Looking Back
Compilation album by
John Mayall
ReleasedAugust 1969[1]
RecordedFebruary 1963 – May 1969[1]
GenreBlues
Length37:54
LabelDecca (UK)
(Single L.P.)
Decca (TELDEC) (GER)
(Double L.P.)
ProducerJohn Mayall, Mike Vernon[1]
John Mayall chronology
Blues from Laurel Canyon
(1968) 		Looking Back
(1969) 		Thru the Years
(1969)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[2]

Looking Back is the seventh album released by John Mayall in August 1969 by Decca Records. The album features songs by both John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and John Mayall solo work. The album reached No. 79 on the Billboard 200.[3] Confusingly, there are two different albums with the title "Looking Back": a Decca UK release as a single album (SKL 5010)[1] and a Decca Germany (issued by TELDEC) release as a double album (DS 3104/1-2).[4] Later issues on CD would use the Deram label.

Album description

The German Decca release was a double album, whilst the UK Decca release only featured Eric Clapton on one track. However, the German release did not have the title track in its track listing, and the songs are not as rare, with several songs ("Parchman Farm", "Double Crossing Time", "The Super-Natural", "Steppin' Out", "Ramblin' on my Mind", "The Death of J. B. Lenoir", "Checking Up on my Baby", and "I Can't Quit You Baby") already released on The Bluesbreakers' studio albums (Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, A Hard Road, and Crusade).

Track listings

Decca UK release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original release[5]Length
1."Mr. James"John MayallB-side of Decca F119002:55
2."Blues City Shakedown"MayallB-side of Decca F121202:23
3."Stormy Monday"T-Bone WalkerPreviously unreleased4:36
4."So Many Roads"Paul Marshall, Paul WilliamsB-side of Decca F125064:46
5."Looking Back"Johnny "Guitar" WatsonA-side of Decca F125062:37
6."Sitting in the Rain"MayallA-side of Decca F125452:59
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."It Hurts Me Too"Mel London, Hudson WhittakerB-side of Decca F126212:57
2."Double Trouble"Otis Rush, M. MelkaA-side of Decca F126213:22
3."Suspicions (Part Two)"MayallB-side of Decca F126845:29
4."Jenny"MayallB-side of Decca F127324:38
5."Picture on the Wall"MayallA-side of Decca F127323:02

Decca Germany release

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Third Degree"Boyd3:17
2."Stormy Monday"T-Bone Walker4:34
3."Jenny"Mayall4:33
4."Picture on the Wall"Mayall3:03
5."Chicago Line"Mayall4:39
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Steppin' Out"James Bracken2:29
2."Have You Heard"Mayall5:54
3."Ramblin' on My Mind"Robert Johnson3:11
4."The Super-Natural"Peter Green2:54
5."Double Crossing Time"Mayall, Eric Clapton3:06
6."Parchman Farm"Mose Allison2:24
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dust My Blues"Elmore James2:47
2."You Don't Love Me"Willie Cobbs2:47
3."Don't Kick Me"Mayall3:09
4."Brown Sugar"Mayall3:41
5."The Death of J. B. Lenoir"Mayall4:17
6."Stand Back Baby"Mayall1:48
Side four
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Checkin' Up on My Baby"Sonny Boy Williamson3:49
2."I Can't Quit You Baby"Willie Dixon4:28
3."Sandy"Mayall3:46
4."Blood on the Night"Mayall8:59

Personnel

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers

Additional musicians

Production

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1969 Billboard 200 79[3]
UK Top 40 Albums 14[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Unterberger, Richie. "Looking Back". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  2. ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 428. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
  3. ^ a b "Billboard 200 - 3 October 1969". Billboard (magazine). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  4. ^ "John Mayall – Looking Back (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Artists: J". 45-rpm.org.uk. 10 February 1910. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  6. ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 134. CN 5585.
  7. ^ "John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers – Blues City Shakedown". YouTube. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2012.[dead YouTube link]
  8. ^ "Search the UK Top 40 Hit Database". everyHit. Type in "John Mayall" under "Name of Artist" and change Format to Albums
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