Mick Taylor

A Stone's Throw

cannonball cB 29113

Mick Taylor has a well-deserved reputation for strengthening every band he has ever been in. At a young age, he had to fill the shoes of Eric clapton in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Taylor rose to the occasion with a powerful guitar sound coupled with great Blues feeling, listen to Bare Wires or crusade to hear some fine examples of his early work. In 1969, Taylor joined The Rolling Stones. Many people believe that the Stones were at their best with Mick Taylor, and it's hard to disagree when you hear Let it Bleed or Sticky Fingers, his arrangements and guitar helped to make a good band sound great.

Mick Taylor released his first solo album in 1979, and not much has been heard from the guitarist since then. He surfaced in 1983 on Bob Dylan's Infidels album and toured with him in Europe then dropped from sight until now.

This disc has the fine guitar work that you would come to expect from someone of Taylor's caliber. Taylor's band is top notch and features keyboard player Max Middleton, who played with Jeff Beck in the early 70's so he knows a thing or two about backing up a guitarist. The opening cut, Secret Affair, has a bluesy, laid back groove that bodes well for the rest of the album. His chops are in fine form as are his arranging skills. Taylor's best songs on this album are the ones where he can stretch out and showcase his playing. Some of those include, Blues in the Morning, Morning comes, & Late at Night which has some tasty wah wah pedal guitar action and a groove that I defy you to not snap your fingers to.

One of the high points of this disc is Taylor's great arraignment of Dylan's Blind Willie McTell, Taylor goes from a sparse beginning to a full band blast that shows how tight his band is, they go into a blues-rock groove that does not stop.

Mick Taylor may not have the greatest voice in the world but it's enough to put his songs across. Every once in a while some of the lyrics sound cliched but it seems the focus is on the music anyway. These are a couple of minor points in a very good effort overall. A solid album that should hold up well with repeated listening. Taylor has enhanced the music of other bands so well, this should go far to show how much Taylor has enhanced his own music.

Pat Sweeney

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