line up 1 (1963)

- Ricky Brown -- bass

- Pete Burford -- bass

- Davy Graham -- guitar

- Brian Mayall -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

- Sammy Prosser -- guitar

- Sam Stone -- drums, percussion

  line up 2 (1963)

NEW - John Gilby -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

- Sammy Prosser -- guitar

NEW - Keith Robertson -- drums, percussion

  line up 3 (1963-64)

NEW - Martin Hart -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

NEW- Bernie Watson -- guitar

  line up 4 (1964-65)

NEW - Roger Dean -- guitar

NEW - Hughie Flint - drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 5 (1965)

NEW - Eric Clapton -- guitar

- Hughie Flint - drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 6 (1965)

NEW - Jack Bruce -- bass

NEW - Peter Green -- guitar

NEW - Jeff Krobbett -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 7 (1966)

- Eric Clapton -- guitar

- Hughie Flint - drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 8 (1966)

- Peter Green -- guitar

- Hughie Flint - drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 9 (1966-67)

NEW - Aynsley Dunbar -- drums, percussion

- Peter Green -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

  line up 10 (1967)

- Aynsley Dunbar -- drums, percussion

NEW - Mick Fleetwood -- drums, percussion

- Peter Green -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

NEW - Mick Waller -- drums, percussion

  line up 11 (1967)

NEW - Terry Edmonds -- guitar

NEW - Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

NEW - Rip Kant -- sax

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- John McVie -- bass 

NEW - Chris Mercer -- sax

NEW - Mick Taylor -- guitar

  line up 12 (1967-68)

NEW - Andy Fraser -- bass

- Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Henry Lowther -- trumpet

-  Chris Mercer -- sax

NEW - Dick Heckstall-Smith -- sax

- Mick Taylor -- guitar

NEW - Keith Tillman -- bass

NEW - Paul Williams -- bass

  line up 13 (1968)

NEW - John Hiseman -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Henry Lowther -- trumpet

- Chris Mercer -- sax

NEW - Tony Reeves -- bass

- Dick Heckstall-Smith -- sax

- Mick Taylor -- guitar

- Keith Tillman -- bass

- Paul Williams -- bass

  line up 14 (1968-69)

NEW - Colin Allen -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Mick Taylor -- guitar

NEW- Steve Thompson -- bass

  line up 15 (1969-70)

NEW - Johnny Almond -- sax

NEW - Duster Bennett -- guitar, vocals

NEW - Alex Dmochowski - bass

NEW - Jon Mark -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Larry Taylor -- bass

- Steve Thompson -- bass

  line up 16 (1970-71)

NEW - Don Sugarcane Harriss - violin

NEW - Harvey Mandell -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Larry Taylor -- bass

  line up 17 (1971)

NEW - Eric Clapton -- guitar

- Don Sugarcane Harriss - violin

- Harvey Mandell -- guitar

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Larry Taylor -- bass

NEW - Mick Taylor -- guitar

  line up 18 (1971)

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Jimmy McCulloch -- guitar

- Larry Taylor -- bass

  line up 19 (1971)

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Blue Mitchell -- trumpet

NEW - Freddy Robinson -- guitar

NEW - Ron Selico -- bass

NEW - Clifford Solomon -- sax

  line up 20 (1971-72)

NEW - Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Blue Mitchell -- trumpet

- Freddy Robinson -- guitar

- Clifford Solomon -- sax

  line up 21 (1972)

NEW - Victor Gaskin -- bass

- Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

NEW - Fred Jackson - sax

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Blue Mitchell -- trumpet

NEW - Charlie Owens -- flute

- Freddy Robinson -- guitar

- Clifford Solomon -- sax

NEW - Ernie Watts -- sax

  line up 22 (1972-73)

- Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

NEW - Red Holloway -- flute, sax

- Fred Jackson - sax

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Blue Mitchell -- trumpet

- Charlie Owens -- flute

- Freddy Robinson -- guitar

- Ernie Watts -- sax

  line up 23 (1973-74)

NEW - Don Sugarcane Harris -- violin

- Keef Hartley -- drums, percussion

NEW - Red Holloway -- flute, sax

- John Mayall - vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Freddy Robinson -- guitar

  line up 24 (1975)

NEW - Hightide Harris -- lead guitar

- Red Holloway - sax, flute

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Randy Resnick -- lead guitar

NEW - Soko Richardson -- drums, percussion

NEW - Larry Taylor -- bass

  line up 25 (1975-77)

NEW - Don Sugarcane Harris -- violin

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Dee McKinnie - vocals

- Soko Richardson -- drums, percussion

NEW - Jay Spell -- keyboards

- Larry Taylor -- bass

NEW - Rick Vito -- guitar

  line up 26 (1977)

NEW - Warren Bryant -- percussion

NEW - Red Holloway - sax, flute

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Gary Rowles -- guitar

NEW - Patty Smith -- vocals

- Jay Spell -- keyboards

- Larry Taylor -- bass

NEW - Pepper Watkins -- vocals

NEW - Frank Wilson -- drums

  line up 27 (1977-78)

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Soko Richardson -- drums

NEW - James Quill Smith -- guitar

NEW - Steve Thompson -- bass

  line up 28 (1978-79)

NEW - Ruben Alvarez -- drums, percussion

NEW - Chris Cameron -- keyboards

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Christian Mosteret -- sax, flute

NEW - Maggie Parker

- James Quill Smith -- guitar

NEW - Angus Thomas -- bass

NEW - Rick Vito -- guitar

  line up 29 (1979-81)

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Kevin McCormick -- bass

 - Maggie Parker -- vocals

- Soko Richardson -- drums, percussion

- James Quill Smith -- guitar

  line up 30 (1981-82)

NEW - Jeff Davis -- bass

NEW - Mike Gardner -- drums, percussion'

NEW - Bobby Manuel -- guitar

John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Don McMinn -- guitar

  line up 31 (1982)

NEW - Colin Allen -- drums

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - John McVie -- bass

NEW - Mick Taylor -- guitar

  line up 32 (1984-85)

NEW - Kal David -- guitar

NEW - Bobby Haynes -- bas

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Willie McNeil -- drums, percussion

NEW - Coco Montonya -- guitar

NEW - Walter Trout -- guitar

  line up 33 (1985-90)

- Bobby Haynes -- bass

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Coco Montonya -- guitar

- Walter Trout -- guitar

NEW - Joe Yuele -- drums, percussion

  line up 35 (1990-94)

NEW - Freebo -- bass

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Coco Montonya -- guitar

NEW - Joe Yuele -- drums, percussion

  line up 35 (1994-95)

NEW - Rick Cortes -- bass

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

- Coco Montonya -- guitar

- Joe Yuele -- drums, percussion

  line up 35 (1994-95)

NEW - Tom Canning -- keybaords

- John Mayall -- vocals, harmonica, keyboards

NEW - Greg Rzab -- bass

NEW - Buddy Whittingron -- guitar

- Joe Yuele -- drums, percussion

- The Artwoods (Keef Harley)

- The Jeff Beck Group (Aynsley Dunbar)

- Blind Faith (Jeck Bruce and Eric Clapton)

- Jack Bruce (solo efforts)

- Canned Heat (Larry Taylor)

- Eric Clapton (solo efforts)

- Colosseum (John Hiseman, Dick Heckstall-Smith 

  and Tony Reeves) 

- Cream (Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton)

- Dog Soldier (Keef Harley)

- Aynsley Dunbar (solo efforts)

- Mick Fleetwood (solo efforts)

- Fleetwood Mac (Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green,

  John McVie, and Rick Vito)

- Andy Fraser (solo efforts)

- Free (Andy Fraser)

- Peter Green (solo efforts)

- Keef Hartley Band

- The Jefferson Starship (Aynsley Dunbar)

- Casey Jones and the Engineers (Eric Clapton)

- Journey (Aynsley Dunbar)

- The Mark-Almond Band

- PaulMcCartney and Wings (Jimmy McCulloch)

- McGuinness Flint (Hughie Flint)

- The Rolling Stones (MIck Taylor)

- The Roosters (Eric Clapton)

- Stone the Crows (Colin Allen)

- Sharks (Andy Fraser)

- Shotgun Express (Mick Fleetwood and 

  John McVie)

- The Small Faces (Jimmy McCulloch)

- Rory Storm and the Hurricanes (Keef Hartley)

- Mick Taylor (solo efforts)

- The Yardbirds (Eric Clapton)

- Frank Zappa (Aynsley Dunbar)

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Blues from Laurel Canyon

Company: London

Catalog: PS 545

Country/State: UK

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4989

Price: $9.00

Returning to the UK, Mayall decided to recruit a new band.  Returning to a more streamlined backing band he rounded up drummer Colin Allen, lead guitarist Mick Taylor (the lone carry over from the last Bluesbreakers line up) and bassist Stephen Thompson (the latter two still in their teens).  After a couple of weeks of rehearsals the quartet went into Decca's West Hampstead Studios.  Co-produced by Mayall and Mike Vernon, "Blues from Laurel Canyon" was finished over a three day span.  Almost a concept piece, material such as 'Vacation', 'Walking On Sunset' and 'First Time Alone' provided a pretty detailed description of Mayall's vacation.  In case you wondered tracks like 'Miss James' and 'The Bear' (apparently about a night on the town with Canned Heat's Bob Hite) and other tracks made it clear Mayall had a pretty good time.  Ditching some of his recent jazz-rock efforts, the album reflected a return to a straightforward blues genre, though Taylor's soloing injected a nice rock feel to '2401', 'Somebody Acting Like a Child' and other tracks.  Former Mayall lead guitarist Peter Green also made a cameo appearance on 'First Time Alone'.   Commercially the album did well peaking at # 68.  

"Blues from Laurel Canyon" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Vacation   (John Mayall) - 2:47

2.) Walking On Sunset   (John Mayall) - 4:33

3.) 2401   (John Mayall) - 3:42

4.) Ready To Ride   (John Mayall) - 3:32

5.) Medicine Man   (John Mayall) - 2:43

6.) Somebody Acting Like a Child   (John Mayall) - 3:27

(side 2)

1.) The Bear   (John Mayall) - 4:40

2.) Miss James   (John Mayall) - 2:30

3.) First Time Alone   (John Mayall) - 4:49

4.) Long Gone Midnight   (John Mayall) - 3:27

5.) Fly Tomorrow   (John Mayall) - 8:59

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Memories

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD 5012

Country/State: UK

Year: 1971

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $7.00

We'll be the first to admit that much of Mayall's blues catalog tends to sound similar.  Maybe due to the fact 1971's self-produced "Memories" is such an autobiographical work, it stands as one of our favorite releases.  Probably his most personal work, the set touches on all aspects of his young life - parental divorce  (the title track); young lust ("Wish I Knew a Woman" is one of the funniest beat-off songs you'll ever hear), Army duty ("The Fighting Line" and "Back from Korea") and personal loss ("Grandad").  Unlike earlier releases, here Mayall opted to work with a scaled back; Ventures guitarist Jerry McGee and bassist Larry Taylor providing support. While you'd expect the set to have a spare sound, the results are anything but.  McGee kicks in everything from sitar to some stinging slide guitar throughout.  Easily one of his most enjoyable outings !!!  Unfortunately, released at the same time previous label London Records released a compilation set, the collection did little in terms of sales, peaking at # 179.  (The LP was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)

"Memories" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Memories   (John Mayall) - 5:00

2.) Wish I Knew a Woman   (John Mayall) - 5:17

3.) The City   (John Mayall) - 4:54

4.) Home In a Tree   (John Mayall) - 3:21

5.) Separate Ways   (John Mayall) - 4:14 

(side 2)

1.) The Fighting Line   (John Mayall) - 4:02

2.) Grandad   (John Mayall) - 4;38

3.) Back from Korea   (John Mayall) - 5:10

4.) Nobody Cares   (John Mayall) - 3:56

5.) Play the Harp   (John Mayall) - 5:21 

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Moving On

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD 5036

Country/State: UK

Year: 1972

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $7.00

"Moving On" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Worried Mind   (John Mayall) - 8:45

2.) Keep Our Country Green   (John Mayall) - 3:25

3.) Christmas 71   (John Mayall) - 4:54

4.) Things Gone Wrong   (John Mayall) - 6:11

(side 2)

1.) Do It   (John Mayall) - 4:56

2.) Moving On   (John Mayall) - 4:22

3.) Red Sky   (John Mayall)  3:47

4.) Reasons   (John Mayall) - 3:10

9.) High Pressure Living   (John Mayall) - 6:59

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  The Latest Edition

Company: Polydor

Catalog: PD 6030

Country/State: UK

Year: 1974

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 6076

Price: $10.00

I'm hard pressed to think of a modern artist with as extensive a recording catalog as bluesman John Mayall.  The thing that makes it even more amazing is the fact so much of his catalog is pedestrian, if not outright dull.  Not that I don't enjoy a good blues rock album on occasion, but can you imagine trying to wade through the length of Mayall's 50 year catalog?  Take issue with those comments?  Well I challenge you to slog your way through 1974's "The Latest Edition".  Co-produced by Tom Wilson and Eirik the Norwegian (?), this time out the album featured all original Mayall material.  Backed by yet another new lineup (by my count this was line up number 24 - hence the flippant title), there really wasn't much of interest this time out.  Blues remained Mayall's raison d'etre, but this time around he seemed interested in expanding the audience with a couple of more mainstream numbers - check out 'Going To Take Me Time', 'One of the Few' and 'Love Songs'.  The results were okay ...  not his best, not his worst.

- I'm assuming 'Gasoline Blues' was inspired by the mid-1970s OPEC oil shock.  Slightly more rock-ish than your typical Mayall effort, it was also mildly funny (unless you were sitting in a line at a gas station waiting to fill up your tank).  On the other hand the humor's probably lost on anyone younger than 50.   rating: ** stars

- Mayall's never been the most overwhelming vocalist and on 'Perfect Peace' he sounded positively ghastly.  Barely in tune, you were left to wonder whether he'd actually make it through the song.  Shame since the song was actually pretty good with some nice lead guitar from Hightide Harris and Randy Resnick.   rating: *** stars

- 'Going To Take Me Time' found Mayall and company taking a stab at getting funky ...  Yeah, funk clearly wasn't Mayall's forte, but I'll give him credit for trying.  In spite of Mayall's harmonica solo, the result was actually one of the album's more enjoyable tracks.  rating: *** stars

- A standard country-blues number with Mayall sounding like his hand was caught in a vice, 'Deep Down Feelings' opened up with some stunning acoustic slide guitar from Harris.  That guitar saved the track and actually made it one of the album's standout performances.   rating: **** stars

- Ah, Mayall taking a stab at social commentary ...  hum, a song that covers the waterfront from Richard Nixon's impeachment to rising crime rates.  Well, I guess the sentiments in 'Troubled Times' are just as applicable today as they were in 1974.  Mayall's tinkling keyboards were pretty funny to hear.   rating: ** stars  

- Wow, funk and social commentary ...  Yeah, 'The Pusher Man' wasn't the most subtle anti-drug song you've ever heard, but you had to give him credit for taking a stand on an issue few musicians were willing to touch.   Also kudos to Mayall for writing some rather graphic lyrics detailing the dangers associated with illicit drugs.  rating: ** stars   

- 'One of the Few' was an oddity in Mayall's catalog - namely an out-and-out stab at a pop song.  Different and oddly intriguing though it would have been even better without the extended Red Holloway sax solo.   rating: *** stars

- 'Love Songs' was a surprisingly mainstream ballad with a pretty guitar solo and some surprisingly tasteful Mayall keyboards, though Mayall simply didn't have the commercial voice to ultimately pull it off.   rating: ** stars   

- Another up-tempo blues effort, had a decent chorus, but it wasn't enough to make up for the rest of the songs plodding structure.   rating: ** stars     

- To my ears 'A Crazy Game' was the album's best track.  Powered by a cool Larry Taylor bass line and some of Mayall's best harmonica, the result was an energetic and slightly funky effort, with Mayall and company actually sounding like they had fun recording the track.    rating: **** stars 

Hey, at least the cast on Mayall's leg was pretty cool !

A commercial disappointment, the album failed to chart in the States and also spelled the end to Mayall's longstanding relationship with Polydor.  His next album saw him signed by ABC.

"The Latest Edition" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Gasoline Blues   (John Mayall) - 3:41

2.) Perfect Peace   (John Mayall) - 3:50

3.) Going To Take Me Time   (John Mayall) - 2:55

4.) Deep Down Feelings   (John Mayall) - 4:42

5.) Troubled Times   (John Mayall) - 4:11

(side 2)

1.) The Pusher Man   (John Mayall) - 4:05

2.) One of the Few   (John Mayall) - 2:44

3.) Love Songs   (John Mayall) - 5:39

4.) Little Kitten   (John Mayall) - 2:35

5.) A Crazy Game   (John Mayall) - 4:35

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Notice To Appear

Company: ABC

Catalog: ABCD 926

Year: 1976

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: original insert

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5959

Price: $10.00

First off, 1976's "Notice To Appear" marked a major change of pace for John Mayall.  Longstanding blues purists who worshipped at the Mayall alter were probably disappointed, or even upset by the results.  On the other hand, if you were like me, and found much of his recording catalog sounding repetitive and hoping he'd eventually try something a little different, this album was a major blessing.  In no small part due to the participation of producer/songwriter Allen Toussaint, I'm firmly in the later category.  Recorded in Toussaint's New Orleans Sea-Saint Studios, the collection essentially served as a full scale Mayall-Toussaint collaboration with the latter contributing eight of the ten tracks.  Toussaint also provided keyboards and arrangements, with long time partner Marshall Sehorn remixing the LP.  Exemplified by tracks such as "Mess of Love", "Who's Next, Who's Now" and "Hale To the Man Who Lives Alone" the results were far funkier than anything Mayall had ever done.   

- 'Lil' Boogie In the Afternoon'

The partnership wasn't a perfect fit; Mayall occasionally sounded a little uncomfortable in his surroundings, but for the most part the collaboration achieved a nice groove.  The end result is one of the three Mayall LPs I play on a regular basis.

"Notice To Appear" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Lil' Boogie In the Afternoon   (Allen Toussaint) - 2:44

2.) Mess of Love   (Allen Toussaint) - 4:35

3.) That Love   (Allen Toussaint) - 4:18

4.) The Boy Most Likely To Succeed   (Allen Toussaint) - 3:58

5.) Who's Next, Who's Now   (Allen Toussaint) - 4:16

(side 2)

1.) Hale To the Man Who Lives Alone   (Allen Toussaint) - 4:19

2.) There Will Be a Way   (John Mayall) - 4:27

3.) Just Knowing You Is a Pleasure   (Allen Toussaint) - 3:58

4.) A Hard Days Night   (JohnLennon - Paul McCartney) - 3:45

5.) Old Time Blues   (John Mayall) - 3:49

Genre: blues-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Last of the British Blues

Company: ABC

Catalog: AA-1086

Year: 1978

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $7.00

Recorded at dates in Baltimore, Cincinnati and New York, 1978's "The Last of the British Blues" also stood as Mayall's 6th and final release for ABC.  If you're anything like us, then you approached this LP with a certain amount of ambiguity - 'not another Mayall live set' ...  Luckily, this time around he's surrounded by a rock oriented band (drummer Soko Richardson, guitarist James Quill Smith and bassist Steve Thompson).  Musically the set offers up a nice mix of blues classics (Moses Allison's "Parchman Farm" and Freddy King's "Hideaway") and select Mayall pseudo-classics ("The Bear").  Perhaps the biggest surprise stems from the fact Mayall steps back and lets guitarist Smith handle lead vocals on his self-penned "There's Only Now" and "".  A nice surprise !!!

"The Last of the British Blues" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Tucson Lady   (John Mayall) - 4:02

2.) Parchman Farm   (Moses Allison) - 3:57

3.) There's Only Now   (J.Q. Smith) - 4:00

4.) The Teaser   (John Mayall) - 4:09

5.) Hideaway   (Freddy King) - 2:57

(side 2)

1.) The Bear  (John Mayall) - 4:13

2.) Lonely Birthday  (John Mayall) - 3:50

3.) Lowdown Blues  (John Mayall) - 4:26

4.) Another Man  (John Mayall) - 2:15

5.) It Must be There  (John Mayall) - 4:16