John Mayall - Thru The Years (1964-71 uk, outstanding blues rock)

A grab bag of rare tracks from the '60s, some of which stand among Mayall's finest. His debut 1964 single Crawling Up a Hill is one of his best originals; this comp also includes a couple of 1964-1965 flipsides. The eight songs featuring Peter Green include some top-notch material that outpaces much of the only album recorded by the Green lineup (A Hard Road), particularly the Green originals Missing You and Out of Reach, a great B-side with devastating, icy guitar lines and downbeat lyrics that ranks as one of the great lost blues-rock cuts of the '60s. The set is filled out with a few songs from the Mick Taylor era, the highlight being the vicious instrumental Knockers Step Forward. 

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks
1. Crocodile Walk (John Mayall) - 2:14
2. My Baby Is Sweeter (Willie Dixon) - 2:59
3. Crawling Up A Hill (Version One) (John Mayall) - 2:15
4. Mama, Talk To Your Daughter (J.B. Lenoir) - 2:58
5. Alabama Blues (J.B. Lenoir) - 2:29
6. Out Of Reach (Peter Green) - 4:42
7. Greeny (Peter Green) - 3:54
8. Curly (Peter Green) - 4:50
9. Missing You (Peter Green) - 1:57
10.Please Don't Tell (John Mayall) - 2:26
11.Your Funeral And My Trial (Sonny Boy Williamson II) - 3:55
12.Suspicions (Part One) (John Mayall) - 2:47
13.Knockers Step Forward (John Mayall, Mick Taylor) - 3:12
14.Hide And Seek (John Mayall, Hank Williams) - 2:22

Personnel
*John Mayall - Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Organ, Vocals
*Peter Green - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals (4-11)
*Mick Taylor - Guitar (12-14)
*Roger Dean - Guitar (1, 2)
*Bernie Watson - Guitar (3)
*John McVie - Bass (1-4, 6-11)
*Paul Williams - Bass (12)
*Tony Reeves - Bass (13-14)
*Hughie Flint - Drums (1-2)
*Martin Hart - Drums (3)
*Aynsley Dunbar - Drums (4, 6-11)
*Keef Hartley - Drums (12)
*Jon Hiseman - Drums (13-14)
*Dick Heckstall-Smith - Tenor Saxophone (12-13), Soprano Saxophone (12)
*Chris Mercer - Tenor Saxophone (12-13)
*Henry Lowther - Trumpet (13)

1966  John Mayall Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton (Japan SHM double disc set)
1967  John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers - A Hard Road (Double Disc Set)
1967  John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - Crusade (2007 SHM remaster with extra tracks)
1968  John Mayall - Blues From Laurel Canyon (2007 Japan SHM remaster)
1969  John Mayall - The Turning Point (Remaster And Expanded)
1972  John Mayall - Moving On (2009 remaster)
1967  Various Artists - Raw Blues

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