John Mayall's Bluesbreakers: Bare Wires (CD)

Hailing from Macclesfield, Cheshire, and growing up in Cheadle Hulme, John Mayall had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before relocating to London in 1963 at the urging of Alexis Korner.

John McVie was next to leave The Bluesbreakers, joining Peter Green and Mick Fleetwood in their new venture, Fleetwood Mac. Reedsman Dick Heckstall Smith joined, alongside drummer Jon Hiseman from the Graham Bond Organisation and bass player Tony Reeves. The resulting album, Bare Wires, was Mayall's most successful album, reaching No 3 in the UK charts. If it could be said that if Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton was the foundation stone of UK blues tock, then Bare Wires did similar for jazz rock. Mick Taylor's playing on the album is little short of superb.

1. Bare Wires
   
2. Where Did I Belong?
   
3. I Started Walking
   
4. Open Up A New Door
   
5. Fire
   
6. I Know Now
   
7. Look In The Mirror
8. I'm A Stranger
   
9. No Reply
   
10. Hartley Quits
    
11. Killing Time
    
12. She's Too Young
    
13. Sandy