John Mayall & Friends - Along For The Ride (2001) [2018, 2LP, Vinyl Rip 16/44 & mp3-320 + DVD] Re-up

By the time this was released in 2001, John Mayall was more known for the people who played in his seminal British band, the Bluesbreakers rather than his own accomplishments. The success of 1999's Padlock on the Blues afforded Mayall the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and gather an all-star lineup of blues and rock luminaries. "A World of Hurt" and "That's Why I Love You So" both typify the good but not great groove that permeates Along for the Ride. Better tracks "Yo Yo Man" and "Early in the Morning" are easygoing blues that feature the great rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fellow Fleetwood Mac and Bluesbreaker alum, the reclusive Peter Green plays acoustic slide guitar on "Yo-Yo Man." "So Many Roads" has Mayall dueting with Otis Rush, and it soon becomes a contest on who sounds more disgruntled. The playful "Testify" features vocals and subtle guitar lines from blues phenom Shannon Curfman. This ends on the strong note. The powerful and wry "She Don't Play By the Rules" has Mayall with arguably the strongest and most subtle band with Mick Taylor on lead guitar and Andy Fairweather Low on acoustic guitar. Along for the Ride is produced, engineered, and mixed by David Z. Despite the camaraderie, a lot of the hooks here don't stick, and fans of Mayall and superstar sessions will get the most from this effort.

by Jason Elias, allmusic

Tracklist:

Side 1

A1 - A World Of Hurt - 4:31
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele / Guitar – Buddy Whittington
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Rhythm Guitar – Steve Cropper
Vocals, Lead Guitar – Jeff Healey / Vocals, Piano – John Mayall
Written-By – Glen Clark, Jeff Silbar
A2 - Along For The Ride - 4:50
Acoustic Guitar – Buddy Whittington / Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Percussion – Lenny Castro
Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer Piano], Melodica – Billy Preston
Vocals, Harmonica, Piano – John Mayall / Written-By – Cook, Fuller
A3 - Put It Right Back - 4:31
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele / Lead Guitar – Billy F Gibbons
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Rhythm Guitar [Rhythm Guitars] – Buddy Whittington
Vocals, Piano – John Mayall / Written-By – Walter Trout

Side 2

B1 - That’s Why I Love You So - 4:15
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele / Lead Guitar – Jonny Lang
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Reese Wynans / Rhythm Guitar – Buddy Whittington, David Z
Vocals – Crystal Taliefero, Wendy Moten / Vocals, Piano – John Mayall
Written-By – Jerry Williams
B2 - Yo Yo Man - 2:59
Bass Guitar – John McVie/ Drums – Mick Fleetwood / Guitar – Steve Miller
Percussion – Lenny Castro / Slide Guitar [Acoustic Slide Guitar] – Peter Green
Vocals, Harmonica, Clavinet – John Mayall / Written-By – Tony Joe White
B3 - If I Don’t Get Home - 5:21
Bass Guitar – Bob Delgado / Drums – Joe Yuele / Guitar – Joe Delgado
Lead Guitar – Gary Moore / Organ [Hammond Organ] – Reese Wynans
Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer Piano], Harmonica – John Mayall
Written-By – The Delgado Brothers
B4 - Testify - 4:27
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele / Organ [Hammond Organ] – Reese Wynans
Piano – Tom Canning / Rhythm Guitar – Buddy Whittington
Rhythm Guitar [Wah Wah Rhythm Guitar] – David Z / Vocals, Lead Guitar – Shannon Curfman
Vocals – Crystal Taliefero, John Mayall, Wendy Moten / Written-By – Stark, Bowe

Side 3

C1 - Early In The Morning - 4:08
Alto Saxophone – Dick Heckstall-Smith / Bass Guitar – John McVie / Drums – Mick Fleetwood
Percussion – Lenny Castro / Rhythm Guitar – Andy Fairweather Low, Steve Miller
Vocals – Chris Rea / Vocals, Piano, Organ [Hammond Organ] – John Mayall
Written-By – Bartley, Hickman, Jordan
C2 - Something About My Baby - 4:18
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele / Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Buddy Whittington
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Percussion – Lenny Castro
Vocals – Andy Fairweather Low / Vocals, Piano – John Mayall / Written-By – The Delgado Brothers
C3 - So Many Roads - 6:11
Bass Guitar – Greg Rzab / Drums – Joe Yuele / Lead Guitar – Buddy Whittington
Organ [Hammond Organ] – Reese Wynans / Vocals – Otis Rush
Vocals, Piano, Slide Guitar – John Mayall / Written-By – Paul

Side 4

D1 - World War Blues - 4:27
Bass Guitar – David Smith / Clavinet – Billy Preston / Drums – Joe Yuele
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer Piano] – Tom Canning / Guitar – Buddy Whittington
Percussion – Lenny Castro / Vocals, Harmonica – John Mayall / Written-By – Eric Bibb
D2 - California - 5:56
Acoustic Guitar – Davy Graham / Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele
Guitar – Buddy Whittington / Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Percussion – Lenny Castro
Tenor Saxophone – Red Holloway / Vocals, Piano, Harmonica – John Mayall
Written-By – Mayall, Thompson
D3 - She Don’t Play By The Rules - 5:12
Acoustic Guitar – Andy Fairweather Low / Bass Guitar – David Smith / Drums – Joe Yuele
Lead Guitar – Mick Taylor / Organ [Hammond Organ] – Tom Canning / Percussion – Lenny Castro
Rhythm Guitar – Buddy Whittington / Vocals, Harmonica – John Mayall
Written-By – Buddy Flett, David Egan, Earl Cate, Ernie Cate