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John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A historic event, good music but lacking...
Review: I could not wait to get my hands on this DVD but was a little disappointed. Some highlights:
* John is in fantastic shape for a 70 year old - he could pass for 60 perhaps less.
* The band's regular guitarist was great: tasteful licks, subtle articulation, superbly rich tone (especially for a Stratocaster) -- wonderful.
* Eric Clapton & Mick Taylor appear.
* There are some excellent tracks - some of my favourite Bluesbreakers tracks.
* John's harmonica playing was very good.
However, there were low points too:
* You can barely hear the two stars, Mick & Eric, as they are so down in the mix! Incredible. [John's vocals, organ & the regular guitarist are prominent in the mix].
* Eric's & Mick's tone was uncharacteristicially thin & lack luster. What a waste. Somebody give EC a Les Paul and turn them both up, way up, please.
* More video extras would have been nice.
* Where was Peter Green?! (Although the line up was impressive anyway).

Overall: not bad but there is definitely room for improvement.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow!
Review: I have played this DVD at least 30 times already and I am not tiring of it yet. I own close to 30 John Mayall albums and this has gone to the top of the charts immediately. On the first viewing, I was disappointed with Mick Taylor. It seemed like he was rusty. Subsequently, I find myself playing the tracks featuring him more and more and have realised how magic is his performance (although still a little rusty). This album celebrates John Mayall's 70'th birthday and what a celebration! John's bands have always been about his musicians. Joe Yule is an very good drummer and really lifts this performance. Hank Van Sickle is good on bass as well, as is Tom Canning on keyboards. Buddy Whittington is absolutely brilliant and probably surpasses Taylor and Clapton on guitar. As a non horn lover, I am surprised to admit that Chris Barber on trombone is also memorable!

The only disappointing aspects of this dvd are:
(1) The guitar levels given to Eric Clapton on some of his tracks which spoil his performance
(2) The front row audience! How can you listen to such brilliance and sit still during each song!

Listen particularly to any Mick Taylor track, Hoochie Cooche Man, Have you heard and Talk to you daughter for the ultimate in guitar blues.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: He'll Keep Rockin' Until He's In The Coffin!
Review: I saw John six years ago on a hot Mesa Arizona afternoon. He looked old and tired from the heat and the road (I talked to him and he signed my ticket and a CD I bought). Here on this show he is clearly having a ball as was the audience and band. Another reviewer said his voice is shot. He/she had better get a new sound system! What I heard and saw was an excellent show from the undisputed grandfather of the British blues and a fantastic band giving a GREAT performance. The band (including Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones) all seemed very proud and happy to be a part of this monumental occassion.

If you enjoy the blues, this DVD is a MUST for your collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: clapton,taylor&whittington
Review: i think this is one of the best dvds of 2003 this is some of the finest guitar blues dvds i have seen in a long time, the recordings are exelent, mayall is in top form very strong vocals .

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The bluz is a feelin'
Review: It a odd thing these Brits ripping off black blues musicians. When a previous reviewer alluded to Taylor; I thought he meant Hound Dog Taylor; the great Chicago slide guitar player. You can gussy it up all you want, the real deal is only to be found from the real bluesmen.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fantastic. A Future Classic.
Review: The clarity of picture is so sharp I nearly cut myself!

The sound is so good (DTS) I had to check out my room for stowaway musicians!

There are no slackers in this line-up. This is truly a GREAT DVD with GREAT musicians, GREAT songs, GREAT editing and all-in-all a future classic.

If you like the Blues then get this one. You will not regret it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: As Mr. Burns would say, "EXCELLENT"
Review: The first thing that caught me by surprise was how good Mick Taylor still is. He even traded riffs for awhile with the great Buddy Whittington, no doubt holding his own. While Clapton is no longer (and hasn't been) the blues guitarist he was. He did ok. Especially after Whittington ripped off a smoking solo on Have You Heard. Clapton must have been thinking, "I have to solo after that". He hung in there and played a nice blues solo. Kudos for not doing a "runner". Whittingtons tone (and some of his riffs) remind me of a Clapton from Let It Rain time frame. This dvd was better than I expected. Blues guitar players will love it. Oh, finally Clapton plays a nice solo on I'm Tore Down.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: WHAT A SHOW !!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: THIS CONCERT IS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN. EVERYONE INVOLVED WAS TRULY INSPIRED. I'VE NEVER SEEN ERIC CLAPTON PLAY THIS WELL BEFORE. HE IS TRULY A GIANT AMONG MEN. BUDDY AND MICK ALSO PLAYED THEIR COLLECTIVE BUTTS OFF. I OWN OVER 100 DVD CONCERTS AND THIS ONE RANKS IN MY TOP 5 OF THEM ALL. SUPPORT THE BLUES AND BUY THIS DVD. LONG LIVE THE BLUES.........

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Blues are great, Mick Taylor is great, Clapton stank
Review: This DVD is definitely a must for blues fans--John Mayall has contributed so much over the years. I do have one beef with his song selection, which is that about 90% of the songs on here are 12-bar blues, which gets old after a while.

Mick Taylor was fantastic as usual. His tone is still fat and full of sustain. His playing hasn't slipped at all since his days with the Stones--it's a lesson in economy, phrasing, tone, and using speed only when it'll sound good. When Taylor was onstage, he stole the spotlight from Whittington.

Eric Clapton, on the other hand, has lost it. His tone was thin, tinny, and had no life to it. His playing was also lackluster. Compare the great 1966 version of "Hide Away" to the one on this DVD--the DVD version sounds like elevator music! To his credit, his playing did get better as the night wore on, but it was still not what you should get from the guy known as "God," and it was not even close to being as good as Taylor. Whittington stole the stage from Clapton, enough said.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Outstanding Birthday Concert . . . Like None Other!
Review: This DVD is second to none. The photography composition, shot angles and subject timing is outstanding. Color is clear, no fading or bleeding or over exposure, as is some time the case. Lighting is smooth and mellow. Tom Canning performance on organ is as good as it gets. His solo style hyperventilates and presses the instrument into a frantic state of hysteria, especially on "Have You Heard". Then Canning backs down and provides timely on schedule "fills", that accent the solo work of the other musicians. All the guitar work here is excellent, and each musician notably share the spotlight with one another, a true mark of professionals. I wonder about Mick Taylor's health. Thought I observed a hospital medical band on his wrist. He is one fine guitar player. We need more DVD releases like this one.



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