2019 – Forty Below
Records
Release Date : Feb. 22,
2019
By Phillip Smith;
Feb. 2, 2019
The highly revered Godfather of British Blues, John
Mayall is back, and this time he’s bringing a slew of A-list guitarists to
the studio with him. The list of guests on
this album is comprised of Todd Rundgren, Little Steven Van Zandt
(E Street Band), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Joe Bonamassa,
Larry McCray and Carolyn Wonderland, all of whom are noted as personal
favorites of Mayall. Returning to
the studio with the godfather is Greg Rzab on bass guitar and Jay
Davenport on drums. Billy Watts
appears on rhythm guitar as well, along with Mayall’s horn section (who
are also members of the house band for Conan O’Brian). Produced by Eric Corne (founder of Forty
Below Records), and recorded in the famed Foo Fighters’ Studio
606, which houses the legendary Sound
City console, the album has a sweet rich sound, and a luxurious, polished ambience.
The album opens with a down-home blues number by Magic
Sam, “What Have I Done Wrong”. Mayall’s
vocals are perfect for singing the blues, and Joe Bonamassa, needless to
say, absolutely tears it up on guitar. Bonamassa
also appears on the cover of “Delta Hurricane”, the title track to Larry
McCray’s 1993 album. The groove on this is delightful, with Mayall
on keys, Bonamassa on guitar, and a stellar brass accompaniment. McCray kills it on the Albert
Collins song, “The Moon is Full”. I could listen to him play all day
long. His performance on Gary Moore’s
“The Hurt Inside” is wonderful too.
It’s a rare treat to hear Rush’s Alex Lifeson
play hard core blues. With Mayall bringing it home on harp and keys, Lifeson
pours himself into his performance on “Evil and Here to Stay” a tune from the
late, great Jeff Healey. The funky riff Rundgren opens Little
Milton’s “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” with, brings me immediately
into the song. The horn section punches
it up quite nicely while Rundgren keeps the endorphinic energy flowing
freely. Hearing Little Steven dole
out some serious blues in “It’s So Tough”, brings a giant smile to my face. It’s nothing short of an amazing listen.
I love the three tracks Carolyn Wonderland
appears on. She boldly takes on Bonamassa’s
“Distant Lonesome Train”, and plays the hell out of it. Her slide guitar is an absolute delight. She also covers a couple of Mayall-penned
songs. With the timing of B.B. King,
she instills a relaxed breath into title track “Nobody Told Me”, and puts the moxie
in “Like it Like You Do”.
Nobody
Told Me is a one of a kind record. The song choices Mayall
makes for this are fantastic, and their execution is absolutely brilliant.
---
Past PhillyCheeze reviews
for John Mayall…
John
Mayall - A Special Life :
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2014/07/john-mayall-special-life.html
John
Mayall’s Bluesbreakers - Live in 1967 :
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2015/05/john-mayalls-bluesbreakers-live-in-1967.html
John
Mayall - Find a Way to Care :
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2015/08/john-mayall-find-way-to-care.html
John
Mayall - Talk About That :
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/05/john-mayall-talk-about-that.html
