John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers "A Hard Road" 1967

John Mayall: British bluesman on turning 88! Mick Jagger turned 78 in July. Keith Richards will follow in December. But John Mayall has both these whippersnappers beat.

Eric Clapton is usually thought of as John Mayall's most important right-hand man, but the case could also be made for his successor, Peter Green. The future Fleetwood Mac founder leaves a strong stamp on his only album with the Bluesbreakers, singing a few tracks and writing a couple, including the devastating instrumental "Supernatural." Green's use of thick sustain on this track clearly pointed the way to his use of guitar riffs with elongated, slithery tones on Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" and "Black Magic Woman," as well as anticipating some aspects of Carlos Santana's style. Mayall acquits himself fairly well on this mostly original set (with occasional guest horns), though some of the material is fairly mundane. Highlights include the uncharacteristically rambunctious "Leaping Christine" and the cover of Freddie King's "Someday After a While (You'll Be Sorry)." - Review by Richie Unterberger

Personnel:
John Mayall – vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, organ / Peter Green – guitar, vocals / John McVie – bass / Hughie Flint, Aynsley Dunbar – drums / John Almond, Alan Skidmore – saxophones / Ray Warleigh – wind instruments
Produced by Mike Vernon

trax:

01 A Hard Road 02 It's Over 03 You Don't Love Me 04 The Stumble 05 Another Kind of Love 06 Hit the Highway 07 Leaping Christine 08 Dust My Blues 09 There's Always Work 10 The Same Way 11 The Super-Natural 12 Top of the Hill 13 Someday After A While (You'll Be Sorry) 14 Living Alone