''Thru the Years'' is a
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
of music by
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE (born 29 November 1933) is an English blues singer, musician and songwriter, whose musical career spans over sixty years. In the 1960s, he was the founder of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among it ...
released in October 1971 by
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
in the U.K. and
London Records
London Recordings (or London Records and London Music Stream) is a British record label that marketed records in the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Decca Records from 1947 to 1980 before becoming semi-independent. The London nam ...
in the U.S.A. The album was the second compilation to be issued by Decca/London with Mayall's blessing, although his contract with them had ceased. It features a mixture of previously unissued songs or non-album tracks that had only been released as singles.
The album reached No. 164 on the
''Billboard'' 200. It was re-released by
Deram on CD in 1990.
Track listing
# "Crocodile Walk" (John Mayall) – 2:14
# "My Baby Is Sweeter" (
Willie Dixon
William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...
) – 2:59
# "Crawling Up a Hill" (version one) (John Mayall) – 2:15
# "Mama, Talk to Your Daughter" (
J.B. Lenoir
J. B. Lenoir ( '; March 5, 1929 – April 29, 1967) was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, active in the Chicago blues scene in the 1950s and 1960s.
Life and career
Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississippi. His full given ...
) – 2:58
# "Alabama Blues" (J.B. Lenoir) – 2:29
# "Out of Reach" (
Peter Green) – 4:42
# "Greeny" (Peter Green) – 3:54
# "Curly" (Peter Green) – 4:50
# "Missing You" (Peter Green) – 1:57
# "Please Don't Tell" (John Mayall) – 2:26
# "Your Funeral and My Trial" (
Sonny Boy Williamson II) – 3:55
# "Suspicions" (part one) (John Mayall) – 2:47
# "Knockers Step Forward" (John Mayall,
Mick Taylor) – 3:12
# "Hide and Seek" (John Mayall, Hank Williams) – 2:22
Personnel
* John Mayall – guitar, harmonica, keyboards, organ, vocals
*
Roger Dean – guitar (1, 2)
* Bernie Watson – guitar (3)
*
Peter Green – guitar, harmonica, vocals (4–11)
*
Mick Taylor – guitar (12–14)
*
John McVie – bass (1–4, 6–11)
*
Paul Williams Paul Williams may refer to:
Authors
* Paul O. Williams (1935–2009), American science-fiction author and poet
* Paul L. Williams (author) (born 1944), FBI consultant, journalist
* Paul Williams (journalist) (1948–2013), American founder of mu ...
– bass (12)
*
Tony Reeves – bass (13–14)
*
Hughie Flint – drums (1–2)
* Martin Hart – drums (3)
*
Aynsley Dunbar
Aynsley Thomas Dunbar (born 10 January 1946) is an English drummer. He has worked with John Mayall, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Journey, Jefferson Starship, Nils Lofgren, Eric Burdon, Shuggie Otis, Ian Hunter, Lou Reed, David Bowie, Mick R ...
– drums (4, 6–11)
*
Keef Hartley – drums (12)
*
Jon Hiseman – drums (13–14)
*
Dick Heckstall-Smith –
tenor saxophone (12–13),
soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a higher-register variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument invented in the 1840s. The soprano is the third-smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists (from smallest to largest) of the soprillo, sop ...
(12)
* Chris Mercer – tenor saxophone (12–13)
*
Henry Lowther – trumpet (13)
;Other credits
*
Gus Dudgeon – engineer
*
Bill Price – engineer
* John Tracy – liner notes
* Derek Varnals – engineer
* Mike Vernon – producer
References
{{John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
1971 compilation albums
John Mayall albums
albums produced by Mike Vernon (record producer)
albums produced by John Mayall
Decca Records compilation albums