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Bare Wires

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

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Album Review

Bare Wires was the first Bluesbreakers album of new studio material since A Hard Road, released 16 months before. In that time, the band had turned over entirely, expanding to become a septet. Mayall's musical conception had also expanded — the album began with a 23-minute "Bare Wires Suite," which included more jazz influences than usual and featured introspective lyrics. In retrospect, all of this is a bit indulgent, but at the time it helped Mayall out of what had come to seem a blues straitjacket (although he would eventually return to a strict blues approach). It isn't surprising that he dropped the "Bluesbreakers" name after this release. The album was Mayall's most successful ever in the U.K., hitting number three. [Rebound reissued the LP on CD in 1994.]

Customer Reviews

The "Other" British Invasion

It's uncomfortable to admit, but it took a bunch of dedicated British Guitarists to slap the American public up side the head as to the rich vein that gave Rock & Roll its birth...The Blues. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and a host of "Stars" cut their teeth on The Blues, and at one time or another landed in the John Mayall circle of performers. But they went on and branched off into different gentres and gave lip service to their "roots". It was Mayall who stayed the course, with little fanfare and appreciation. He never turned his back on The Blues, and incorperated it into everything he did, massaging it in different avenues, but you ALWAYS KNEW..."this is a Blues Man". Bare Wires to me encapsulates everything he stood for....the sound is raw, yet sophisticated enough in it's melodies to bring a smile, and even tap your toes. But to me the pillors that hold the whole album together are the straight ahead blues tunes: "I'm A Stranger",and the the haunting slide guitar dominated "Killing Time" Thank God, Mayall remained that touchstone, and kept The Blues alive enough in the U.S. to give time for other artists to reintroduce them to the public, and spur the interest in them that still live today. So, put this album in the player, turn off the lights, and open the door to your soul, Mayall will treat it well!

Bare Wires

This is the one that started it all for me. The day I realized that listening to the judgement of radio DJs would lead to a life of mediocracy. Life was different back then, but the lessons learned are still applicable - grab those bare wires and don't let go.

Biography

Born: November 29, 1933 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England

Genre: Blues

Years Active: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s

As the elder statesman of British blues, it is John Mayall's lot to be more renowned as a bandleader and mentor than as a performer in his own right. Throughout the '60s, his band, the Bluesbreakers, acted as a finishing school for the leading British blues-rock musicians of the era. Guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor joined his band in a remarkable succession in the mid-'60s, honing their chops with Mayall before going on to join Cream, Fleetwood Mac, and the Rolling Stones, respectively....
Full Bio

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