John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – Crusade – CD

Hailing from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and growing up in Cheadle Hulme, John Mayall had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before relocating to London in 1963 at the urging of Alexis Korner. Released in September 1967, Crusade introduced another guitar protégé to the world. The 18-year-old Mick Taylor had crossed Mayall’s path a couple of years earlier at a show in Hatfield: it was now time for him to join, as Peter Green had left Mayall to form his own group. The album was so titled as Mayall felt that he would forever be on a crusade to get the blues to the widest audience possible. Listen to the version of Albert King’s Oh Pretty Woman that opens the album. It’s amazing!

1. Oh, Pretty Woman
2. Stand Back Baby
3. My Time After Awhile
4. Snowy Wood
5. Man of Stone
6. Tears In My Eyes
7. Driving Sideways
8. The Death of J.B. Lenoir
9. I Can’t Quit You Baby
10. Streamline
11. Me and My Woman
12. Checkin Up On My Baby
13. Curly
14. Rubber Duck
15. Greeny
16. Missing You
17. Please Don’t Tell
18. Your Funeral, My Trial
19. Double Trouble
20. It Hurts Me Too
21. Suspicions (Part One)
22. Suspicions (Part Two)