Release Date for Vinyl LP Version of "Find a Way to Care"

Article Contributed by Mark Pucci Media | Published on Friday, January 29, 2016

Forty Below Records has announced a February 26 release date for the vinyl LP version of the latest album from legendary blues artist, John Mayall, Find a Way to Care, which follows its critically-acclaimed CD launch in September, 2015. John Mayall and his band have scheduled a series of U.S. tour dates starting in early March to help kick-off the LP’s debut.    

To watch the video trailer premiere of the making of the Find a Way to Care album, click here: http://youtu.be/E-jwpvB4OY0

Since its release on CD, the reviews of Find a Way to Care have been universally glowing: “Find a Way to Care represents another soulful mile marker on John Mayall’s incredible life journey into the blues” – Living Blues; “The Godfather of British Blues” has been experiencing a true artistic and career renaissance lately and the revival continues with the release of the brilliant new studio album, Find a Way to Care” – Relix Magazine; “A blues traditionalist at heart and a gambler by nature, Find a Way to Care proves that John Mayall still has a few musical tricks up his sleeve.” – Blues Music Magazine.

Produced by John Mayall (who also did the graphic design and artwork for the album) and Forty Below’s Eric Corne, Find a Way to Care was recorded at the House of Blues Studio in Encino, California. In addition to Mayall (vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, clavinet, guitar and harmonica), featured on the sessions are Rocky Athas (lead and rhythm guitar), Greg Rzab (bass) and Jay Davenport (drums), who collectively are now into their seventh year as John’s band. The group is also augmented by a horn section on several tracks.

About the new album, Eric Corne says, “I really wanted to feature John's keyboard playing on this record. He’s truly one of the most lyrical, economical and underrated keyboardists around. We also wanted to change things up a bit after the success of A Special Life and the addition of a horn section on several tracks was a really fun way to do that. As good as the last album was, I think this one is even better.”

The even-dozen tracks on Find a Way to Care include a scintillating group of new songs and savvy covers of “Mother in Law Blues” (Don Robey),  “The River’s Invitation” (Percy Mayfield), “I Feel So Bad”(Lightnin’ Hopkins), “Long Distance Call” (Muddy Waters), “I Want All My Money Back” (Lee Baker) and Drifting Blues” (Charles Brown).

About his choice of cover songs on the new album, Mayall says, “Every time I make an album, I always feel I owe it to my fans to come up with fresh and varied interpretations of the blues. With this in mind, I chose an assemblage of songs that includes perhaps some slightly lesser-known bluesmen, and that all had either different beats or special instrumental treatments. I also found three songs that would be further enhanced by the addition of horns.”

Added to the mix are original songs that always feature Mayall’s take on the current human condition, as well as universal truths. “As always, I draw from my own experiences and thoughts about things in my life so that from album to album I create on ongoing musical diary of my life,” he explains. “The blues never lets me down!”

Find a Way to Care comes following an especially exciting year-long period of great music from Mayall that included the 2014 release of his first studio album in five years, A Special Life, and the April, 2015, release of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers – Live in 1967 (Never Before Heard Live Performances). The live album was a critically-lauded archival recording of one of the best of his Bluesbreakers band lineups that featured Mayall, as well as Peter Green (lead guitar), John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums). It showcased a band that was together for only a scant three months, yet created a lasting legacy, made an immense impact on music and led to the formation of one of the most acclaimed groups of all-time when Green, McVie and Fleetwood left to form Fleetwood Mac.

For over 50 years, John Mayall has served as a pioneer of blues music, rightly earning him the title, “The Godfather of British Blues.” In 2013, John signed with producer Eric Corne’s label, Forty Below Records, and the three albums released since continue to raise Mayall’s recognition as a true pioneer and innovator in blues and roots music. He continues to perform extensively both in the USA and abroad, and has an ambitious touring schedule in place for the rest of the summer and fall that was booked by booked by Monterey International Artists (www.montereyinternational.net).

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