John Mayall´s Bluesbreakers - Crusade (1967)

The final album of an (unintentional) trilogy, Crusade is most notable for the appearance of a very young, pre- Rolling Stones Mick Taylor on lead guitar. Taylor´sperformance is indeed the highlight, just as Eric Clapton and Peter Green's playing was on the previous album. The centerpiece of the album is a beautiful instrumental by Taylor titled "Snowy Wood," which, while wholly original, seems to combine both Green and Clapton's influence with great style and sensibility. The rest of the record, while very enjoyable, is standard blues-rock fare of the day, but somewhat behind the then-progressive flavor of 1967. Mayall, while being one of the great bandleaders of London, simply wasn't really the frontman that the group needed so desperately, especially then. Nevertheless, Crusade is important listening for Mick Taylor aficionados. (by Matthew Greenwald)


Personnel:
Hughie Flint (drums)
Keef Hartley (drums)
John Mayall (vocals, piano, guitar, harmonica)
John McVie (bass)
Mick Taylor (guitar)
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Rip Kant (horn)
Chris Mercer (horn) 



Tracklist:
01. Oh, Pretty Woman (Williams) 3:40
02. Stand Back Baby 1:50
03. My Time After Awhile (Badger/Feinberg/Geddins) 5:15
04. Snowy Wood (Mayall/Taylor) 3:41
05. Man of Stone (Kirkland) 2:29
06. Tears in My Eyes 4:20
07. Driving Sideways (King/Thompson) 4:03
08. The Death of J.B. Lenoir (Mayall) 4:27
09. I Can't Quit You Baby (Dixon) 4:35
10. Streamline 3:19
11. Me and My Woman (Barge) 4:05
12. Checkin' up on My Baby" (Williamson) 3:59
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13. Curly
14. Rubber Duck
15. Greeny
16. Missing You
17. Please Don't Tell
18. Your Funeral And My Trial
19. Double Trouble
20. It Hurts Me Too
21. Suspicions (Part One)
22. Suspicions (Part Two)


ARMU 2340
ARMU 2340 (zippyshare)