Mick Taylor "Mick Taylor" 1979****

Of all the guitarists in The Rolling Stones (the others being Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Ronnie Wood), Mick Taylor was the most technically proficient and his period in the band (1969–74) was by far the Stones' best. His contribution to the music was important, although he was no showman when it came to performing live. Exactly why he left them at the peak of their success is uncertain. He probably felt out of place in the world of jet-setters, top models and drug dealers the Stones were moving at that time - or maybe he didn't like being called Mick no.2 (just joking). He had begun his career at the age of 16 with psychedelic rockers Gods, playing alongside future Uriah Heep and Jethro Tull members. At 18 he was called upon to fill some very big shoes, namely the lead guitarist spot in John Mayall's Bluebreakers, formerly occupied by Eric Clapton and Peter Green who had just left to form Fleetwood Mac. Two years later he replaced Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones, making his live debut in front of 250,000 people at the historic Hyde Park concert in 1969. "Mick Taylor" is his first album after leaving the Stones. You probably won't find it at your local record store, since it never sold well and drifts in and out of print. Many reasons for that are mentioned, one being that his vocals were rather ordinary and another that in 1979 his style was out of synch with current trends. One thing that can't be blamed is his guitar playing which is amazing throughout. He combines blues, rock and jazz, sometimes reminding of the Stones, others of Clapton and more often of Jeff Beck in his jazz-rock period. Which is why, although the vocals tracks are also nice, the instrumentals steal the show. Opener "Leather Jacket" was the projected "hit" of the album, but not the best song. It's rather typical rock of the era, something you might find in Bad Company or Stones album of the late 70's but you'd still not really notice. "Alabama"is much better, with great slide guitar like something from the Stones' "Let it Bleed" or "Sticky Fingers". "Slow Blues" is what it says, an instrumental with beautiful bluesy solos. "Baby I Want You" is a commercial bluesy ballad of the kind Eric Clapton produced in the same period. "Broken Hands" is the only bona fide rocker and the one that will remind you of The Rolling Stones."Giddy-Up" is a masterful instrumental and "S.W.5" another commercial blues rock ballad with a nice vocal by Mick. Closer "Spanish / A Minor" is his tour de force, a complex 12-minute piece with light and fluid playing in a variety of styles (Rock, Jazz and Latin). It's an amazing instrumental that proves Taylor was the equal of his more celebrated colleagues like Eric Clapton and David Gilmour. He nevertheless was never destined to have a solo career, lending his talents to, among others, Bob Dylan, Alvin Lee and John Mayall.

**** for Alabama, Slow Blues, Broken Hands, Spanish/A Minor

*** for Leather Jacket, Baby I Want You, Giddy-Up, S.W.5