Blues From Laurel Canyon – JOHN MAYALL****

Vacation/Walking On The Sunset/Laurel Canyon Home/2401/Ready To Ride/Medicine Man/Somebody’s Acting Like A Child/The Bear/Miss James/First Time Alone/Long Gone Midnight/Fly Tomorrow

Blues From Laurel Canyon was a loose concept album based on John Mayall's vacation in California, backed by Mick Taylor who provides some of his best guitar work. (US:68 UK:33)

“The material on this album is very high quality blues and blues rock and you know what to expect if you're familiar with Mayall's music at all. The first side is clearly the weaker one here even though it's very good. Maybe it just feels a bit loose because the B-side is so fantastic. Especially the last three songs which represent some of the finest material this legend has ever released.”

“Blues From Laurel Canyon is like the assignment a teacher hands out to their pupils when they return from vacation. After splitting The Bluesbreakers, Mayall granted himself a holiday in Laurel Canyon, California and the album reflects his experiences during that time. The spell away from recording and performing live obviously gave Mayall the opportunity to regroup and contemplate his future musical direction Besides being a return to basics for Mayall, this album was the farewell shout of Mick Taylor before he got the call from Mick Jagger to join The Stones.”

"One of the best John Mayall albums of all time, with a lot of progressive elements. The guitarist is Mick Taylor, who went on to The Rolling Stones. But with Mayall he played very well, one of the best guitar players. A fantastic solo in Fly Tomorrow.”

“At this particular point in his life, John Mayall was absolutely on fire creatively, evidenced by the speed in which this record was written and performed. It happens every now and then like that, the muse just touches someone for a while. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving musician, as Mayall, though conceited and a little on the dramatic side, he was a innovator and a tireless promoter of blues music.”

“As a Mayall junkie, this is one album I continue to play. It contains some of the best guitar playing by Mick Taylor that I have heard from him. Check out First Time Alone and Fly Tomorrow particularly. It also includes the memorable mood track First Time Alone featuring Peter Green. This is a worthwhile record for anyone who appreciates Mayall's British Blues sensibilities and Mick Taylor's guitar work.”