Album review: JOHN MAYALL – Three For The Road – A 2017 Live Recording

Forty Below Records [Release date 23.02.18]

Now here’s a British blues legend of ever there was one. A noted vocalist, pianist and guitarist, John Mayall is probably best known for his band The Blues Breakers, part of the 60s blues boom who at various times featured Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Peter Green (all blues and rock’n’roll legends in their own right). Along the way he’s also worked with bassists Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser and John McVie, and drummers Mick Fleetwood, Aynsley Dunbar and Jon Hiseman – now THAT’s a CV.

So good is his brand of blues, and his keyboard playing, he’s been out on the road as a three piece, no guitar. And this live album is just a wonderful sounding slab of blues.

The three piece are tighter than a camel’s bum in a sandstorm, the sound fuller than Eric Pickles at an all-you-eat buffet, with Mayall’s harmonica adding an extra dimension. There’s some serious ivory tickling going on, especially on ‘The Sum Of Something’ and ‘Feel So Bad’, the latter much bluesier than Foghat’s more r’n’b interpretation. Mayall’s own ‘Tears Came Rollin’ Down’ gets a nine minute workout, and ‘Congo Square’ runs to over 11.

The atmosphere of both the music and the recording is marvellous, not something to just dip in and out of but to play beginning to end, and relish. If you have ever listened to artists like Nicky Moore (which I insist you do as a matter of course), you can hear elements of John Mayall’s brand of blues. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)