Along for the Ride

1	A World of Hurt / John Mayall & Friends 4:31
2	Along for the Ride / John Mayall & Friends 4:50
3	Put It Right Back / John Mayall & Friends 4:31
4	That's Why I Love You So / John Mayall & Friends 4:15
5	Yo Yo Man / John Mayall & Friends 2:59
6	If I Don't Get Home / John Mayall & Friends 5:21
7	Testify / John Mayall & Friends 4:26
8	Early in the Morning / John Mayall & Friends 4:06
9	Something About My Baby / John Mayall & Friends 4:17
10	So Many Roads / John Mayall & Friends 6:11
11	World War Blues / John Mayall & Friends 4:27
12	California / John Mayall & Friends 5:56
13	She Don't Play by the Rules / John Mayall & Friends 5:13

Barnes & Noble

When a father calls a family meeting, those summoned tend to show up. And John Mayall, the patriarch of British blues, drew quite an impressive crowd to the recording session for Along for the Ride, his 44th release in four decades. Two former members of Mayall’s Bluesbreakers -- John McVie and Mick Fleetwood (who started Fleetwood Mac) -- play bass and drums, respectively, on “Testify,” which also features the young American blues sensation Shannon Curfman sharing vocals and taking on lead guitar. The rhythm duo are joined by guitarists Peter Green and Steve Miller for a funky version of Tony Joe White’s “Yo Yo Man.” Chicago legend Otis Rush sings on one of his most remembered tunes, “So Many Roads,” and current Bluesbreaker guitarist Buddy Whittington does a fine job of emulating Rush’s stunning six-string work on the tune. Jonny Lang is the featured guitarist on “That’s Why I Love You So,” while Brit Gary Moore is in top form for the Delgado Brothers’ beautiful “If I Don’t Get Home.” And jazz saxophonist Red Holloway is featured on the only Mayall original in the set, "California," which first appeared on his Turning Point album. With all these disparate contributions -- Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Reese Wynans of Double Trouble, Jeaff Healey, David Z, Billy Preston, and Andy Fairweather Low also guest -- one might expect the set to sound like a stew with too many distinct ingredients. But Mayall is a strong bandleader, and Along for the Ride stays on his path for the full trip. It’s a solid but mellow tour through blues rock territory, which Mayall has been successfully leading since the ‘60s. Roberta Penn

All Music Guide

By the time this was released in 2001, John Mayall was more known for the people who played in his seminal British band, the Bluesbreakers rather than his own accomplishments. The success of 1999's Padlock on the Blues afforded Mayall the opportunity to fulfill his dreams and gather an all-star lineup of blues and rock luminaries. "A World of Hurt" and "That's Why I Love You So" both typify the good but not great groove that permeates Along for the Ride. Better tracks "Yo Yo Man" and "Early in the Morning" are easygoing blues that feature the great rhythm section of John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Fellow Fleetwood Mac and Bluesbreaker alum, the reclusive Peter Green plays acoustic slide guitar on "Yo-Yo Man." "So Many Roads" has Mayall dueting with Otis Rush, and it soon becomes a contest on who sounds more disgruntled. The playful "Testify" features vocals and subtle guitar lines from blues phenom Shannon Curfman. This ends on the strong note. The powerful and wry "She Don't Play By the Rules" has Mayall with arguably the strongest and most subtle band with Mick Taylor on lead guitar and Andy Fairweather Low on acoustic guitar. Along for the Ride is produced, engineered, and mixed by David Z. Despite the camaraderie, a lot of the hooks here don't stick, and fans of Mayall and superstar sessions will get the most from this effort. ~ Jason Elias, All Music Guide