John Mayall's Bluesbreakers live set is a delight despite no-frills production
COLIN MORRIS Last updated 05:00, July 7 2015 Stuff. Co. NZ
http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...lls-production
REVIEW:
BLUES John Mayall Bluesbreakers - Live In 1967
(Southbound) ★★★½
As was typical with John Mayall, this particular band lasted a mere three months as he was notorious for firing members on a whim. Eric Clapton, Andy Fraser (Free), Dick Heckstall-Smith, Jon Hiseman (both Colosseum) and two from Canned Heat all came and went as Mayall sought to remain fresh. Yet as the years go by, members have only kind words to say about Mayall and many have returned for short stints. This album, recorded at five different venues in 1967 serendipitously by a Dutch fan with a mono recorder, came to the attention of Mayall who bought the rights and spent time remastering it. And, as to be expected, the results are not all that flash with quite a hollow sound. Yet blues fans and fans of Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, who went on to form Fleetwood Mac, will rejoice in the fact that this recording, not unlike the many 1920s re-discovered voices that we listen to in spite of the scratches, fills in a missing piece of the British blues scene.