Along for the Ride [Bonus Track]

Performer: John Mayall
Artist: Wendy Moten; Steve Cropper; Mick Taylor; Mick Fleetwood; Billy Preston; Chris Rea; Otis Rush; Steve Miller
Producer: David Z
Distributor: Select-O-Hits

Notes: Personnel includes: John Mayall (vocals, slide guitar, harmonica, Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet, Hammond B-3 organ); Jeff Healey, Shannon Curfman (vocals, guitar); Billy Preston (vocals, melodica, Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet); Otis Rush, Chris Rea (vocals); Andy Fairweather Low (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Peter Green, Buddy Whittington, Davy Green (acoustic guitar); Steve Cropper, Billy F. Gibbons, David Z, Steve Miller, Gary Moore, Joe Delgado (guitar); Tom Canning (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Reese Wynans (Hammond B-3 organ); David Smith, John McVie, Bob Delgado, Greg Rzab (bass); Joe Yuele, Mike Fleetwood (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Wendy Moten, Crystal Taliefero (background vocals). Engineers include: David Z, Bill Cooper, Chad Brown. This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel includes: John Mayall (vocals, slide guitar, harmonica, Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet, Hammond B-3 organ); Jeff Healey, Shannon Curfman (vocals, guitar); Billy Preston (vocals, melodica, Wurlitzer piano, Clavinet); Otis Rush, Chris Rea (vocals); Andy Fairweather Low (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Peter Green, Buddy Whittington, Davy Green (acoustic guitar); Steve Cropper, Billy F. Gibbons, David Z, Steve Miller, Gary Moore, Joe Delgado (guitar); Tom Canning (Wurlitzer piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Reese Wynans (Hammond B-3 organ); David Smith, John McVie, Bob Delgado, Greg Rzab (bass); Joe Yuele, Mike Fleetwood (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Wendy Moten, Crystal Taliefero (background vocals). Engineers include: David Z, Bill Cooper, Chad Brown. This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: John Mayall (vocals, slide guitar, harmonica, piano, Clavinet, Wurlitzer organ); Jeff Healey, Shannon Curfman (vocals, guitar); Andy Fairweather Low (vocals, acoustic guitar); Billy Preston (vocals, melodica, Clavinet, Wurlitzer organ); Chris Rea, Crystal Taliefero, Otis Rush, Wendy Moten (vocals); Buddy Whittington (guitar, acoustic guitar); Joe Delgado, John Lang, Mick Taylor , Steve Miller , Billy Gibbons, Gary Moore (guitar); Davy Graham (acoustic guitar); Peter Green (slide guitar); David Z. (wah-wah guitar); Dick Heckstall-Smith (alto saxophone); Red Holloway (tenor saxophone); Tom Canning (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Bob Delgado, David Smith , John McVie, Greg Rzab (bass guitar); Mick Fleetwood, Joe Yuele (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion). Audio Mixer: David Z. . Audio Remasterer: Steve Hoffman. Liner Note Authors: Arnie Goodman; John Mayall. Photographers: Ross Halfin; John Mayall. John Mayall helped popularize the blues with '60s rock audiences via his pioneering albums, which brought a rock-oriented energy to the blues without any trace of pandering. Impressive as those early recordings were, few would have predicted that Mayall would still be doggedly pursuing his own personal blues-rock vision three-and-a-half decades later. Mayall is accompanying by a stellar roster of guests on ALONG FOR THE RIDE, but title notwithstanding, he remains fully at the helm throughout. Some of those who contribute their talents are younger artists who've probably learned a few lessons from Mayall (Jonny Lang, Jeff Healey), but others are respected peers who helped usher in a new wave of blues in the '60s, such as cult heroes Peter Green and Davy Graham. The sound they create is a hard-hitting take on the blues, often enlivened by rock inflections. But no matter how many other artists get the spotlight on ALONG FOR THE RIDE, it's Mayall's personal style that gives the album its shape. John Mayall helped popularize the blues with '60s rock audiences via his pioneering albums, which brought a rock-oriented energy to the blues without any trace of pandering. Impressive as those early recordings were, few would have predicted that Mayall would still be doggedly pursuing his own personal blues-rock vision three-and-a-half decades later. Mayall is accompanying by a stellar roster of guests on ALONG FOR THE RIDE, but title notwithstanding, he remains fully at the helm throughout. Some of those who contribute their talents are younger artists who've probably learned a few lessons from Mayall (Jonny Lang, Jeff Healey), but others are respected peers who helped usher in a new wave of blues in the '60s, such as cult heroes Peter Green and Davy Graham. The sound they create is a hard-hitting take on the blues, often enlivened by rock inflections. But no matter how many other artists get the spotlight on ALONG FOR THE RIDE, it's Mayall's personal style that gives the album its shape. By the time this was released in 2001, John Mayall was more well-known for the people who played in his seminal British band, the Bluesbreakers, than for his own accomplishments. The success of 1999's Padlock on the Blues afforded Mayall the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and gather an all-star lineup of blues and rock luminaries. "A World of Hurt" and "That's Why I Love You So" both typify the good, but not great groove that permeates Along for the Ride. Better tracks "Yo Yo Man" and "Early in the Morning" are easygoing blues that feature the great rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fellow Fleetwood Mac and Bluesbreaker alum, the reclusive Peter Green, plays acoustic slide guitar on "Yo Yo Man." "So Many Roads" has Mayall dueting with Otis Rush, and it soon becomes a contest of who sounds more disgruntled. The playful "Testify" features vocals and subtle guitar lines from blues phenom Shannon Curfman. This ends on the strong note. The powerful and wry "She Don't Play by the Rules" has Mayall with, arguably, the strongest and most subtle band, with Mick Taylor on lead guitar and Andy Fairweather-Low on acoustic guitar. Along for the Ride is produced, engineered, and mixed by David Z. Despite the camaraderie, a lot of the hooks here don't stick, and fans of Mayall and superstar sessions will get the most from this effort. ~ Jason Elias

Q (8/01, p.135) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Behind every quaver lays a famous name....Mayall's contributions remain worthy of the company he keeps..." Q (8/01, p.135) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Behind every quaver lays a famous name....Mayall's contributions remain worthy of the company he keeps..." JazzTimes (6/01, p.107) - "...With an all-star cast...Mayall's spirit hasn't waned..." JazzTimes (6/01, p.107) - "...With an all-star cast...Mayall's spirit hasn't waned..." Dirty Linen (8-9/01, p.87) - "...Mayall is still Mr. Blues..." Dirty Linen (8-9/01, p.87) - "...Mayall is still Mr. Blues..."

Like most British blues fanatics in the early '60s, John Mayall took his cues primarily from the stars of Chicago's electric blues scene. Both with the Bluesbreakers and later on his own, Mayall played a large role in introducing white audiences to electric blues. He was a leader in the emerging blues-rock movement, and his bands were an early proving ground for a number of future stars--Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce of Cream, Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, and Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.

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