Customer Reviews

Blues Alone

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Blues Alone is an intimate album, with John Mayall playing all instruments except (sometimes) drums, and writing all the material. This music here apparently could not fit into the mold of the Bluesbreakers. The arrangements are spare, and John's guitar and keyboard work is nimble without calling attention to itself. John draws on a variety of blues sounds and traditions that I am unqualified to name, but can recognize. There are no bad songs on the album, and five that I particularly enjoy: "No More Tears", a rollicking happy song with an impressive upper-register guitar solo, "Canceling Out" an angry denunciation by a man on the make of women he picks up who aren't what they seem to be, "Brown Sugar" a smoldering song of praise about the pleasures of a brown-skinned lover (please not to be confused with the tongue-in-cheek but still offensive Rolling Stones song), "Broken Wing", a beautiful song of redemption featuring a gorgeous organ solo; and "Don't Kick Me", a rocker with a thundering bass line. This is my favorite Mayall album of the six or so I have heard, more satisfying than the very popular The Turning Point.

Mayall is revered as a blues legend for the band members he had and has. This old album (which I have played for 30+ plus years) highlights how good Mayall is himself where he plays every sound on the album apart from some drums from Hughie Flint. The result is a classic blues album. The album features his song writing and playing ability whether on harmonic, guitar or keyboards. As the liner notes say, his guitar is unlikely to cause others to jump off bridges (or words to that effect), but listening to his historic 9 string guitar or harmonica or his keyboards envokes strong emotions. There are many highlights, but the best are 'Sonny boy blow' and 'Broken wings'.

I am no expert! Yet in my humble opinion the track "Marsha's Mood" is the quintessensial blues number. It conveys strong and disturbed emotion with beautiful simplicity. Mayall's music may be described as unpolished but for me this only creates depth and raw sentiment.

I probably listened to this album hundreds if not thousands of times when I was in college back in the early 70s. I recently reaquired it and am on pace to beat the previous score. For fans of hippie blues power, this is one of, if not the best albums of all times.

This album could easily be five stars, but it depends upon your musical desire. I think that the best way to sum up this album is simple blues. Clearly Mayall is better known for the guitarist he helped to introduce but this album is not about the legendary guitarists or the bandmembers with whom he has played. This album is about simple blues and is certainly a great introduction vs. addition to any blues collection.

Since I bought "Blues Giant" (a 2lp set made by DECCA XNU 375015) in 1969 I was impressed by the vitality of Mayalls bluesmusic. However, it does not sound like blues to me that time but more like jazzmusic with rockinfluences. This album always stayed a favorite of mine, because the compilation reflected the best of the Bluesbreakers from 1967. The albums used for this compilation were: A Hard Road, Crusade and the Blues Alone. There are some fine reviews of Crusade and Hard Road. So I add this one for Blues Alone.

Don't expect guitar-hero-style music, but when you listen to this album you will hear John's underestimated guitarwork, that really reflects his positive feelings and melancholic moods. Besides that John is very good keyboard player and his organ and pianopieces are outstanding. Add to this his very fine harmonica playing and clear voice supported by Keef Hartly on drums and you will have a record that you can listen to to make you feel better. That's were bluesmusic is made for (in my opinion).

My favorite songs is " Broken Wings". No, not that classic song of Mr. Mister, but this one composed by J. Mayall. This song is chickenskin music. Listen to the organ and his intense singing...

Yes , on LP ! .. It has stood the test of time; John alone overdubbing instruments with help from drummer either Keef Hartley , or Hughie Flint ..my memory fades here and there .. so my guess is it is Keef Hartley as I recall he may have sacked Hughie by then ! Marsha's Mood I understand is for Marsha Hunt .. who was a gorgeous looking singer , and dated John , and Mick Jagger , etc ..Sonny Boy Blow is for Alec 'Rice' Miller aka Sonny Boy Williamson #2 .. who had recently left the planet (1965) The album is a great listen .. I especially like the harmonica overdubbed over a live train ! I wish John would do something like this again one day ..I purchased his 'Boogie Woogie Man' solo Cd from his website ..and that is a great listen too . The Blues Alone is a kinder gentler album compared to what he is doing now .. rockin' very hard , and loud!

John Mayall plays every instrument sings every song and even designed the album cover! This is truly " The Blues Alone ". A great recording for any fan of the artist.