John Mayall - Wake Up Call

 AllMusic Review by Roch Parisien

Fuelled by Coco Montoya's searing but economical string-slashing, drummer Joe Yuele, and bassist Rick Cortes, John Mayall has managed to keep a stable core of Bluesbreakers together in recent years. Mayall rarely does the same album twice, and Wake Up Call finds him returning to a basic, physical sound after 1990's more progressive/highly produced A Sense of Place. The harp whiz has rarely flirted with the pop charts over the decades, a track record that will likely handicap the title track - a potential hit featuring guest vocalist Mavis Staples and some take-charge riffing from former mate Mick Taylor. For pure guitar joy though, Montoya turns the trick all on his own with barnburners "Loaded Dice" and "Nature's Disappearing."

John Mayall
Wake Up Cal
1993

Special Guests: Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Mick Taylor, Mavis Staples 01. Mail Order Mystic. 0:14 02. Maydell. 4:58 03. I Could Cry. 9:00 04. Wake Up Call. 14:12 05. Loaded Dice. 18:30 06. Undercover Agent For The Blues. 23:01 07. Light The Fuse. 28:25 08. Anything I Can Say. 32:44 09. Nature’s Disappearing. 36:31 10. I’m A Sucker For Love. 41:27 11. Not At Home. 45:38 12. Ain’t That Lovin’ You Baby. 49:49 1 Mail Order Mystics Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Percussion – Dave McNair. Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar – David Grissom. Vocals, Harmonica – John Mayall. Written-By – Chris Smither 2 Maydell Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Vocals, Harmonica – John Mayall. Written-By – Johnny Neel, Warren Haynes 3 I Could Cry Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Vocals, Lead Guitar – Buddy Guy. Vocals, Piano – John Mayall. Written-By – Junior Wells 4 Wake Up Call Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Tom Canning. Lead Guitar – Mick Taylor. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Saxophone – Joe Sublett. Trumpet – Darrell Leonard. Vocals – John Mayall, Mavis Staples. Written-By – David Egan, David Love Lewis 5 Loaded Dice Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Percussion – Mike Bruno. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Vocals – John Mayall. Written-By – Gary Nicholson, Wally Wilson 6 Undercover Agent For The Blues Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Percussion – Mike Bruno. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer], Harmonica – John Mayall. Written By – Leanne And Tony Joe White. 7 Light The Fuse Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Albert Collins. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Percussion – Mike Bruno. Rhythm Guitar – Coco Montoya, David Grissom. Saxophone – Joe Sublett. Trumpet – Darrell Leonard. Vocals, Harmonica – John Mayall. Written-By – John Mayall 8 Anything I Can Say Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Rick Cortes. Drums, Backing Vocals – Joe Yuele. Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Coco Montoya, David Grissom. Vocals, Lead Guitar, Harmonica, Backing Vocals – John Mayall. Written-By – Brendan Croker 9 Nature's Disappearing Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Saxophone – Joe Sublett. Trumpet – Darrell Leonard. Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – John Mayall. Written-By – John Mayall 10 I'm A Sucker For Love Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Albert Collins, Coco Montoya. Organ [Hammond] – Tom Canning. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Saxophone – Joe Sublett. Trumpet – Darrell Leonard. Vocals – John Mayall. Written-By – John Mayall 11 Not At Home Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Mick Taylor. Percussion – Mike Bruno. Rhythm Guitar – Coco Montoya. Vocals, Organ [Hammond], Synthesizer [Flute] – John Mayall. Written-By – John Mayall 12 Ain't That Lovin' You Baby Arranged By – John Mayall. Backing Vocals – Maggie Mayall. Bass Guitar – Rick Cortes. Drums – Joe Yuele. Lead Guitar – Coco Montoya. Rhythm Guitar – David Grissom. Saxophone – Joe Sublett. Trumpet – Darrell Leonard. Vocals, Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – John Mayall. Written-By – Jimmy Reed