"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL including tracks from the albums "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" (1965), "Blues Breakers" (1966), "Raw Blues", "A Hard Road" and "Crusade" (1967), "Bare Wires" and "Blues From Laurel Canyon" (1968), "The Turning Point" (1969), "Empty Rooms" and "USA Union" (1970), "Back To The Roots" (1971 2LP set) and more - featuring Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, Steve Winwood, Keef Hartley, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Freddie Robinson, Charles Owens, Blue Mitchell and more (July 2010 Universal/Decca 4CD Book Set – Paschal Byrne Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

 

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"So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" is a long overdue 4CD 75-Track Book Set for England's Blues Rock maverick JOHN MAYALL. There's a huge trawl of great stuff on here so let's get to the blues breakers and shakers right away...

UK released July 2010 - "So Many Roads: An Anthology 1964-1974" by JOHN MAYALL on Universal/Decca 532 764-2 (Barcode 600753276426) plays out as follows...

Disc 1 (78:11 minutes):

1. Crawling Up A Hill

2. Mr. James (1 and 2 are A & B-sides of a May 1964 UK 7" single on Decca F 11900)

3. When I'm Gone

4. R&B Time

5. Runaway

6. What's The Matter With You (3 to 6 from the March 1965 UK LP "John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers" on Decca LK 4680)

7. Crocodile Walk

8. Blues City Shake Down (7 and 8 are A&B-sides of an April 1965 UK 7" single on Decca F 12120)

9. I'm Your Witchdoctor

10. Telephone Blues (9 and 10 are the A&B-sides of an October 1965 UK 7" single on Immediate IM012)

11. On Top Of The World (first appeared on the December 1967 UK LP compilation "Blues Anytime Vol.2" on Immediate IMCP 105)

12. They Call It Stormy Monday (part of the 1969 UK compilation LP "Looking Back" on Decca SKL 5010)

13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (part of the 1977 "Primal Solos" UK compilation LP on London LC 50003)

14. All Your Love

15. Double Crossing Time

16. Steppin' Out

17. What'd I Say

18. Key To Love

19. Parchman Farm (14 to 19 are from the July 1966 UK LP "Blues Breakers" - John Mayall with Eric Clapton on Decca LK 4804)

20. Looking back

21. So Many Roads (20 and 21 are the A&B-sides of an October 1966 UK 7" single on Decca F 12506)

22. Long Night (from the January 1967 UK LP "Raw Blues" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1220)

23. Dust My Blues

24. The Stumble (23 and 24 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

[Notes: 1 to 11, 14 to 21 are in MONO - all others are STEREO; CD1 also has an uncredited Track 25 which is simply called "Title 25"]

Disc 2 (76:44 minutes):

1. You Don't Love Me

2. It's Over

3. The Super-Natural (1 to 3 are from the February 1967 UK LP "A Hard Road" on Decca SKL 4853)

4. Sittin' In The Rain (A-side to a January 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12545)

5. Ridin' On The L&N

6. All My Life (5 and 6 are from a January 1967 UK EP "John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Paul Butterfield" on Decca DFE 8673)

7. Double Trouble (A-side of a June 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12621)

8. Suspicions (Part One) (A-side of an October 1967 UK 7" single on Decca F 12684)

9. Oh Pretty Woman

10. Snowy Wood

11. Checkin' Up On My Baby (9 to 11 are from the September 1967 UK LP "Crusade" by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers)

12. No More Tears

13. Brand New Start (12 and 13 are from the November 1967 UK LP "The Blues Alone" on Ace Of Clubs SCL 1243)

14. Picture On The Wall (A-side of a February 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12732)

15. Look In The Mirror

16. No Reply

17. Hartley Quits (15 to 17 are from the June 1968 UK LP "Bare Wires" on Decca SKL 4945)

18. 2401 (A-side of a November 1968 UK 7" single on Decca F 12846)

19. Walking On Sunset

20. Medicine Man

21. Miss James

22. Fly Tomorrow (19 to 22 are from the November 1968 UK LP "Blues From Laurel canyon" on Decca SKL 4972)

[Notes: 4 to 8, 12 to 14 and 18 are MONO - all others are STEREO]

Disc 3 (75:38 minutes):

1. The Laws Must Change

2. California

3. Room To Move (1 to 3 are from the November 1969 UK LP "The Turning Point" on Polydor 583 571)

4. Sleeping By Her Side (recorded at the Fillmore East 12 July 1969 - Previously Unreleased)

5. Don't Waste My Time

6. Something New

7. Waiting For The Right Time

8. Counting The Days (5 to 8 are from the April 1970 UK LP "Empty Rooms" on Polydor 583 580)

9. Off The Road

10. Crying

11. Nature's Disappearing (9 to 11 are from the November 1970 UK LP "USA Union" on Polydor 2425 020)

12. Accidental Suicide

13. Prisons On The Road

14. Unanswered Questions (12 to 14 are from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

Disc 4 (77:04 minutes):

1. Television Eye (from the June 1971 UK 2LP Set "Back To The Roots" on Polydor 2657 005)

2. Memories

3. Nobody Cares (2 and 3 are from the 1971 UK album "Memories" on Polydor 2425 085)

4. Good Time Boogie

5. Got To Be This Way

6. Mess Around

7. Country Road (4 to 7 are `live' from the 1972 UK LP "Jazz Blues Fusion" on Polydor 2425 103)

8. Moving On

9. Things Go Wrong

10. High Pressure Living (8 to 10 are from the 1973 UK LP "Moving On" on Polydor 2391 047)

11. Driving `Til The Break Of Day

12. Burning Sun (11 and 12 are from the 1973 UK LP "Ten Years Are Gone" on Polydor 2683 036)

13. Little Kitten

14. Gasoline Blues (13 and 14 are from the 1974 UK LP "The Latest Edition" on Polydor 2391 141)

The attached 38-page colour booklet is a treasure of great photos (many unpublished until now), album sleeves, concert posters, trade adverts for singles on Decca and brilliant liner-notes by MARK POWELL (has contributed to major Universal box set projects and Esoteric CD reissues). All the big musician names that travelled through the Mayall catalyst camp are in here too - Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Taylor, Paul Butterfield, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Hughie Flint, Keef Hartley, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Johnny Almond, Roger Dean and a whole plethora of other luminaries too numerous to mention.

But for me the big news is the fabulous PASCHAL BYRNE remasters carried out at The Audio Archiving Company in London from original master tapes. I've got most of the important Sixties albums on great Decca remasters ("Blues Breakers", "Bare Wires" and the mighty "Blues From Laurel Canyon") - but what a blast to hear Disc 3 and 4 where it stretches into uncharted remasters - the Seventies. I love the weary piano misery of "Nobody Cares" (from 1971's "Memories") and the live slinky Blues of "Country Road" with a band that's cooking in front of an appreciative crowd (dig Clifford Soloman on Sax). And Laurel Canyon's 9-minute "Fly Tomorrow" is trippy genius - featuring superb Mick Taylor guitar work (later with The Stones) while Colin Allen gives it some California Tabla and cool vibes. It also sounds glorious. You get a little Jazz Blues on "High Pressure Living" and it ends on the funky "Gasoline Blues" bemoaning the foreign oil crisis ("I'm stuck out here in the Hollywood hills...waiting in line `til your engine croaks...").

"I'll be way up in the sky...", John Mayall sings on "Fly Tomorrow". If you want to start your journey - then I'd advise you begin your trip with him to the many varieties of The Blues right here...

"Farther On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983" by ROBIN TROWER [feat James Dewar] (2012 EMI 3CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Tasting The Charms…"

For years Procol Harum's Robin Trower seemed locked into those Hendrix comparisons - pumping out album after album of Hard Rock Riffage - simple no-nonsense guitar classics like "Bridge Of Sighs" and "For Earth Below" in 1974 and 1975. Then come the late Seventies and his inner Bernard Edwards and Chic seemed to grab him by the short and curlies and the man went for it. And I for one - loved it to bits.

I've always thought his "In The City" and "Caravan To Midnight" LPs from 1977 and 1978 (with the mighty James Dewar on vocals) to be Funky Rock meisterworks where Trower and his Flange Pedal got real familiar (it helped that the Bass player Rustee Allen used to ply his plank with Sly & The Family Stone). And that's where this 3CD set comes in. Here are the fret-flicking details...

UK released 27 Feb 2012 - "Father On Up The Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983" by ROBIN TROWER on EMI/Chrysalis 301 3862 (Barcode 5099930138629) is the mega label's second anthology for guitar virtuoso Robin Trower ("A Tale Untold" was the first) and the 3CD set breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (79:30 minutes):

1. Somebody Calling

2. Sweet Wine Of Love

3. Bluebird

4. Falling Star

5. Farther On Up The Road

6. Smile

7. Little Girl

8. Love's Gonna Bring You Round

9. In City Dreams

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "In City Dreams" released September 1977 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1148.

10. Bluebird (7" Edit) - a non-album version

11. My Love (Burning Love)

12. Caravan To Midnight

13. I'm Out To Get You

14. Lost In Love

15. Fool

16. It's For You

17. Birthday Boy

18. King Of The Dance

19. Sail On

Tracks 11 to 19 are the album "Caravan To Midnight" released August 1978 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1189.

Disc 2 (73:07 minutes):

1. Jack And Jill

2. Roads To Freedom

3. Victims Of The Fury

4. The Ring

5. Only Time

6. Into The Flame

7. The Shout

8. Mad House

9. Ready For The Taking

10. Fly Low

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "Victims Of The Fury" released January 1980 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1215.

Track 11 is "One In A Million" - the non-album B-side to the 7" single "Victims Of The Fury" released January 1980 on Chrysalis CHS 2402.

12. Into Money

13. What It Is

14. Won't Let You Down

15. No Island Lost

16. It's Too Late

17. Life On Earth

18. Once The Bird Has Flown

19. Carmen

20. Feel The Heat

21. End Game

Tracks 12 to 21 are the album "B.L.T." released February 1981 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1324. The B.L.T. refers to the Guitarist, Bass and Drummer - Robin Trower, Bill Lordan and Jack Bruce.

Disc 3 (71:26 minutes):

1. Gonna Shut You Down

2. Gone Too Far

3. Thin Ice

4. Last Train To The Stars

5. Take Good Care Of Yourself

6. Fall In Love

7. Fat Gut

8. Shadows Touching

9. Little Boy Lost

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Truce" released January 1982 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1352 (credited to Robin Trower and Jack Bruce).

10. Back It Up

11. River

12. Black To Red

13. Benny Dancer

14. Time Is Short

15. Islands

16. None But The Brave

17. Captain Midnight

18. Settling The Score

Tracks 10 to 18 are the album "Back It Up" released September 1983 in the UK and USA on Chrysalis CHR 1420 and FV 41420 respectively.

To get 6 albums and two 7" single sides thrown in for just over twelve quid is pretty amazing value for money (including a free rip to your PC or Mac). But the big deal here is the 2012 PETER MEW REMASTER. I've raved about this guy's touch at the tape before - even set a tag of his remastered issues for those interested in quality sound (there's hundreds) - and this double jewel-case set is no different. The sound is truly fantastic - full and clear without being over-hyped or amped up for the sake of it.

I've always thought "In City Dreams" to have been an overlooked funky nugget in his catalogue. Often associated with Hendrix in terms of guitar sound and technique - people are amazed at the sweetness of Trower's playing on lullabies like "Bluebird" and "Little Girl". But my bomb is the funky-rock of "Somebody's Calling" with its hooks and flange effect - I've often included in on my 70's Fest CD Shop Plays and it always brings a customer hustling to the counter wanting to know who this fantastic track is by (lyrics from it title this review).

The single "It's For You" was a purchase of mine on red vinyl back in the day when we devoured 45s for breakfast. There are so many goodies on here. A major highlight on the "Caravan To Midnight" LP is the stunning "I'm Out To Get You" where pinging guitar notes build and build until it reaches a Funk-Rock chug that keeps impressive as he adds layers of brilliant solos. It helps that the Bass Player was Rustee Allen - ex Sly & The family Stone. The spacey almost-Hawkwind-in-places title track instrumental "Caravan To Midnight" is another nugget on an overlooked album - sort of England's answer to Santana's Caravanserai only the guitar is a hundred times grungier. "Back It Up" was only issued on CD in 1999 and the other albums have been either unissued or released on long deleted titles. And apart from Bill Lordan and Jack Bruce who brought so much the table - the other unsung hero in the line-up is vocalist JAMES DEWAR (ex Stone The Crows) whose tones and lyrics brought the touch Trower needed to the songs (sadly missed).

The 12-page booklet pictures the albums and has a brief history on them by noted writer MALCOLM DOME whose name has graced many a quality reissue. In fact this entire EMI series is exemplary.

On the rocking "My Love (Burning Love)" James Dewar sings, "My love is a burning love...and its yours 'til the end of time..." Indeed it is.

I've also reviewed "Taking Some Time On..." by BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, "That's Who!..." by FRANKIE MILLER and "Think About The Time..." by TEN YEARS AFTER in this 3CD series.

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