Chris Mayfield - Mayfield’s Mule

Unreleased (except in Uruguay!) blues-rock album escapes

No relation to Percy, nor Curtis, Chris Mayfield is a bluesman who’s still alive and kicking, unlike the aforementioned duo. This is the first release of an album recorded for EMI in 1969-70 that sees the light of day on an Italian label.

Aside from PP Arnold, who appears twice as backing vocalist, the most famous name featured is an engineer, one Alan Parsons. But the name that comes to mind on hearing the music is Mayfield’s then-labelmates, the pre-Ian Gillan Deep Purple. Hammond organ is well to the fore as Mayfield’s Chris Farlowe-esque tones tell his self-penned stories, but elsewhere there’s a Creedence-y ambience to tracks such as Drinking My Moonshine, which ride more on his guitar skills. This was one of two songs to make it onto a single at the time. But while all 11 tracks are worthy, they lack that extra 10- to-20 per cent in writing and musicianship that would make them memorable. Perhaps EMI felt Purple edged it…

Mayfield has just released a new solo album Standing In The Light, also on Night Wings, which has enough about it to justify the label of cult hero. Long may he continue to move on up…

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Night Wings | NWRCD 07

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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