Dreaming About The Blues - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Advantages: Another vital step on the ladder of Fleetwood Mac history
Disadvantages: First album recorded after the departure of Peter Green, that could be good or bad

...In amongst the fog filled hazes of the memorable departure of future blues legend, Peter Green, a weary, long haired, messy looking band wondered along what road the next era of Fleetwood Mac would take them. Since the infancy of FM had been a disillusionment of lost days due to too much booze, it was any wonder how one of the greatest world wide rock bands ever got off the ground. Since all the original members of the band had once been members of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers who had either left or been fired, what was left standing were the off cuts of a rapidly growing Blues scene in the bohemian underworld of late Sixties British youth culture. After sharing old camper vans with the smells and skills of such gangling musicians as Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Rod Stewart, the unique phenomena must have somehow rubbed off... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

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

...14. Stop Messin' Round (Take 5) - 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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful