John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - In the Palace of the King

John Mayall

What can I say this another great work from one of the great blues men. It is a must buy if you truely love the blues. May 4, 2008

Pitiful

Don't misunderstand me... I own 46 John Mayall CD's and albums and I like his music very much. Many of his recordings are stepping stones in the evolution of the blues/rock/jazz fusion.

Unfortunately, this album is not the case. After listening (just once - can't take anymore) I honestly think that this is nothing but a pitiful effort of an aging artist to make more money towards the sunset of his career...Too bad JM did not choose to issue some re-mastered/re-mixed, etc., compilations of his fantastic old material...I traded "In The Palace of the King" for Gloria Estefan's 1990 "Exitos" CD (a $1.50 value)...!!! September 28, 2007

Looking backward

I appreciate Patrick Skog's review and, especially, the list in his "comments," which is a really good one for what is basically a "notes" section.

As far as John Mayall's blues go, I have to admit that I don't like 'em. His taste in and knowledge of blues don't translate into his own performances, in my opinion, on this or any other of his albums.

I don't care for Mayall's singing (very thin), songwriting, cover versions, and, particularly, rhythm sections. Even when he has a great rhythm section, like John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, he constrains them, tightening them up and taking the air out of them.

Listen to the expanded version of 'A Hard Road,' for example, and compare the songs on which Mayall is the leader to the songs on which Peter Green is the leader, such as "The Super Natural," "The Stumble," "Out of Reach," "Curly," "Greeny," and "Alabama Blues." The difference is monumental. Suddenly, the music breathes and has a life of its own.

Mayall's strengths, I think, have been his choice in guitarists and his inspiring love and knowledge of the blues. I'm sure he gave Clapton, Green, Taylor, (Jon) Mark, and others great stuff to listen to. And it's mostly those guitarists that have left Mayall's historical mark.

For now I'll just focus on recordings by Peter Green (with Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, Eddie Boyd, Otis Spann, Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, and solo). I prefer Green's versions of "Preachin' Blues" (Robert Johnson), "Alabama Blues" (J.B. Lenoir), "You Need Love" (Muddy Waters), "Worried Dream" (B.B. King), "The Stumble" (Freddy King), "Don't Know Which Way to Go" (Buddy Guy), and "Need Your Love So Bad" (Little Willie John) to the originals.

If that's not saying a lot, I don't know what is.

He's got songs of his own that, in my opinion, are as good: "First Train Home," "Drifting," "A Fool No More," "Rambling Pony," "Love That Burns," "Stop Messin' Round," "Leaving Town Blues," "World Keep On Turning," "Black Magic Woman," "Oh Well," and "Last Train to San Antone," for example. And there are more!

Such as "The Super Natural," from 'A Hard Road.' It's not coincidentally the title of the blockbuster by Santana, who made "Black Magic Woman" his own. "The Super Natural" is Green's calling card, his first definitive recording as a blues master. And it's a most remarkable composition, being basically one note--"pure and easy," as Pete Townshend once wrote.

Still, one has to start somewhere, and Peter Green got the best start possible when John Mayall gave him the lead guitar position in The Bluesbreakers. August 29, 2007

Stuck in a time warp...

This CD is reminiscent of the John Mayall recordings from the 60's and 70's...in fact it sounds like the same recordings remixed. The best song on here is Big Legged Woman, and it is only OK with further listenings. The rest sounds like it is 40 years old, and not in a good way. July 25, 2007

Freddie must be very proud.

The Texas Cannonball has been gone for 30 years. With John Mayall's latest release, the double fisted Blues frieght train that was Freddie King is back on track. Bravo John. July 16, 2007

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