Some Words from the Bird

 Wow! I'm back at the keyboard a day after posting about the Mamas and the Papas. This is a trend that I hope continues. Today's offering is a breath of fresh air. Mr. Mayall and company recorded some blues standards and a couple of original tracks on what is apparently considered one of the seminal recordings of British Blues. Allegedly, this was a game changer, Eric Clapton's combination of a Les Paul and a Marshall amp became the standard for blues rock and its subsequent offshoots. Also on the recording is John McVie of Fleetwood Mac fame. While his cohorts went on to mainstream superstardom, or god status in Clapton's case, Mayall remained true to his craft and slogged it out as a bluesman. At any rate this stuff is fantastic, full on straight ahead power blues.  You drop the needle (or press play) on the first track, "All Your Love" and are instantly rewarded. My first thought is that it sounds like Cream, for obvious reasons, but without the manic dru...

 I had almost forgotten that I had a blog. It has been ages since I last posted, due to some computer problems. This is inexcusable. I must continue to post regularly, or the task will not get completed. And my legion of readers will tire of waiting for more, and seek their entertainment elsewhere. I apologize to you all.  Having had almost two years to listen to this album to gather my thoughts for this post, I have to say that my initial reaction was very positive. The album starts with "Monday Monday" and showcases the vocals and harmonies that the group is famous for. The music is played by members of the Wrecking Crew with the ubiquitous Hal Blaine on the drums. This tune is a classic and I'd say we are off to a good start.  On the surface, the next track, "Straight Shooter" appears to be a love song, but has allusions to someone tracking down some drugs, possibly heroin. It is the first appearance of a somewhat smug vibe that I picked up on the more I ...