Where did I belong? (John Mayall) (LP 1084-1087)

John Mayall's Bluesbreakers  Bare Wires (Vinyl, London Records, 1968) ****  

John Mayall  Blues From Laurel Canyon (Vinyl, Decca Records, 1968) ****  

John Mayall  Empty Rooms (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1970) ****  

John Mayall  USA Union (Vinyl, Polydor Records, 1970) ****  

Genre: Blues rock 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Thinking Of My Woman (Empty Rooms) 

Gear costume: Took The Car (USA Union)

Active compensatory factors: Four more from John. All wonderfully of a high standard!

The first two are both albums from 1968. John retired the Bluesbreakers tag after Bare Wires in July and headed to America and smaller ensembles.

Bare Wires is a fine, more jazz infused than normal, sign off from the bigger band. Jon Hiseman on drums, Dick Heckstall-Smith on his trademark questing saxes, Mick Taylor on guitar, are joined by more sax from Chris Mercer, bassist Tony Reeves, Henry Lowther on cornet and violin, plus of course Mayall adds his vocals, assorted guitars, keyboards and harmonica. All adds up to a great sound. It's quite experimental and progressive sounding at times.

A visit to California prompted the title for his second album of '68, although Blues From Laurel Canyon was recorded in England with guest cameos from Mick Taylor and others, including Peter Green on First Time Alone.

The material is again quite autobiographical. John loves documenting his life via his songs. It's another excellent set from Mayall.

After The Turning Point, Mayall unusually retained the same players for Empty Rooms. So, still no drummer, and that helps produce a lighter, more fluid sound that sounds fresh 53 years later! 

USA Union is a second album documenting his romance with photographer Nancy Throckmorton (she took the cover portraits of both albums). In the early days he seems to have swapped romantic partners as much as he did band mates! Just sayin'. 

Anyway, USA Union retains the no drummer format after the Empty Rooms band broke up. The production on this one, by JM, is excellent - plenty of space around the different instruments. Larry Taylor continues on bass, with Don Harris on violin, and Harvey Mandel on guitar (another in the long line of superb guitarists who joined the Mayall bandwagon).

Where do they all belong? He's prolific (these four plus the live The Turning Point were all done in two years!) Much more to come the blues rock titan. Back To The Roots is next up.