Customer Reviews

As It All Began: Best of 1964-1969

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Judging by the track listing this album pretty comprehensively fails to live up to its claim. While it contains some worthwhile tracks, the most thorough and satisfying compilation - by a long way - of John Mayall's work from this period is "London Blues 1964 - 1969".

If you really do want "the best" then save up and buy "London Blues"... a superb record that won't disappoint.

If you don't want to plunk down $20 plus for the Mayall 2 CD set LONDON BLUES '64-'69 then get this solid 20 track CD! Mick Taylor, Peter Green & Eric Clapton are all featured on this CD which includes some of the best songs they recorded while with Mayall. Mayall himself hand picked these songs. Funny though... "Hideaway" is missing. For me being a die hard Mayall fan and guitarist who was nourished on his music and all his git great players music on this CD "Start Walkin'"(live with Mick Taylor on git BURNS!). "A Hard Road" (with Peter Green on git sizzles!) and "Parchman Farm" (with EC on git cracks the whip!). Enough said. Go buy it!

This album is exactly what the title implies... how it all began. John Mayall was the first major white blues musician to interpret the delta blues. As England began to embrace American southern culture a blues revival began to occur in the states, so Muddy Waters and the likes were brought back into the public eye by Mayall and similar artists. This album, while not quite as complete as "London Blues" is every bit as exciting. The early tracks such as 'Bernard Jenkins' and 'All your Love' allow the listener the priviledge of experiencing a young, raw Eric Clapton developing into one on the best blues guitarist and a true journeyman. The track 'Double Trouble' is not as clean and polished as the later Clapton live version but the track is definatly more raw and powerful than Clapton's. Other highlights include 'The Death of J.B. Lenoir' and 'Suspicions'. For a glimpse of experiencing Mayall live check out the last track 'Start Walkin'. If you are a die-hard Mayall fan who must have it all, then get "London Years". If you are just a fan of Mayall or excellent blues or looking for a good place to start your Mayall collection, then this is the CD!

This is a beautiful collection and set of early and historical blues from a legend. Mayall's band was a launching pad for scores of brilliant musicians and this CD is a wonderful example of UK blues in the early 60's. John Mayall is a versatile instrumentalist and his vocal stylings are very original. I have followed Mr. Mayall's career from the early 60's and this is a super collection, a must for all scholars and music lovers of GREAT 60's popular music. This is a must for any and all collectors.

The Best Of John Mayall-Bluesbreakers is a great album for that hit of sixties blues music. It starts with the superb 'Crawling Up A Hill' and goes from strength to strength. You get examples of all the most famous guitarists he had playing with him and hear how tight his various bands were. John Mayall's Bluebreakers were the forming ground for many blues and rock artists of the time and his influence is well acknowledged by musicians and fans alike. This is a great starting place if you want to hear his style and sound and this album tends to be less expensive that 'The Essential' collection also available. If you like this you can progress to other classic albums by the band, as well as a live album, which is an important element of the overall feel of the Bluebreakers. A great selection of tracks and some great blues music a well. Well worth a go.

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John Mayall is most widely known for discovering Eric Clapton and several other famous artist. And thus his fame has always been acheived indirectly, through the fame of others. However, I believe that John Mayal was far greater than Eric Clapton or any of the other musicians he discovered. This CD proves the fact. He is a very versatile musician. JOHN MAYALL KICKS ASS