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In 1967, John Mayall launched this incredible crusade against the infidel Pop bands and fought with Blues for his favorite genre. In this album, we have a beautiful sextet formation with added horns, and it is the last chapter of the typical Bluesbreakers style. Although Bare Wires still counts as a Bluesbreakers formation, it's already another chapter; from Crusade, I believe Mayall's great stylistic evolution begins, and with the subsequent Bare Wires, Blues From Laurel Canyon, he consolidates his great work that will end with the release of the incredible album "Jazz Blues Fusion" after going through great moments like "Turning Point ".
The opening track is a cover of the old Williams, "Oh, Pretty Woman" is a great interpretation of this Rock Blues piece. John's voice is, in this case, very warm, and the screeching guitars give an incredible charge to the piece, while the horns create a nearly unnoticeable but essential backdrop that shapes the sounds and blends everything into this blues concentrate. "Stand Back Baby" is the classic Mayall piece, starting with harmonica and usual blues riff. This time, the solo belongs to the harmonica, and John delights us with his love. "My Time After Awhile" is another cover, structurally similar to the previous but with a beautiful guitar solo and a splendid sax solo. "Snowy Wood" is one of the magical moments of the album. The organ base is incredible, laying such a perfect foundation that the lead guitar can delight us by perfectly executing this theme, then quickly taken up by the horns, the improvisation is exhilarating... what a magical moment!!! It continues with a Kirkland cover "Man Of Stone", a delightful harmonica and sax play, jazz in the drum accompaniment... in short, a spectacular duet between these splendid musicians. The voice enters just before the breathtaking end with the very angry harmonica. The last track of the first side is an emotional slow Blues, "Tears In My Eyes" is one of Mayall's most beautiful pieces, as far as singing is concerned.
The second side starts like the first with a splendid Rock Blues where the Mike Bloomfield style guitar starts firing shots of this Blues Crusade, "Driving Sideways" is another cover, free improvisation for an orgasmic guitar and an extremely precise piano. "The Death Of J.B Lenoir" is one of Mayall's milestones, dedicated to his unknown master, the piano here reaches moving limits, Mayall's voice obscured by pain recites this splendid poem. It is from this song that one perceives the evolution John Mayall is undergoing, an evolution that will lead to his consecration; this piece could easily be included in any of his later masterpieces without being too much or out of place. It continues with the very famous "I Can Quit You Baby" by Dixon and made famous by Led Zeppelin, this version is no less, more blues and less hard for another great step forward in listening to the album. "Streamline" is one of Mayall's usual pieces, a beautiful track if one does not know Mayall's discography in depth, at least until '72, and predictable for connoisseurs and lovers like me, who find this piece somewhat predictable but seems to have a charm that goes beyond evaluating the album, reaching indeed the peak of pleasure. "Me And My Woman" by Barge and "Checkin' Up On My Baby" by Williamson are other great interpretations of classics.
This album is really beautiful, but it is not fully a masterpiece, perhaps more suitable would be a four and a half considering that many are covers. However, I feel like giving a beautiful 5 to the career of this excellent artist.
Join the crusade, it's started!!!
Tracklist
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