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section of Tony Grady (bass) and Ardie Dean (drums) digging in. The final cut (the only one
not written by Leonard) the traditional ‘You Gotta Move’ is gospel with Leonard channelling
his days singing in gospel choirs. This is a fairly low-key album but I did like it, Leonard’s
sound reminds me of The Holmes Brothers, laid back with a nice relaxed groove and Leonard’s
soulful voice with a lifetime’s experience out front, I’d go for ‘Find a Bridge’ as my favourite
track.
Graham Harrison
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers—Live In 1967 Vol. 3—Forty
Below ASIN :B0C4H3XRJG
This is the third volume of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers ‘Live in
London in 1967’, performances captured on a domestic reel-to-
reel tape recorder by Tom Huissen at various London venues
(Klooks Kleek, Ram Jam Club, Manor House etc.). So despite lots
of work by label owner Eric Corne on the tapes they were never
going to be hi-fi quality but they do capture John’s Bluesbreak-
ers playing live with Peter Green’s amazing lead guitar and also
the future rhythm section of Fleetwood Mac - John McVie (bass)
and Mick Fleetwood (drums). We get extended 7-minute ver-
sions of recorded songs like John’s ‘Tears in My Eyes’, Otis Rush’s ‘Double Trouble’ and the
instrumental ‘Greeny’ (which John paid for Peter to record as a birthday present!) as well as a
5-minute version of Freddie King’s ‘The Stumble’—all with Peter’s fluid great-sounding guitar
up front. John is featured on ‘Brand New Start’ (harp and organ) and Sonny Boy Williamson’s
‘Your Funeral and My Trial’ (harp), although his organ and the rhythm section also support
Peter wonderfully throughout. You can certainly hear on these tracks how Peter got the idea
to form Fleetwood Mac with himself as the frontman.
Graham Harrison
Mitch Woods—Friends Along the Way—Mitchell Woods
ASIN : B0C9JP5V83
This album was originally released several years ago but not
promoted by the record company and so pianist Mitch Woods
has now acquired the masters and released the record himself,
with five extra tracks. Mitch is joined by some great guests
including John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal, Van Morrison, Elvin Bish-
op and Maria Muldaur. We start with a couple of tracks with
Mitch plus Taj Mahal and Van Morrison, first on the trad. blues
‘CC Rider’ and Leadbelly’s ‘Take This Hammer’ and later the
same combination give us Leroy Carr’s ‘Midnight Hour Blues’.
Both men are in great voice on these essentially acoustic blues with Taj on resonator guitar
and Mitch tinkling away in the background – great performances! Elvin Bishop adds his vocals
and electric guitar to ‘Keep a Dollar in Your Pocket’ and Jimmy Liggins’ ‘Saturday Night Boogie
Woogie Man’, while Ruthie Foster sings her own song ‘Singing the Blues’ with just her acoustic
guitar and Mitch’s piano.
Blues veterans John Hammond and Charlie Musselwhite also join Mitch, with Mitch supplying
the piano and vocals as Charlie plays fabulous harp on the slow blues ‘Cryin’ For My Baby’ and
sings himself on 'Blues Gave Me A Ride'. Maria Muldaur does Bessie Smith’s ‘Empty Bed Blues’