John Mayall Blues Breakers album

with Eric Clapton 

released July 22, 1966

“Another Man” from the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (1966)

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

Ah, those British blues

As with so many young British musicians in the 1960s, American blues attracted their attention. The Rolling Stones, the Animals, and perhaps most notably, John Mayall.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

Not the new kid on the block

Older than most of the “kids” moving up the musical chops lists, John had already lived a bit after leaving school. He brought his love of the blues with him while in the British National Service even in Korea.

His father’s 78 records of jazz and blues were Mayall’s introduction to the genres. The piano, then the guitar, then the harmonica became obsessions, but he was mostly alone in his love of such stuff.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

30 years old

In 1962 Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies had founded the Ealing Club, which featured performances by their band, Blues Incorporated, and other similar bands. The club attracted young blues enthusiasts such as Mick Jagger and Eric Burdon.

Earning a living and playing the blues are not a lucrative combination, but in 1963 with the Ealing Club providing a venue, Mayall quit his job as a clerk and started playing full time.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

1965: John Mayall Plays John Mayall

In 1965, Decca released a live album: John Mayall Plays John Mayall, a title that is surprisingly apt as nine of the 12 songs are Mayall’s. Surprisingly, because, Mayall, as did most of those early British blues bands, typically covered American blues songs.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

Blues Breakers

The Yardbirds were another British band that the blues had inspired and one of its guitarists, Eric Clapton, decided he wanted even more than the band did. John Mayall offered Clapton a spot in the Blues Breakers and on July 22, 1966, Mayall’s second album was released.

Mayall had hoped to again record a live album, but the quality wasn’t good and the band went into the studio. Though Clapton’s live guitar playing was what Mayall wanted, the studio Clapton was no slouch and scorches the songs.

Side one “All Your Love” (Otis Rush)  “Hideaway” (Freddie King/Sonny Thompson)  “Little Girl” (Mayall) “Another Man” (Mayall) “Double Crossing Time” (Clapton/Mayall)  “What’d I Say” (Ray Charles)

Side two “Key to Love” (Mayall)  “Parchman Farm” (Mose Allison)  “Have You Heard” (Mayall) “Ramblin’ on My Mind” (Robert Johnson) “Steppin’ Out” (L. C. Frazier) “It Ain’t Right” (Little Walter)

You will notice that most of this album’s songs are covers. Doesn’t make any difference. The whole album’s greatness shines through with every cut.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

Guitar radar

Clapton left after the Blues Breaker’s album to help form that little super group called Cream. The bassist, John McVie, went on to help form Fleetwood Mac–the names coming from Mick Fleetwood’s last name and McVie’s nickname. Another Mayall guitarist, the temporary replacement for Clapton, Peter Green, was part of that group’s foundation as well.

Later, Mayall guitarists Andy Fraser formed Free and Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones.

Mayall certainly had great guitar radar.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

March 26, 2022

John Mayall ended a storied 6-decade touring marathon with a performance on March 26th, 2022 at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, CA.  With his band of Greg Rzab (bass), Jay Davenport (drums) and Carolyn Wonderland (guitar/vocals), John brought the house down for a final time with a fearless rendition of Room To Move.

This poignant moment was captured by Casey Reagan and Kimberly Kagy for musicUcansee.com and released on YouTube.

John Mayall Blues Breakers album

July 22, 2024

Sadly, on July 23, 2024, the following post appeared on Mayall’s Facebook page accompanied by the photo above:

“It is with heavy hearts that we bear the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully in his California home yesterday, July 22, 2024, surrounded by loving family. Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain.

In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, John reflected, “[blues] is about – and it’s always been about – that raw honesty with which [it expresses] our experiences in life, something which all comes together in this music, in the words as well. Something that is connected to us, common to our experiences.” That raw honesty, connection, community and playing of his will continue to affect the music and culture we experience today, and for generations to come.

An appointed OBE (Officer of the British Empire), 2x Grammy-nominated artist and recent inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, John is survived by his 6 children, Gaz, Jason, Red, Ben, Zak and Samson, 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is also surrounded with love by his previous wives, Pamela and Maggie, his devoted secretary, Jane, and his close friends. We, the Mayall family, cannot thank his fans and long-list of band members enough for the support and love we were blessed to experience secondhand over the last six decades.

John closed that same Guardian interview by reflecting further on the blues, “To be honest, I don’t think anyone really knows exactly what it is. I just can’t stop playing it.” Keep on playing the blues somewhere, John. We love you.