IN THE PALACE OF THE KING CD - $18.00

Released April 16, 2007

TRACK LISTING
1. You Know That You Love Me
2. Going Down
3. Some Other Day, Some Other Time
4. Palace Of The King
5. I'd Rather Be Blind
6. Time To Go
7. Big Legged Woman
8. Now I've Got A Woman
9. I Love You More Every Day
10. Help Me Through The Day
11. Cannonball Shuffle
12. You've Got Me Licked
13. King Of The Kings
14. Living On The Highway
IN THE PALACE OF THE KING A tribute to the music of Freddie King. "He was a big man from Texas, he played an even bigger guitar/He was the king of the Kings, born to be a superstar" From "King of the Kings" (Mayall)

"The Bluesbreakers have been associated with the music of Freddie King right from the beginning," Mayall says. "So it was a logical step for the band to record an album of songs written by him or closely associated with him."

That album, "In The Palace of the King", is Mayall's 56th official release, and in a recording career defined by consistent excellence in his choice of material - whether it be his own compositions or his interpretations of other people's - it is already being talked about as one of Mayall's very best collections.		  
Don Nix's "Goin' Down" is probably the best known song here, with its hefty backbeat, furiously pedalling bass and a vocal that comes tumbling over the bar-lines like rocks rolling down a hill. In a similar blues-rock vein, the autobiographical "Palace of the King" - written by Nix, Leon Russell and Duck Dunn - gets given an energetic dusting down, with Mayall navigating an uncharacteristically joyous lyric which finds the King of Texas visiting, among others, the Queen of England ("She really dug my style").

At the other end of the emotional spectrum there is Russell's minor-key lament "Help Me Through The Day", this time sung by Mayall in a voice steeped in sweet, sad emotion and fleshed out by some superb horn arrangements and soloing. Buddy Whittington, himself a Texan, from Fort Worth, takes the lead vocals on "Big Legged Woman", putting a dynamic spin on yet another Leon Russell classic co-written by Chuck Blackwell.

For fans of instrumental work-outs, there is a tribute to Freddie - "Cannonball Shuffle", in which composer (and special guest guitarist) Robben Ford is backed by John on harmonica, Buddy Whittington on rhythm guitar with drummer Joe Yuele, bassist Hank Van Sickle and regular organist Tom Canning laying out a faultless groove.

The album is rounded out by two of Mayall's own compositions, a fabulous, horn-drenched slow blues called "Time to Go", and a sprightly boogie-woogie piano strut called "King of the Kings" which pays due homage to the long absent star of the show. (David Sinclair)