John Mayall Movies
Part of The Blues documentary film series on PBS, Red, White & Blues is directed by British filmmaker Mike Figgis. This installment explores the impact of black American blues music on mostly white audiences in the U.K., who then reintroduced the style to mainstream America during the British invasion of the early '60s. Kids from London, Birmingham, Manchester, and other parts of England were heavily influenced by the "race music" that middle-class white America largely ignored. Figgis himself was involved in the British blues music scene in one of Bryan Ferry's early bands. Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Van Morrison, and Lulu come together for a live improvised recording session at Abbey Road Studios. Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Mick Fleetwood, and Steve Winwood offer commentary in interview segments. Red, White & Blues was originally broadcast by PBS on October 3, 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 2003
- Add John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert to QueueAdd John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert to top of Queue
John Mayall is arguably the most important figure in the history of the British blues; when homegrown blues was still establishing itself in the United Kingdom, Mayall was the first successful bandleader and songwriter to emerge on the scene, and Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were just a few of the literally dozens of musicians who got their first break playing with Mayall's group The Bluesbreakers. In the summer of 2003, Mayall celebrated his seventieth birthday by doing what he loves best, playing the blues for an enthusiastic audience, and John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Friends: 70th Birthday Concert is a concert film which captures Mayall tearing it up with some help from his band and a few special guests (among them former bandmates Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor). Selections include "Walking On Sunset", "Blues For The Lost Days", "Talk To Your Daughter", "Please Mr. Lofton", and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Part of The Blues documentary series on PBS, The Soul of a Man is written and directed by Wim Wenders and narrated by Laurence Fishburne. This installment explores the work of the filmmaker's personal musical heroes: Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, and J.B. Lenoir. Through reenactments and archive footage, Wenders tells the personal stories of these highly influential and often underappreciated artists. Their musical legacy is interpreted through live performances by contemporary musicians like Bonnie Raitt, Cassandra Wilson, Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Lucinda Williams, Beck, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. He also incorporates rare clips from two 16 mm films shot during the '60s by Steve and Rönnog Seaberg. The Soul of a Man was originally broadcast by PBS on September 29, 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurence Fishburne, Keith B. Brown, (more)
- 1993
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British Blues maestro John Mayall, of John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, headlines the concert film Live from Austin, Texas: John Mayall - in which he performs a number of electrifying selections before a live audience in the Lone Star State. As filmed in 1993, this features the full concert that was later edited down to Mayall's appearance (vis-à-vis Bruce Hornsby, who does not appear here) on a 1994 episode of Austin City Limits. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Mayall
- 1987
This concert film features a typically fiery performance by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. This incarnation of the band, first formed in 1984, serves up nine songs including "Birthday Blues," "Little Girl," "Room to Move," and "One Life to Live." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Mayall, Coco Montoya, (more)
- 1985
The stage is set for a series of confrontations when photographer Mark Jefferson (Tom Eplin) agrees to help his friend Roger (John Mayall) defend his night club against a handful of organized crime figures. Mark has an added incentive for becoming involved as his ex-girlfriend Carol (Cheri Cameron Newell) sings at the club. But the gangsters are willing to use mayhem and murder in order to take over Roger's business. It appears that the petty mobsters are out to sell illegal weapons to anyone who wants them, especially L.A.'s youth, instead of using the club as a front for a prostitution ring as Roger suspects. Soon Mark and his trusty motorcycle have their work cut out for them. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Eplin, Cheri Cameron Newell, (more)
A live video shot at a 1982 New Jersey date by British blues icon John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers (which at the time included former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor), this concert turned out to be a summit meeting of some of the great names in blues when guitarists Albert King and Buddy Guy, harmonica player Junior Wells and singers Etta James and Sippie Wallace all showed up to sit in with the band. The result was a blues lover's dream show, with Albert, Buddy and Mick swapping fiery solos, Sippie and Etta wailing as only they can, and Junior adding his trademark harp attack. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1978
- PG
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Pop star Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees star in this musical, loosely based on the popular 1967 Beatles album Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In the story, Billy Shears, who now heads the Lonely Hearts Club Band, is the grandson of the famous Sergeant Pepper. He is confronted by the need to save the magical musical instruments of the band from the bad guys, led by music tycoon B.D. Brockhurst (Donald Pleasance), who want to steal them. If they succeed, the magic which infuses "Heartland U.S.A." will disappear. Among the many Beatles' songs performed in the film by well-known popular artists are: "She's Leaving Home" (Bee Gees, Jay MacIntosh, John Wheeler), "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" (Steve Martin), "Got To Get You into My Life (Earth, Wind & Fire), "When I'm 64" (Sandy Farina), "Come Together" (Aerosmith), "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (sung by the Bee Gees, Paul Nicholas), "With a Little Help from My Friends" (Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees), "Fixing a Hole" (George Burns), and "Get Back" (Billy Preston). ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Frampton, Barry Gibb, (more)
MVD presents an honest look at rhythm & blues of the '80s with this program culled from various performances from top musicians in the genre. Hosted by Ben Sidran of the Steve Miller Band, the keyboardist takes a look at each band and song as he guides the viewer through the old styles of the masters. Performers on the special include John Mayall, Chick Corea, and British bluesman Long John Baldrey. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
