When Eric Clapton and three future members of Fleetwood Mac pass through your ranks, that's ample reason to be proud of what you've created. Since first hearing his guitar playing, harmonica stylings, and vocals, Mayall has been one of my favorite blues artists. I was sorry to learn of his recent passing and take heart in knowing that he left the world with a lot of quality music, such as these gems:
- Driving Till The Break Of Day (The blues intersect with jazz here, thanks to a successful blend of guitar and horns. There's a bit of a "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" vibe here that I like.)
- The Laws Must Change (This is a level-headed approach for a progressive fixer-upper to take.)
- Play The Harp (This is my favorite Mayall tune; try getting this riff out of your mind once you hear it. How could a track with this guitar hook not get one's attention?)
- Red Sky (The opening harmonica riff sets the stage perfectly for the lyrics that follow. Lyrically, this is an interesting way to say, "I'll put up with a lot, with there are still lines you shouldn't cross.")
- Room To Move (A great, brisk harmonica line.)
- Sunshine (An unfortunately overlooked track in Mayall's canon; I liked the way it ended an edition of KCOU's "Blues 101" that I hosted on a fast flourish.)
- The Supernatural (Peter Green's blistering guitar technique and craftsmanship are on full display here.)
