Search - John Mayall & Bluesbreakers :: 70th Birthday Concert

RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY, YOU MUST HAV

Rick Shaq Goldstein | Danville, Ca, USA | 01/26/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"John Mayall's salad days back in the sixties were before my blues days. As the years went on, I had heard his name, but never associated him with any specific music. When I picked this up about 2 years ago, I was impressed historically, with the information he gave me in my quest for full understanding of the blues. For an electric blues fanatic, like myself, the short comments, John would make at the beginning of some of the songs, added to my knowledge of the early days of electric blues in Europe, and the impact of some of my idols like "Albert King", who John discussed in complimentary tones. John's voice at 70 was not blessed like the rocket fueled 70 year old voice of my man "Buddy Guy", but it's still pretty impressive for a man of that age. This is a 2 CD set so you get your money's worth. The way I break down my reason for a rating of 4 is thus: The music quality itself is 3 stars, the historical info adds ½ a star, and the fact that he's 70 years old, adds another ½ star, for a total of 4 stars."

John Shines Brightest In Years!

H. Brown | Omaha, Nebraska United States | 01/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have two other of John Mayall's DVDs and this is by far the best. I was able to see him in concert in Mesa Arizona in 1997 and he cordially signed my ticket and the CD liner that he was pushing. His performance that day and on the other DVDs were JUST A BIT lackluster. I was slow to buy this DVD for that reason, but I recently watched the show with my brother over the past holidays.



I suppose the earlier DVDs and the live performance, was due to the fact that John is indeed, "the Grandfather of the British Blues". On this DVD he shows more spirit and "musical emotion", I believe, because he knew what a milestone occasion that this show truly was for his career.



As a man reaching well into his "golden years", I felt as though he was leaving this recorded live show for posterity. I was disappointed that Jimmy Page nor Jeff Beck couldn't find a way to show John homage, to be a part of celebrating his birthday. After all, without John Mayall, how many of the great artists would never have been known to the world, from The Yardbirds to the many Bluesbreakers bands? You think perhaps I'm wrong, they all would have been a success? Here is a list of all of the Bluesbreakers and Yardbirds, that have all at one point, been with John:



Eric Clapton

Jack Bruce

Jeff Beck

Jimmy Page

Peter Green

John McVie

Mick Fleetwood

Hughie Flint

Mick Taylor

Colin Allen

Don Harris

Harvey Mandel

Larry Taylor

Aynsley Dunbar

Dick Heckstall-Smith

Andy Fraser

Johnny Almond

Jon Mark

Kal David

Walter Trout

Coco Montoya

Soko Richardson

Keef Hartley

Keith Relf

Paul Samwell-Smith

Top Topham

Rod Demick

Ray Majors

Laurie Garman

Alan Glen

Gypie Mayo

Jerry Donahue



I dare say SOME of these GREAT artists would have never made it big, (not due to any lack of talent, but worldwide exposure) without backing John Mayall!



A one word description of the 70th Birthday Concert: MONUMENTAL!"

Useful Companion To DVD

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 02/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Until recently, I wasn't aware that the John Mayall 70th Birthday Concert CD contained more music than even the collector's edition of the DVD. When I noticed that it did, I bought it immediately. OK, well this features only two more songs than the DVD/CD collector's edition and those are performed by the Bluesbreakers sans Mayall. But this CD set is nevertheless a useful and inexpensive companion to the DVD set for those Mayall fans who don't have 24/7/365 access to a DVD player.

John Mayall has given us much music over the years and I own copies of about 90 percent of his recordings, but this has become my go-to CD whenever I'm in need of a quick Mayall fix. The songs span his career and the musicians featured are some of the finest alumni from the early years of the umpteen incarnations of the Bluesbreakers. No Peter Green and John McVie unfortunately, but you do get Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber.

Though I like the entire CD, the standouts are: Dirty Water, Somebody's Acting Like A Child, Blues For The Lost Days, Oh Pretty Woman, Hideaway, Have You Heard, and California. You get just over two and a half hours of great music and for the price that is a real bargain.

If you own and enjoy the DVD but don't yet own this CD set, I recommend you pick it up. You never know when the Mayall jones is going to strike."