USA Union - JOHN MAYALL****

Nature's Disappearing/You Must Be Crazy/Night Flyer/Off The Road/Possessive Emotions/Where Did My Legs Go/Took The Car/Crying/My Pretty Girl/Deep Blue Sea

Blues rock stalwart John Mayall's USA Union album is so named because for the first time he employs an American backing band. Some of the songs reflect his increasing concerns about the environment. (US:22 UK:50)

"Mayall's first studio album in the 70s offers us some very fine blues. For the first time he has an American backing band behind him and the result is very good and enjoyable. The opening track shows that Mayall must have been very worried about the state of the world back then. I like all of the songs on the album except the last one which I think is filler."

"Mayall teams up with Canned Heat guitarist and bassist Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor, and jazz/blues violinist extraordinaire Don 'Sugarcane' Harris, to produce an album that sounds not at all like you might expect. One giveaway is the fact that there is no percussionist. The record is very quiet, muted and understated... late night music. One result of this is that his rather quirky voice, which I never thought was very suited to blues, comes to the fore."

"This is one of my favourite John Mayall records and an all time blues-rock classic. The sound and compositions are soft and of very good taste. He made excellent music without drums. The guitar playing of Harvey Mandell is outstanding and works out very well here."

"This interesting and unique John Mayall album has stood the test of time. I enjoy the seamless and smooth flow of the tracks as they are propelled along by the steady and melodic bass lines of Larry Taylor. Harvey Mandel's guitar contributions are fluid and under control without being overly restrained. The same is true for Sugarcane Harris and his masterful work on the violin."

"USA Union has an easy-going, laid-back feel to it. Some of this is due to the lack of a drummer; but much of it can be attributed to the fluid bass of Larry Taylor. Many of the songs are relationship themed. While this album lacks the drive of some of Mayall's best work, this is a fantastic soundtrack for a summer afternoon."

"This is a great album to play when you just want to kick back and groove out. John Mayall proves that you don't need drums to make great music."