Originally released in 1981, this album was reissued in 2022 on vinyl by Cleopatra, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to hear it. When it comes to British blues there are few who have the reputation of this man, yet as well as being behind one of the most important blues albums of all time, he has continued to keep producing wonderful music even if the industry were not as interested as they were in the Sixties. When it was originally released, this was his third album for DJM Records, and seems to have suffered throughout its life as it has been reissued under multiple names by different labels, and it certainly deserves more than that as it is a fine example of a bluesman who lives and breathes the genre.
His band at the time included guitarist/singer James Quill Smith, bassist Kevin McCormick, drummer Soko Richardson, and singer Maggie Parker, and they have the energy which only comes from playing together on stage. Two of the songs are from live performances, and they fit in well with the rest of the set which sounds as if it was recorded live in the studio with overdubs then being applied afterwards. He may be 90 this year, but he is showing no sign whatsoever of slowing down and is still releasing music which is blues through and through. I have lost count of how many albums I have by Mayall, yet had not previously come across this one so I am pleased Cleopatra have made it available again. The harmonica is sweet, the guitars are vital, and the blues is alive and well in his hands.
Rating: 8/10
