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John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - A Hard Road {24-96 Uk Decca Mono} (Prof Stoned)

Track listing:
  1. A Hard Road 3:10
  2. It's Over 2:51
  3. You Don't Love Me 2:50
  4. The Stumble 2:54
  5. Another Kind Of Love 3:05
  6. Hit The Highway 2:17
  7. Leaping Christine 2:26
  8. Dust My Blues 2:52
  9. There's Always Work 1:38
  10. The Same Way 2:11
  11. The Supernatural 2:57
  12. Top Of The Hill 2:42
  13. Someday After A While (You'll Be Sorry) 3:02
  14. Living Alone 2:21

Notes

Produced by Mike Vernon
Engineer: Gus Dudgeon

Source: (Side 1: ARL-7652-2A / Side 2: ARL-7653-2A)

Vinyl Transfer & Restoration by Prof. Stoned

Prof. sez:


What makes this one even better than 'Bluesbreakers' is the top notch songwriting & there is Peter Green. It simply is Mayall's most heartfelt record with backing by the best band he ever had.

Why mono ? Well, those who have heard the stereo version of this album will certainly hear the difference. The stereo mix is weak sounding, with the rhytmn section muffled away in the back and Mayall's voice overpowering everything, not to mention the distracting stereo separation (band hard left, voices & lead guitar center and hard right). The mono mix does have a much better balance, with the rhytmn section up loud and clear.

Criminally, the mono version has never been reissued on CD, while this album actually got a 2CD Deluxe Edition treatment (which also omits the essential mono mixes of the 45rpm tracks). Really sad that the producers of such a great and well intended project just couldn't (or weren't allowed) to do history justice.