Product Details

• Actors: John Mayall, Eric Clapton, Chris Barber
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen, DTS Surround Sound
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Eagle Rock Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 9, 2003
• Run Time: 137 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000E6FOK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,600 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Not all that many blues musicians (or any other kind, for that matter) live to 70, so British bandleader John Mayall had good reason to celebrate when he reached that milestone in 2003--and celebrate he did, with the admirable, 137-minute John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers: 70th Birthday Concert to show for it. Mayall, a capable if not exactly stellar singer and multi-instrumentalist, is best known for the many fine players who passed through his band over the years, and Eric Clapton, the most renowned of the lot, is on hand here, as is former Mayall/Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor. Clapton sings several tunes in addition to playing his trademark stinging solos on "Hideaway" and "All Your Love" (two of the tunes most responsible for the "Clapton is God" graffiti seen around London in the '60s), while Taylor is mostly impressive as well. But arguably the best guitarist on the Liverpool stage this night is current Bluesbreaker Buddy Whittington, who more than holds his own in the company of his more esteemed predecessors (check out Whittington's superb solos, informed by both Buddy Guy and jazz, on "Blues for the Lost Days" and the 17-minute "Have You Heard"). Indeed, this may well be Mayall's best and most versatile band ever--no mean feat for a guy now in his fifth decade on the scene. A Mayall interview is the disc's sole bonus feature. --Sam Graham

Product Description

It s a warm summer's Saturday night, July 19, 2003 in Liverpool England and the eager audience patiently waits. In celebration of John Mayall's 70th birthday and for the benefit of UNICEF s fight against child exploitation, The Bluesbreakers (Tom Canning, Hank Van Sickle, Jo Yuele and Buddy Whittington) kick off with Jacksboro Highway. After a few more numbers the place erupts as John Mayall appears to a standing ovation. The Godfather of British Blues has arrived and straight away he's playing fantastic harmonica and keyboards. Then (and after 38 years since they first played together) the friends and soul mates are reunited to a tumultuous reception as Eric Clapton appears on stage. Joining them is Mick Taylor and British
Blues pioneer, Chris Barberas as they blast through nearly 21/2 hours of stunning blues. From blues standards to classics from the Beano album and on to contemporary Bluesbreakers material, an ecstatic Liverpool crowd laps up one of the finest nights of blues this millennium. / Track Listing: 1. Southside Story 2. Kids Got the Blues 3. Dirty Water 4. Somebody's Acting Like a Child (John Mayall) 5. Blues For the Lost Days (John Mayall) 6. Walking on Sunset (John Mayall) 7. No Big Hurry (John Mayall) 8. Please Mr Lofton (John Mayall) 9. Hideaway (John Mayall) 10. All Your Love (I Miss Loving) (John Mayall) 11. Have You Heard (John Mayall) 12. Hoochie Coochie Man (John Mayall) 13. I'm Tore Down (John Mayall) 14. It Ain't Right 15. Talk to Your Daughter (John Mayall)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Music DVD's I've Ever Seen, December 29, 2003

By 

Wade Johnson (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert (DVD)

I am a professional musician in Texas and this is one of the very best music DVD's (and it's live!) I've ever heard in my life. From the impecable playing from John and the band to the camera work and editing and sound. I couldn't be happier. Being a drummer it was really nice how they would show Joe from different angles and stay long enough to be able to learn something. Mick Taylor and Eric Clapton were great but John's guitarist Buddy Whittington hung right in there with both of them. He is one very talented guitar player/vocalist and I have followed him for years. This is a MUST HAVE DVD for any and all blues musicians.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars John Mayall Revisits His Old Bluesbreakers!, February 26, 2004

By 

Perry Celestino (Tahmoor, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert (DVD)

Well like most Blues fans my age, I got the Bluesbreakers LP in 1966 and played it to death. I spent countless hours playing along with Eric Clapton on "All Your Love" and "Hideaway". They were great days. John Mayall has done so much to promote the blues world-wide, he can't get enough credit. Well, also like most people, after his time with Mick Taylor ("Crusade") I stopped buying his records.

This concert in Liverpool is very entertaining. It has a great song selection and the sound is good. Mayall brings out the old Bluesbreakers Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor (Why no Peter Green?) and they do a pretty good job. Taylor has a great tone and is as stone faced as ever. He is a matter-of-fact guitarist and plays well, especially on the Albert King number "Oh, Pretty Woman" -written by WDIA DJ AC Williams. Eric comes out and does a good job as well. He has been criticized for years as one who has stopped trying to be flash and has become more of a B.B. King-type of Blues player. He does "Hideaway" and "Have You Heard" and "All Your Love" from the original LP of so long ago. He uses his flashy Fender custom shop 2002 strat, too!

The previous reviews have raved about Buddy Whittington (another Texan guitar player!) with his special Mesa Boogie amps and tone BUT. as a guitar player for 40 years I think the flash technique (volume control, pick harmonics of the 1970s rock scene), with very little soul or bending (no 1 Blues technique!!!) is ok, but not great for pure blues. Actually Buddy should get a job with Steely Dan or a Steely Dan tribute band. He is a great player, but seems to be one who bases his skill on speed and technique rather than feeling, which is what the Blues is, "playing in between the notes". However, I do like Buddy's reliance on one guitar- a two-tone sunburst vintage 1950s stratocaster.

John Mayall's vocals in is old age have improved (that is always controversial- I don't think him a really horrible singer). However, his harp playing is more like a blues Bob Dylan (Butterfield used to make fun of it!). It is pretty cool the way he plays simple harp and piano at the same time! But he should stick to organizing and arranging. All in all this is an historical concert and is very entertaining. It is a a great addition to one's DVD library.

The highlights are "All Your Love", "Have You Heard", "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Hideaway". John does a good job, but it is curious that with his lack of real talent on the harmonica he would do a tune about Little Walter as well as one of Little Walter's own songs.

The sound overall is good and this is a very entertaining and well presented concert. Blues lovers both young and old will appreciate it. The price is reasonable and the lenght is good. The bonus interview is also interesting and one can see the follow-up complete interview on the DVD John Mayall "Godfather of the Blues".

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic stretched-out jamming for adventurous blues fans., June 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert (DVD)

John Mayall, a pure bluesman with a great spirit of musical adventure not to mention a brilliant bandleader with the greatest taste in guitar players, leads a free-flowing but tight show with guitar gods galore. His current axe-master Buddy Whittington is excellent, and Clapton has some good moments, but for me the night belonged to ex-Stones great Mick Taylor who hasn't sounded this hot since Sticky Fingers. He doesn't look all that healthy (even in comparison to his old bandmates) but he plays with so much fire here I was just jaw-droppingly happy after seeing/hearing it.I don't think there's a guitar player alive who has such incredible tone and phrasing. Highlights too numerous to mention, but if you like blues in any form or just love guitars in general, I highly recommend this. Maybe Mayall will grab all the above and bring Coco Montoya and Peter Green along for his 75th. And proceeds go to Unicef, so hey, do yourself and someone else some good at the same time. Happy birthday John, and many many more.