Hailing from Macclesfeld, Cheshire, and growing up in Cheadle Hulme, John Mayall had already made a name for himself on the Manchester blues scene before relocating to London in 1963 at the urging of Alexis Korner. After gaining a fearsome reputation on the live circuit, Mayall signed a contract with Decca who realised the band he had, The Blues Breakers – Roger Dean on guitar, Hughie Flint on drums and John McVie on bass – were red hot and they needed to be captured live. Recorded on December 7 1964 – and reproduced here in glorious mono – at Klooks Kleek, above the Railway Hotel in West Hampstead, John Mayall Plays John Mayall was a fne debut, capturing the blues in front of an enthusiastic audience.