(The) Monumental (John) Mayall: Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton

John Mayall's 1966 classic "Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton" is special to me because it was the first record I ever stold - not as in shoplifted, but as in borrowing it from someone and then forgetting to ever give it back. I was the (alleged) lead singer for the legendary Phoenix Blues Band on the Vineyard, and had to learn the words to Robert Johnson's "Ramblin' On My Mind" so I "borrowed" the disc from lead guitarist John Early ( Easily one of the best players I ever met, by the way) and hung onto it. I even tried to imitate Mayall's high pitched vocals.


The album is monumental first of all because of his incredible talent. From his high-powered version of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say?" to "Little Girl" to his rhythmic harmonica on "Parchman Farm", John Mayall showed that he was a force to be reckoned with. "Parchman Farm" pales in comparison to Mayall's legendary mouth harp tour de force - "Room To Move" . His style is totally different from Paul Butterfield's piercing notes and melodic runs as well as Bob Dylan's ragged chords, much closer to the country harmonica made famous by Sonny Terry.


The second monumental feature of Bluesbreakers is the introduction of virtuoso Eric Clapton, making a break from the Yardbirds. Although Clapton only stayed with Mayall's band for about a year, his contributions on songs like "All Your Love", with its innovative riff, and the instrumentals "Hideaway" and "Steppin' Out" give a glimpse of what he was capable of playing and the legend he would become.


Perhaps the most amazing thing about John Mayall is the number of musicians who either played or started with him before going on to fame with other bands. For example, Jack Bruce played bass with Mayall before he and Clapton linked up with Ginger Baker to form Cream; John McVie played bass with Mayall before joining drummer Mick Fleetwood - another Mayall alumnus - in Fleetwood Mac; and Canned Heat's Larry Taylor also contributed bass guitar to Mayall's efforts as well. Some of the other musical luminaries that appeared in Mayall's various sessons included lead guitarists Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Harvey Mandel; the unbelievable Dr. John the Night Tripper (Better known these days as New Orleans' Mack Rebennack) on keyboards; and Paul Butterfield himself on harmonica. Mayall and band also backed blues legend Albert King in 1971, a session which was finally released in 1986 as - believe it or not - "The Lost Session."


John Mayall is still going strong at age 73 - check out his latest efforts at http://www.johnmayall.com/


Since we're on the subject of links:


Get Bruce Burnside's music, touring schedule and philosophy at http://www.bruceburnside.com/

Hear the incredibly talented Scott Allen at http://www.milomusic.com/

Find out about the latest Rhode Island International Film Festival stuff at www.RIFF.org

Martha Davis and the Motels are alive and well at www.marthadavis.com

By the way, summer's not over until September 20!

Catching Up With Cutlass Three

I ran into Steve Cannella last week on the RWU campus - profiled in an earlier post about the group Cutlass Three - still skateboarding and still playing. The band has a regular Thursday night gig at the Beach House in the Island Park section of scenic Portsmouth, RI where the elite meet and greet. Thursdays are now College Nights with Beer Pong and the Cutlass Three, and the action starts at 9:00 PM. If you want to hear some straight up rock that never lets you down, with echoes of rockabilly, blues and legendary English rockers The Clash, then check out the Cutlass Three Thursday nights at the Beach House. For more info on the band, go to:
www.myspace.com/thecutlassband