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"…A New Magic World…Where I Never Felt So Free…"
Arriving in California
in late July 1968 for a 3-week vacation - John Mayall met other like-minded
people and it prompted a splurge of songs that musically documented his
feelings of elation and finally belonging.
When he got back to Britain - Mayall took his new
stripped-down 4-piece band into Decca's Studios in West Hampstead for a 3-day
session - 26 to 28 August 1968 - and out popped what many feel is his best
album - "Blues From Laurel Canyon" – the entire record infused with
reinvigoration and purpose. Here are the Californian details via E17...
The band for the session was:
JOHN MAYALL – Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards & Vocals
MICK TAYLOR – Guitars
STEPHEN THOMPSON – Bass
COLIN ALLEN – Drums & Tablas
UK released 3 September 2007 - "Blues From Laurel
Canyon" by JOHN MAYALL on Decca 984 083-9 (Barcode 0602498408391) is an
‘Expanded Edition’ CD Remaster with Two Bonus Tracks that breaks down as
follows (61:13 minutes):
1. Vacation [Side 1]
2. Walking on Sunset
3. Laurel Canyon Home
4. 2401
5. Ready To Ride
6. Medicine Man
7. Somebody's Acting Like A Child
8. The Bear [Side 2]
9. Miss James
10. First Time Alone
11. Long Gone Midnight
12. Fly Tomorrow
Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Blues From Laurel
Canyon" - released November 1968 in the UK on both MONO and STEREO - Decca
LK 4972 and Decca LKS 4972 (Stereo Mix used for CD). The LP peaked in the UK
charts at Number 33 in January 1969 and was also issued February 1969 in the
USA in STEREO-only on London PS 545 - peaking at No. 68.
BONUS TRACKS:
13.
2401 (Single Version)
14.
Wish You Were Here (Live)
Track 13 is 'Single Version' of "2401" - the
B-side of the "The Bear" which issued on 45 on Decca F 12846 in November
1968 in the UK
Track 14 is a rare eight and half minute live version of
"Wish You Were Here" recorded in Sweden in December 1968 with the
same band as the album line-up. It was first released on the "Primal
Solos" LP in 1977 on London LC 50003 in the USA and then in 1983 in the UK
on Decca TAB 66.
A real let down however is that the MONO mix of the LP
didn’t make the CD - but in fairness to the compilers - even if you drop the
twelve and half minutes of the two bonus tracks - it would have been a push to
get both versions on here intact – and the live track is a great addition –
especially for fans of this wonderful band line-up.
Co-produced by MIKE VERNON (of Blue Horizon fame), the sound
quality achieved on the original vinyl albums was famously superb and PASCHAL
BYRNE of Audio Archiving has only amplified that in this truly fantastic
remaster – ballsy, clean and beautifully clear. The 16-page booklet features
the original Mayall liner notes, the lyrics and a detailed and affectionate
appraisal of the album by noted writer and project co-ordinator MARK POWELL.
There are even outtake photos from the album cover shoot.
The LP itself played like his emotions - tracks segue into
each other, which either lifts the mood up or down depending on the tempo of
the song – a clever representation of what he was feeling – jumping one moment,
mellow the next. Highlights include the blisteringly good "Walking On
Sunset" (lyrics above) which itself segues into the slinky and fabulous
piano blues of "Laurel Canyon Home" which name-checks Zappa's
girl-group signing "The GTO's" - while genuinely lamenting his
departure from that Californian suburb in the lyrics "…here's a way of
living that I will sorely miss…"
"The Bear" was a tribute to Canned Heat's lead singer
BOB HITE - while the quietly plaintive "First Time Alone"
features the echoed licks of PETER GREEN as a guest guitarist. It's followed by
superb keyboard work from Mayall on "Long Gone Midnight" which then
gives way to the album's big finisher – and what an Outro it is – the stunning
nine minutes of "Fly Tomorrow". After Chris Allen's Tabla intro -
Mick Taylor finally gets room to stretch out and show how he can play guitar.
It's magnificent stuff and when I feature it on a shop play list - it brings
customers to the counter asking - "who's this?"
So there you have it – John Mayall's "Blues From Laurel
Canyon" is like Blodwyn Pig's "Ahead Ring Out" from 1969 (see
review), Fleetwood Mac's "Then Play On" (also from 1969) and Taste's
"On The Boards" (January 1970) – a properly great rock album from
that extraordinary period of time – and it still stands up some forty years
after the event.
Mick Taylor went on of course to join the Stones and the wow
of "Beggars Banquet", "Let It Bleed", "Sticky
Fingers" and "Exile On Main St." - and in 2017 aged 83 - John
Mayall is still playing the music he loves – the blues – with a little bit of
boogie and rock thrown in.
A fab reissue then with quality remastered sound and
annotation.
Five out of five...
