Plays John Mayall – JOHN MAYALL***

Crawling Up A Hill/I Wanna Teach You Everything/When I’m Gone/I Need Your Love/The Hoot Owl/R & B Time –Night Train-Lucille/Crocodile Walk/What’s The Matter With You/ Doreen/ Runaway/Heartache/Chicago Line

Plays John Mayall is the debut LP from the British blues pioneer recorded in December 1964 at the Kooks Kleek jazz club, West Hampstead. The songs are mostly self penned originals.

“For the Father of British Blues, John Mayall's debut album comes as a live set at Klooks Kleek. However, the British blues sound that Mayall is often associated with is rarely present here, and fans of his later works will notice the heavy reliance on rhythm and blues throughout the set, not straight blues. Despite this, one still hears hints of blues in Mayall's harmonica playing supported by bassist John McVie. With the exception of Night Train/Lucille, Mayall writes all of the material and although fair, it is apparent that his songwriting abilities are just starting to develop."

“John Mayall shows lots of potential, crafting some pretty catchy and bluesy riffs that almost sound like The Animals at times. His organ playing is superb and helps define the band, along with his distinct vocals.”

“This is not a solo album. It is actually a live album of one of the early incarnations of The Bluesbreakers. The 'plays John Mayall' refers to the fact that the songs are his own originals rather than covers of US blues standards that were a large part of the early Mayall band repertoire.”

“It's a bit rough compared to later Mayall & Bluesbreakers work in all respects, production, recording quality, musical skill but it has a raw energy to it and is a good piece of social and musical history in respect of the British blues music scene. If you like early raw British style R & B, this is for you. If you are looking for the British version of Chicago style blues of the ‘Beano album', be warned that this is in a somewhat different earlier style.”

“John Mayall was one of the most important figures of the British blues movement, and had a big impact through the astute use of the musicians he developed in The Bluesbreakers over several years, and through his own musicianship. This atmospheric recording shows from where it stemmed. Mayall is obviously a blues connoisseur, but on this record he is the ringleader of the hard edged R & B circus.”