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John Mayall: The Next Generation
Treasure trove of Britain’s blues history is a testament to a pioneer’s genius and longevity
(Left) From The Beano Album photo shoot: (L to R) John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie, Hughie Flint; (right) album cover
[UMG Records] 
CHRISTOPHER POLLARD explains how and why neoliberalism adopted the racist agenda common to the populist right of today
SYLVIA HIKINS recommends a sweeping survey of the world's biggest desert and the people who live there
GUILLERMO THOMAS is persuaded by a scathing critique of the Church of England and its embeddedness in imperialism
MARIA DUARTE and ANGUS REID review Materialists, Unmoored, Together, and Bambi: A Tale of Life in The Woods
TONY BURKE revels in the publication of previously unreleased tracks by the great US folksinger
GORDON PARSONS endures heavy rock punctuated by Shakespeare, and a delighted audience
THE Godfather of the British blues John Mayall turned 87 recently and a new 35-CD box set is out featuring every album he recorded between 1964 and 1974, plus some fantastic extras.
Born in Macclesfield in 1933, he discovered the blues from his father’s 78rpm record collection of Leadbelly and boogie pianists such as Albert Ammons.
After national service in Korea, where he played in small jazz combo, he returned to Manchester and began playing rhythm and blues with The Blues Syndicate.
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