Mayall's first post-
Bluesbreakers album saw the man returning to his roots after the jazz/blues fusion that was
Bare Wires.
Blues from Laurel Canyon is a blues album, through and through. Testimony to this is the fact that there's a guitar solo only 50 seconds into the opening track. Indeed,
Mayall dispersed the entire brass section for
Blues from Laurel Canyon, and instead chose the solid but relatively limited backing of
Mick Taylor (guitar),
Colin Allen (drums), and
Stephen Thompson (bass). Instantly, it is apparent that
John Mayall hasn't lost his touch with the blues. "Vacation," the album's opener, reminds one exactly why this artist is so celebrated for his songwriting ability. The staggering
Mick Taylor (here still in his teens) truly proves his worth as a blues guitarist, while
Steve Thompson (also in his late teens) works superbly with one of the genre's most interesting drummers,
Colin Allen.
Blues from Laurel Canyon is as unerring as
Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, and equally as musically interesting. Not only is this one of the finest
John Mayall albums, it is also a highlight in the blues genus.