Blues Artists

John Mayall has been called “the Grandfather of the British Blues” and the “Godfather of the Blues.”  He has played an extremely important role in promoting the blues to a wider audience since the late 1950’s. He is still performing.

John Mayall’s original band, the Bluesbreakers, was a major incubator of talent. Musicians coming from the Bluesbreakers include Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Mich Fleetwood and John McVie.

Here are some videos of John Mayall at various stages of his lengthy career.

The Laws Must Change, 1970

Although this video says it was recorded in 1969 it appears to contain material from between 1969 and 1972

Circa 1980’s

 

Capitol Theatre, Passaic, New Jersey, 18 June 1982, Sets 1 and 2, full concert

Rock Me Baby, with Etta James, 1982

Performing Born Under A Bad Sign, with Albert King, 1983

An interview with Mick Taylor and John Mayall, 1983

Copenhagen, 1987

Performing J.B. Lenoir’s Talk To Your Daughter with Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber, Liverpool, 2003

Performing Freddie King’s Hideaway with Eric Clapton, Liverpool, 2003.

The Bluesbreakers with Gary Moore, Montreux Festival, 2008

John Mayall performing the Sonny Boy Williamson classic Checking Up On My Baby, at the Ribs & Blues Festival, Raalte, Netherlands, 2011

Interview with John Mayall, 2014

Ottawa Blues Fest July 2014. Unfortunately the microphone is also picking up conversations in the audience.

Drifting Blues, 2015

Here are some John Mayall albums on our list of Recommended Recordings:

CD Cover, Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton by John Mayall
CD Cover, Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton by John Mayall

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton (1965)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CD cover, A Hard Road by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
CD cover, A Hard Road by John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers

A Hard Road (1966) – with Peter Green on lead guitar. After this album Peter Green left the Bluesbreakers, along with bass player John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood, to form Fleetwood Mac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Album cover, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and Friends, 70th Birthday Concert, released in 2003
Album cover, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and Friends, 70th Birthday Concert, released in 2003

70th Birthday Concert (2003)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Album cover, John Mayall, Talk About That, released in 2017
Album cover, John Mayall, Talk About That, released in 2017

Talk About That – a 2017 release featuring two tracks with Joe Walsh as a guest artist on lead guitar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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