Bluesbreakers / John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers / John Mayall - Hard Road CD

Hard Road album for sale A surprise best-seller when it was first released, this mostly improvised pairing of singer/keyboardist/producer Al Kooper with two major guitar heroes of the day sounds fascinating all these years later precisely because of the distance of time--nobody makes records like this any more. The material runs the gamut from folk pop (covers of Donovan and Dylan), to blues ("Albert's Shuffle," "You Don't Love Me"), to heady jams ("His Holy Modal Majesty"), to big-band jazz ("Harvey's Tune"). All the tunes make effective templates for the kind off-the-cuff music-making that in less capable hands might have resulted in simple noodling. In fact, although Bloomfield and Stills don't play together on any of the cuts (Bloomfield played on one side of the original LP, Stills on the other), all three principals get off lots of good licks and producer Kooper has some interesting tricks up his sleeve, as in the over-the-top phasing he lavishes on "You Don't Love Me." The only real disappointment here is that Stills, a far better singer than Kooper, never opens his mouth. Those familiar with the Live Adventures album these two recorded at the Fillmore West know how brilliant they could be on stage, and here's another gem, recorded at the Fillmore East this time and featuring 'One Way Out,' 'It's My Own Fault' (with Bloomfield trading licks with Johnny Winter...Johnny was signed to Columbia after this gig!). Newly remastered & now with 4 bonus tracks, 'Albert's Shuffle' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Season of the Witch.' (2002 Remix w/o Horns), 'Blues For Nothing' (Studio Outtake) & 'Fat Grey Cloud' Previously Unreleased Live Track). Features 12-page booklet with unpublished photos from the recording session, new liner notes by Al Kooper & the Rolling Stone Hall Of Fame review by David Fricke. 60 scintillating minutes! 13 tracks. Colunbia/Legacy. 2003. Includes liner notes by Al Kooper, Michael Thomas. Includes liner notes by Michael Thomas. Full performer name: Mike Bloomfield/Al Kooper/Steve Stills. Personnel: Mike Bloomfield (electric guitar); Al Kooper (vocals, 12-string & electric guitars, piano, organ, ondioline); Steve Stills (electric guitar); Barry Goldberg (electric piano); Harvey Brooks (bass); Eddie Hoh (drums). Personnel: Mike Bloomfield (electric guitar); Al Kooper (piano, organ, ondioline, vocals, 12-string & electric guitars); Steve Stills (electric guitar); Barry Goldberg (electric piano); Harvey Brooks (bass); Eddie Hoh (drums). Reissue producer: Bob Irwin.

Hard Road songs In the course of putting together the live Led Zeppelin DVD for 2003 release, Jimmy Page came across some great concert recordings from the band's 1972 stint in California. HOW THE WEST WAS WON is three discs' worth of vintage Zep, far superior to the band's only other live album THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. Here is the fearsome foursome in all their glory and fury, coming off like crazed rock & roll Vikings on the opening "Immigrant Song," reinventing the blues form on "Heartbreaker," and just plain rocking the doors off the joint on "Rock and Roll" and "Black Dog." This being 1972, the band had made its journey into the folk-rock realm as well, and come out with the touching "Going to California" and "That's the Way," the earthy "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp," and the minstrel-in-the-hills fancy of "Over the Hills and Far Away," all of which are given strong voice here. A 25-minute "Dazed and Confused" and epic-length drum solo on the John Bonham feature "Moby Dick" show that Zep was unafraid to venture into anything they damn well pleased, but the bluesy grit and primal hard-rock crunch of their feel throughout this collection reveals the pure visceral magic of which these '70s icons were capable. Recorded at Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles, California and Long Beach Area, Long Beach, California on June 25 & 27, 1972. Personnel: Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica); Jimmy Page (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Paul Jones (mandolin, keyboards, bass guitar); John Bonham (drums, percussion). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley. Recording information: LA Forum (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Long Beach Arena (06/25/1972/06/27/1972); Sarm West Studios, London, England (06/25/1972/06/27/1972). Photographers: Jeffrey Mayer; James Fortune; Michael Putland; Jim Cummins. Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant (vocals); Jimmy Page (guitar); John Paul Jones (keyboards, bass); John Bonham (drums).

Hard Road CD music Recorded live at the Atlanta Internation Pop Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, July 3 & 4, 1970. Includes liner notes by Kirk West. The 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival was one of the first big rock festivals of the decade, beating out the Isle of Wight by over a month. It was also home turf for the Allman Brothers, who were invited to play the opening and closing sets of the three-day event. In retrospect, it's interesting to note how--despite their penchant for extended jams--the Allmans were somewhat at odds with the flower-child ethic of the day; after the MC delivers a classic hippie/stoner intro, the tough, raw opening strains of "Statesboro Blues" come off as delightfully incongruous. Nevertheless, the band's improvisational blues-rock majesty made them a crowd-pleaser. It's easy to see why; the level of energy (and musicianship) here equals, if not surpasses their legendary live Fillmore East recordings from the following year, which showcase much of the same material. Dickey Betts and Duane Allman's guitars play ably against Greg Allman's thick organ voicings and the percolating polyrhythms of drummers Butch Trucks and J. Johnny Johnson. Between-song announcements of a rain delay and the opening of the gates to non-paying fans reinforce the Woodstock-era vibe, making this two-disc set effective as both a musical and historical document. Personnel: Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards); Berry Oakley (vocals, bass guitar); Duane Allman (guitar, slide guitar); Dickey Betts, Johnny Winter (guitar); Thom Doucette (harmonica); Butch Trucks (drums, timpani). Audio Mixer: Thom Cadley. Recording information: Atlanta International Pop Festival (07/03/1970-07/05/1970). Photographers: Carter Tomassi; Twiggs Lyndon; Joe Sia. Allman Brothers Band: Gregg Allman (vocals, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Berry Oakley (vocals, bass); Duane Allman, Dickie Betts (guitar); Thom Doucette (harmonica); Butch Trucks, J. Johnny Johnson (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Johnny Winter (guitar).

Hard Road buy CD music John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers: John Mayall (vocals, piano, organ, harmonica); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); John McVie (bass); Hughie Flint (drums). Includes original release liner notes by Neil Slaven & reissue liner notes by Paul Trynka. 1966's BLUESBREAKERS WITH ERIC CLAPTON is full of portent, as some of its participants would become superstars after its release. Future Cream guitarist Eric Clapton was highly rated enough in the UK blues-rock scene to score second billing, but it wasn't until this recording that he'd had the opportunity to truly stretch out in the studio and show off his awesome soloing skills. Clapton's earlier stint in the Yardbirds had found his ideas largely shouted down by pop-oriented producer/manager Giorgio Gomelsky, but here kindred spirit/producer Mike Vernon simply let Clapton play as he wished. The sympathetic rhythm section of Hughie Flint and future Fleetwood Mac founder John McVie, along with Mayall's best-ever vocals and organ, make BLUESBREAKERS WITH ERIC CLAPTON one of the all-time great British blues albums. Additional Tracks Full performer name: John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. Personnel: John Mayall (vocals, harmonica, piano, organ); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone); John Almond (baritone saxophone); Dennis Healey (trumpet); Hughie Flint (drums). Photographer: David Wedgbury. Arranger: John Mayall. Additional personnel: Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone); John Almond (baritone saxophone); Dennis Healey (trumpet).

Hard Road songs Track Listing of songs: DISC 1: Flying; On the Beach; Too Bad; If I'm Late on the Side; Debris; Jealous Guy; Evil; As Long as You Tell Him; Maggie May; Cindy Incidentally; Maybe I'm Amazed; Insurance; I Came Looking for You; Last Orders Please; Wyndlesham Bay (Jodie); I Can Feel the Fire; Tonight's Number; Come See My Baby (The Cheater); DISC 2: Pool Hall Richard; You're My Girl (I Don't Want to Discuss It); Glad and Sorry; Shake, Shudder, Shiver; Miss Judy's Farm; Richmond; That's All You Need; Rear Wheel Skid; Maybe I'm Amazed; ; Take a Look at the Guy; Flags and Banners; Bad 'N' Ruin; Around the Plynth; Sweet Lady Mary; Had Me a Real Good Time; Cut Across Shorty; DISC 3: You're So Rude; (I Know) I'm Losing You; Love Lives Here; I'd Rather Go Blind; Hi-Heel Sneakers/Everybody Needs Somebody to Love; Gettin' Hungry; Silicone Grown; Oh Lord I'm Browned Off; Just Another Hunky; Open to Ideas; Skewiff; Too Bad; Rock Me; Angel; Stay With Me; Ooh la La; DISC 4: Stealer, The; Around the Plynth/Gasoline Alley; You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything; I Wish It Would Rain; Miss Judy's Farm; Love in Vain; My Fault; I Feel So Good; Miss Judy's Farm; Three Button Hand Me Down; Cindy Incidentally; Borstal Boys; Flying; Bad 'N' Ruin; Dishevelment Blues; Stay With Me;

Hard Road album for sale John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers: John Mayall (vocals, piano, organ, harmonica); Eric Clapton (vocals, guitar); John McVie (bass); Hughie Flint (drums). Includes original release liner notes by Neil Slaven & reissue liner notes by Paul Trynka. 1966's BLUESBREAKERS WITH ERIC CLAPTON is full of portent, as some of its participants would become superstars after its release. Future Cream guitarist Eric Clapton was highly rated enough in the UK blues-rock scene to score second billing, but it wasn't until this recording that he'd had the opportunity to truly stretch out in the studio and show off his awesome soloing skills. Clapton's earlier stint in the Yardbirds had found his ideas largely shouted down by pop-oriented producer/manager Giorgio Gomelsky, but here kindred spirit/producer Mike Vernon simply let Clapton play as he wished. The sympathetic rhythm section of Hughie Flint and future Fleetwood Mac founder John McVie, along with Mayall's best-ever vocals and organ, make BLUESBREAKERS WITH ERIC CLAPTON one of the all-time great British blues albums. 2006 digitally remastered and expanded two CD deluxe version of this absolutely classic 1966 album by Mayall and his Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton. Disc One features the original album's 12 in mono and in stereo for a total of 24 tracks. Disc Two features an additional 19 tracks including studio takes, BBC sessions, live versions and much more. This stunning package confirms that this is the absolute best British Blues album ever recorded! 43 tracks total. Universal. Full performer name: John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. Additional personnel: Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone); John Almond (baritone saxophone); Dennis Healey (trumpet).