stash*) Limited release, website only
  • 2003: Rolling with the Blues (Shakedown UK*)
  • 2003: 70th Birthday Concert CD & DVD (Eagle*)
  • 2004: Cookin' Down Under DVD (Private Stash*) Limited release, website only
  • 2004: The Godfather of British Blues/Turning Point DVD (Eagle*)
  • 2004: The Turning Point Soundtrack (Eagle*)
  • 2005: Road Dogs (Eagle*)
  • 2007: Live at the BBC (Decca*)
  • 2007: In the Palace of the King (Eagle*)
  • 2007: Live from Austin, TX (New West Records)

Members

Founding members listed in bold.

Vocalists

Guitarists

Bassists

Drummers

Violinists

Horn section

DVDs

From John Mayall's website only:

  • 2004: Cookin' Down Under DVD

Singles

  • 1964: "Crawling Up The Hill / Mr. James" (Decca F11900)[6]
  • 1965: "Crocodile Walk / Blues City Shakedown" (Decca F12120)[6]
  • October 1965:[1] "I'm Your Witchdoctor / Telephone Blues" (Immediate IM012[6]) first single as John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers[1]
  • August 1966:[1] "Lonely Years / Bernard Jenkins" (Purdah 453502)[6]
  • September 1966:[1] "Parchman Farm / Key To Love" (Decca F12490)[6]
  • 1966: "Looking Back / So Many Roads" (Decca F12506)[6]
  • 1967: "Sitting In The Rain / Out Of Reach" (Decca F12545)[6]
  • 1967: "Curly / Rubber Duck" (Decca F12588)[6]
  • 1967: "I'm Your Witchdoctor/ Telephone Blues" (Immediate IM051)[6]
  • 1967: "Double Trouble / It Hurts Me Too" (Decca F12621)[6]
  • 1967: "Suspicions Pt.1 / Suspicions Pt.2" (Decca F12684)[6]
  • 1968: "Picture On The Wall / Jenny" (Decca F12732)[6]
  • 1968: "No Reply / She's Too Young" (Decca F12792)[6]
  • 1968: "The Bear / 2401" (Decca F12846)[6]

See also

Template:Wikipedia-books

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "The Eric Clapton Lyric Archive - Search By Album". Eric-clapton.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  2. ^ The Complete Rock Family Trees, Omnibus Press (Dec 1983, ISBN 978-0711904651) lists 109 different lineups
  3. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 134. CN 5585.
  4. ^ "John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers - Crocodile Walk". YouTube. 2008-07-08. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  5. ^ "Roger Dean - Bluesbreaker, Bluejay, Guitarist and more - Timeline". Rogerdean.info. 1943-03-16. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Artists: J". 45-rpm.org.uk. 1910-02-10. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  7. ^ Clapton, Eric (2007). Clapton: The Autobiography. Broadway.
  8. ^ "Newsletter". John Mayall. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
  9. ^ "accessed November 2009". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
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