The Blues Alone
Encyclopedia
The Blues Alone is a 1967 Electric Blues
album recorded by John Mayall
. On this album he chose to record all the parts himself with the exception of percussion, which was provided by longtime collaborator Keef Hartley
.
The cover art and the original LP sleeve design are by John Mayall. Sleeve notes, including track notes, were written by noted DJ John Peel
. The following quote is of interest regarding the album concept.
. Marsha's Mood is a slow, deliberate and passionate piano solo constructed over a descending bass figure. No More Tears features rare examples of Mayall's solo lead guitar playing. Catch That Train is a "train" harmonica solo over accelerating rhythms provided by a recorded steam locomotive beginning a journey. Harp Man is also an instrumental, adding celesta
to the more traditional blues instruments of harmonica and bass. In the sleeve notes, John Peel commented: "There is no truth to the rumours that the Bluesbreakers will be using dulcimer
, sackbut
and psaltery
. Let's face it, guttural cries of "Let's hear your sackbut, son!" can only lead to violence." In fact the instrument had previously been used (see here) in jazz and piano boogie pieces by artists such as Meade Lux Lewis
. Brown Sugar is another slide guitar piece, not related to the famous Rolling Stones track of the same name
, although both songs use the expression to mean the same thing. The slow, tender track "Broken Wings", accompanied by organ, elicited particular praise from Peel.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
album recorded by John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
. On this album he chose to record all the parts himself with the exception of percussion, which was provided by longtime collaborator Keef Hartley
Keef Hartley
Keef Hartley was an English drummer and bandleader. He fronted the Keef Hartley Band, and played at Woodstock. Hartley was later a member of Dog Soldier, and variously worked with Rory Storm, The Artwoods and John Mayall.-Biography:Hartley was born in Preston, Lancashire, England...
.
The cover art and the original LP sleeve design are by John Mayall. Sleeve notes, including track notes, were written by noted DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. The following quote is of interest regarding the album concept.
I was featuring his album A Hard RoadA Hard RoadA Hard Road is a 1967 electric blues album recorded by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers featuring Peter Green on lead guitar, John McVie on bass, Aynsley Dunbar on drums and John Almond. Tracks 5, 7 and 13 feature the horn section of Alan Skidmore and Ray Warleigh...
on the air and was amazed that, in addition to writing 8 of the 12 numbers on the record, playing 5- (sic) and 9-string guitar, organ, piano, harmonica and singing, he had written the sleeve notes and painted the portrait of the group on the front cover.
With this new LP he has carried all of this to its logical conclusion and has produced a record
featuring no other musician than himself except for ... drummer Keef Hartley.
Notable tracks
Down the line is a sparse lament featuring vocals over a cold-sounding slide guitar and piano accompaniment. Sonny Boy Blow is a harmonica-driven boogie tribute to the then-recently deceased Sonny Boy WilliamsonSonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
. Marsha's Mood is a slow, deliberate and passionate piano solo constructed over a descending bass figure. No More Tears features rare examples of Mayall's solo lead guitar playing. Catch That Train is a "train" harmonica solo over accelerating rhythms provided by a recorded steam locomotive beginning a journey. Harp Man is also an instrumental, adding celesta
Celesta
The celesta or celeste is a struck idiophone operated by a keyboard. Its appearance is similar to that of an upright piano or of a large wooden music box . The keys are connected to hammers which strike a graduated set of metal plates suspended over wooden resonators...
to the more traditional blues instruments of harmonica and bass. In the sleeve notes, John Peel commented: "There is no truth to the rumours that the Bluesbreakers will be using dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
, sackbut
Sackbut
The sackbut is a trombone from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, i.e., a musical instrument in the brass family similar to the trumpet except characterised by a telescopic slide with which the player varies the length of the tube to change pitches, thus allowing them to obtain chromaticism, as...
and psaltery
Psaltery
A psaltery is a stringed musical instrument of the harp or the zither family. The psaltery of Ancient Greece dates from at least 2800 BC, when it was a harp-like instrument...
. Let's face it, guttural cries of "Let's hear your sackbut, son!" can only lead to violence." In fact the instrument had previously been used (see here) in jazz and piano boogie pieces by artists such as Meade Lux Lewis
Meade Lux Lewis
Meade Lux Lewis was a American pianist and composer, noted for his work in the boogie-woogie style. His best known work, "Honky Tonk Train Blues", has been recorded in various contexts, often in a big band arrangement...
. Brown Sugar is another slide guitar piece, not related to the famous Rolling Stones track of the same name
Brown Sugar (song)
"Brown Sugar" is a song by The Rolling Stones. It is the opening track and lead single from the English rock band's 1971 album Sticky Fingers...
, although both songs use the expression to mean the same thing. The slow, tender track "Broken Wings", accompanied by organ, elicited particular praise from Peel.
Side one
- "Brand New Start"
- "Please Don't Tell"
- "Down the Line"
- "Sonny Boy Blow"
- "Marsha's Mood"
- "No More Tears"
Side two
- "Catch That Train"
- "Cancelling Out"
- "Harp Man"
- "Brown Sugar"
- "Broken Wings"
- "Don't Kick Me"
Remastered CD (2006)
Original tracks, plus- "Brand New Start" (First version)
- "Marsha's Mood" (First version)
Personnel
- John MayallJohn MayallJohn Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
- vocals, guitars (6- and 9-string), harmonica, piano, organ, celeste (track 9), drums (tracks 1,5) - Keef HartleyKeef HartleyKeef Hartley was an English drummer and bandleader. He fronted the Keef Hartley Band, and played at Woodstock. Hartley was later a member of Dog Soldier, and variously worked with Rory Storm, The Artwoods and John Mayall.-Biography:Hartley was born in Preston, Lancashire, England...
- Drum Set (tracks 2,4,6,8,9,10,11,12)