Disc one includes the new drummerless Bluesbreakers' first performance at Civic Hall in Plymouth, MI in June of 1969. In other words, these are the first versions of some of the music released on the Turning Point LP that was recorded during the same tour a month later. The band featured reed boss Johnny Almond, guitarist Jon Mark, and bassist Steve Thompson; Mayall played his Telecaster, harmonica, and some odd mouth percussion as was his wont in those days. There are three cuts from this performance -- including an eight-plus minute "Room to Move."

Disc two is a wondrous bit of collected curios. It begins with a killer live performance of "Parchman Farm" recorded in May of 1969 with Mick Taylor -- presumably among his last with the band before joining the Rolling Stones. There are also rehearsals with the new band, and interviews with Mayall, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and John McVie, as well as informal workouts of material that would appear on Room to Move -- including a wild instrumental jam called "Bill Haley Lives." For those of us who loved the British blues from Graham Bond and Alexis Korner to Mayall, this set is indispensable. ~ Thom Jurek

Label:      Spitfire Records – 6-70211-5055-2

Series:     Spitfire Masters Series

Format:     2 x CD, Album, Special Edition

Country:    US

Released:   1999

Genre:      Blues, Stage & Screen

Style:      Soundtrack

PLEASE NOTE MARK ON SPINE, DOES NOT AFFECT BOOKLET OR TRAY CARD

TRACKLIST:

1-1         Don't Waste My Time     5:26

1-2         Sleeping By Her Side    8:22

1-3         Room To Move      7:24

1-4         Saw Mill Gulch Road     6:38

1-5         Can't Sleep This Night  6:05

1-6         Thoughts About Roxanne  8:19

1-7         Fight For You JB  5:31

1-8         Fight For You JB  5:57

1-9         California  12:39

The End Of An Era 

2-1         Parchman Farm     2:22

The Turning Point - A New Beginning 

2-2         John Mayall's Interview With Chris Welch  2:05

The Rehearsals - The Creative Process     

2-3         John Mayall's Interview With Chris Welch/The Laws Must                 Change 4:05

2-4         Don't Waste My Time     2:29

2-5         Greensleeves Blues / I'm Gonna Fight For You JB / Interview                  With Colin Allen   4:57

2-6         Thoughts About Roxanne  5:05

2-7         Bill Haley Lives! 3:42

2-8         Interview With Eric Clapton / Don't Pick A Flower 5:38

2-9         John Mayall's Interview With Chris Welch / The Story Of JB                 Lenoir   8:04

2-10        I'm Gonna Fight For You JB / Interview With Peter Green &                 John McVie      5:52