JOHN MAYALL/THE DIARY OF A BAND VOLUME 2 LK 4919 (-68) UK MONO

 

For more background also check the post on "Volume 1". No need for format comparison here since this mono is a known fold. Live performances from the tour following the "Crusade" release, captured by Mayall himself on an even for its time rudimentury tape recorder.  I ususally care about audio, but though this is quite bad it still delivers snap shots of how the band sounded back then, nothing gained nothing lost.  Even if this mono sounds a little more damp than the stereo (see earlier post), it's not by much and they both forward the same club milleu feeling.  Direct and uncensured,  very right on, very close and very cozy.  Rather messy at parts, but I guess that's the way even some of the live audience got it. As a live album it has got quite a bad rep, still to my my ears acceptable and it's nice to hear the 1968 setting including Keef Heartly, a very young Mick Taylor and even Paul Williams pitching in on one track.  So far from an audiophile treat, but an important part of British music history.  To my knowledge only issued in Europe and Downunder.  German 1994 CD on Deram (844 030-2). Premiere UK had ridged label as shown here and laminate cover.  (MÄH*)  (LYBÖ*)