Blues Alone, The - Mayall, John

Advantages: Modern, energetic blues played with passion
Disadvantages: none

...The british blues band "The Hoax", sound authentically Texas Blues at times, ironic given the bands name. Discovered by Mike Vernon, who also produced this album, as well as working with Clapton and John Mayall, described the band as "The most exciting blues band I have seen for twenty years". Judging by the output on this recording, it's not hard to see, or hear even, why. Hailing from Devizes, Wiltshire, the band in their early twenties, take tired old blues cliches and formulas, rework them and inject an edgier, more modern sound. Inspired by the rockier end of the spectrum of blues, favoured by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Red Devils, Robin Trower and Jeff Healey, the band play with such energy, enthusiam and youthful vigour, but it never descends into a free for all. These boys are all masters of their instruments... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: Very good hard-rocking blues.
Disadvantages: The humour on some tracks may not be to your taste.

...it in context, this is the era when good, old-fashioned British blues bands were in heavy demand - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Eric Clapton's Cream probably being the most famous bands in this category. Tightly Knit opens with Hey Mama - one of the weaker tracks on the album. It is a jokey, and not very PC track, with the lyrics "Hey mama, you must weigh 295" - fairly standard blues-rock introduction. Then again, PC is definitely NOT what this album is about. This is followed by "Shoot Her if She Runs" which does more to set the tone of the album. It features a slightly disconcerting riff that would fit well into a soundtrack to gangster film, and is much darker and more serious in tone. This is a catchy and hummable tune - again, a song about shooting your wife is hardly PC. This group's hard riffs and uncompromising attitude reflects... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: You hear one of the best British Blues Bands
Disadvantages: None

...) - Variation on the first track 15. I Held My Baby Last Night - More slide guitar, still good stuff even now, Jeremy on vocals 16. Mystery Boogie - Slide guitar with horn backing The Musicians of Fleetwod Mac at the time of "Mr Wonderful are:- Peter Green (Greenbaum) - Lead Guitar and Vocals, Peter played in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers who also had Eric Clapton for whom he filled in for and subsequently replaced on his, Eric's departure. Jeff Beck also played for the Bluesbreakers. Jeremy Spencer - Guitar and Vocals - He played Slide guitar as his thing in the band and played many of Elmore James songs, Dust My Broom being one of them from this album. John McVie - Bass Guitar - Replaced Bob Brunning I believe, John is the only member of the original Fleetwood Mac left in the band today. John also married Christine Perfect from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful