Mick Taylor | |
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![]() Taylor performing in 2012 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | Little Mick |
Born | (1949-01-17)17 January 1949 (age 76) Welwyn Garden City,Hertfordshire, England |
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Occupations |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1964–present |
Labels | |
Formerly of |
Michael Kevin Taylor (born 17 January 1949) is an English guitarist, best known as a former member ofJohn Mayall's Bluesbreakers (1967–1969) andthe Rolling Stones (1969–1974). As a member of the Stones, he appeared onLet It Bleed (1969),Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out! (1970),Sticky Fingers (1971),Exile on Main St. (1972),Goats Head Soup (1973)It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974), andTattoo You (1981).
Since leaving the Rolling Stones in December 1974, Taylor has worked with numerous other artists and released several solo albums. From November 2012 onwards, he participated in the Stones' 50th-Anniversary shows in London and Newark, and in the band's50 & Counting tour, which included North America,Glastonbury Festival andHyde Park in 2013. He was ranked 37th inRolling Stone magazine's 2011 list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.[1]
Taylor was born to a working-class family inWelwyn Garden City, then raised inHatfield, Hertfordshire, England, where his father worked as afitter for theDe Havilland aircraft company.[2] He began playing guitar at age nine, learning from his mother's younger brother. As a teenager, he formed bands with schoolmates and started performing concerts under names such as the Juniors and the Strangers. They also appeared on television and put out a single.[3] Part of the band was recruited for a new group calledthe Gods, which includedKen Hensley (later ofUriah Heep fame). In 1966, the Gods opened forCream at the Starlite Ballroom inWembley.
On April 18, 1966, at age 17, Taylor went to see aJohn Mayall's Bluesbreakers performance at The Hop, Woodhall Community Centre, Welwyn Garden City, and sinceEric Clapton was absent, Taylor got to play in his stead.[4][citation needed] After playing the second set, and garnering Mayall's respect, Taylor left the stage, joined his friends and exited the venue before Mayall could speak with him. Still, this encounter proved pivotal in Taylor's career, when Mayall needed someone to fillPeter Green's vacancy the following year when Green quit to formFleetwood Mac. Mayall placed a 'Guitarist Wanted' advert in the weeklyMelody Maker music paper, and got a response from Taylor, whom he readily invited to join.[5] Taylor made his debut with the Bluesbreakers at theManor House, an old blues club in north London. For those in the music scene the night was an event ..."Let's go and see this 17-year-old kid try and replace Eric".[6]
Taylor toured and recorded the albumCrusade with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. From 1966 to 1969, Taylor developed a guitar style that is blues-based withLatin andjazz influences. He is the guitarist on the Bluesbreaker albumsCrusade,Diary of a Band,Bare Wires, andBlues from Laurel Canyon. Later in his career, he further developed his skills as aslide guitarist.
AfterBrian Jones and the Rolling Stones parted ways in June 1969, John Mayall andIan Stewart recommended Taylor toMick Jagger. Taylor believed he was being called in to be asession musician at his first studio session with the Rolling Stones.[7] An impressed Jagger andKeith Richards invited Taylor back the following day to continue rehearsing and recording with the band. He overdubbed guitar on "Country Honk" and "Live With Me" for the albumLet It Bleed, and on the single "Honky Tonk Women" released in the UK on 4 July 1969.[8][9]
Taylor's onstage debut as a Rolling Stone, at the age of 20, was thefree concert in Hyde Park, London on 5 July 1969. An estimated quarter of a million people attended for a show that turned into a tribute to Brian Jones, who had died two days before the concert.[10]
During their1972 American Tour,Truman Capote profiled members of the band for an ultimately unfinished article forRolling Stone; he would later describe Taylor toJohnny Carson onThe Tonight Show as "pretty, a littleJean Harlow blond-type, but dumb, and totally uninteresting."[11]
Between recording sessions, the band members were living in various countries as UK income tax exiles, with Taylor himself owing theInland Revenue £22,000 after having spent less than a year and a half in the band.[12]
Taylor took the opportunity to work on various side projects during his tenure with the Rolling Stones. In June 1973, he joinedMike Oldfield onstage at theQueen Elizabeth Hall in a performance of Oldfield'sTubular Bells. Taylor was asked to take part in this project byRichard Branson, as he felt Oldfield was a relative unknown, having just been signed to Branson's fledgling label,Virgin Records. Taylor joined Oldfield once more for aBBC television broadcast in November 1973. Taylor would also perform on theHerbie Mann albumsLondon Underground andReggae, both recorded in 1973.
After the1973 European tour (during which Taylor had taken to playing alongside opening actBilly Preston), Richards' drug problems had worsened, and began to compromise the band's ability to function.[13] In November 1973, Taylor underwent surgery for acutesinusitis and missed some of the sessions when the band began working on the LPIt's Only Rock 'n Roll atMusicland Studios in Munich.[14]Tony Sanchez, a photographer and acquaintance, would later allege that this was related to Taylor's "ever-increasing"[15] use ofcocaine, although Taylor would later dismiss this as "complete rubbish."[7] Not much was achieved during the first ten days at Musicland, but most of the actual recordings were made there in January 1974, and in April atStargroves, Jagger's estate inHampshire. When Taylor resumed work with the band, he found it difficult to get along with Richards, who was reportedly abusive, discouraging him from playing and surreptitiously erasing riffs which he had already recorded.[16] Bill Wyman recalled that Taylor began to "get very, very moody and frustrated."[17] According to Rolling Stones producerAndy Johns, Taylor complained that Jagger and Richards "won't let me write any songs. Any time I have an idea I'm blocked out."[17] Johns stated that he encouraged Taylor to leave the band, and that although Taylor "would have left anyway",[18] he blamed himself for instigating it. "It was the worst thing I ever did. It wasn't a smart move...though they were jolly surprised when he quit. 'What is he, insane? No one's ever left us before!"[18]
Not long after those recording sessions, Taylor went on a six-week expedition toBrazil, travelling down theAmazon River in a boat and exploring Latin music. Just before the release of the album in October 1974, Taylor told music journalistNick Kent from theNME about the new LP and that he had co-written "Till the Next Goodbye" and "Time Waits for No One" with Jagger.[citation needed] Kent told Taylor he had seen the finished artwork for the sleeve, which revealed the absence of any songwriting credits for Taylor,[19] who "went silent for a second before muttering a curt 'We'll see about that!" almost under his breath. Actually, he sounded more resigned that anything else".[20] Kent claimed that Taylor's wife had encouraged him to leave the band, and dismissively stated that Taylor "felt he should get songwriting credits because Keith hadn't turned up to a few sessions and he'd done a few riffs with Jagger,"[21] while Richards claimed that Taylor "never really wrote things, in spite of what he said",[21] and that he could have resolved his creative frustrations and engaged in solo projects while still remaining a part of the band.
I was a bit peeved about not getting credit for a couple of songs, but that wasn't the whole reason [I left the band]. I guess I just felt like I had enough. I decided to leave and start a group withJack Bruce. I never really felt, and I don't know why, but I never felt I was gonna stay with the Stones forever, even right from the beginning.[7]
We used to fight and argue all the time. And one of the things I got angry about was that Mick had promised to give me some credit for some of the songs – and he didn't. I believed I'd contributed enough. Let's put it this way – without my contribution those songs would not have existed. There's not many but enough, things like "Sway" and "Moonlight Mile" onSticky Fingers and a couple of others."[22]
However, at the time, Taylor, who was apparently "determined to leave with a minimum of fuss",[15] claimed that there "was no personal animosity in the split",[15] and that his decision "had nothing whatsoever to do"[15] with credits and royalties.
Taylor's last broadcast appearance with the Rolling Stones before his departure was in the promotional videos for "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg".[23]
In December 1974, Taylor announced he was leaving the Rolling Stones. He was attending a party hosted by Eric Clapton in London with Mick Jagger,Ronnie Wood and record producerMarshall Chess.[17] At some point, Taylor allegedly told Jagger he was quitting the band and walked out. Taylor's decision came as a shock to many.[24] The Rolling Stones were due to start recording a new album inMunich, and the entire band was reportedly angry at Taylor for leaving at such short notice.[25] Jagger claimed that he "received a call from the office that Mick Taylor wasn't coming to the Munich sessions. Then I received a call saying Mick Taylor wasn't going anywhere anymore with the Stones."[17] In response to questions about who would replace Taylor, Jagger spitefully commented: "No doubt we can find a brilliant six foot, three inch blond guitarist who can do his own makeup."[17] Jagger later stated that " I suppose it was a bit inconsiderate of him to inform us a day before we were about to enter the studios...but maybe he hadn't made up his mind until that point".[17] Bill Wyman claimed that "It was a very inconvenient time [...] I didn't think he did it very politely."[17] Richards allegedly sent Taylor a telegram the day after he left the band, stating: "'Really enjoyed playing with you for the last five years. Thanks for all the turn-ons. Best wishes and love.'" According to his wife, Rose, "Mick just read it and started crying.""[21] Taylor's departure was officially announced on 12 and 16 December 1974: "After five and a half years Mick [Taylor] wishes a change of scene—wants the opportunity to try out new ventures, new endeavours. While we are all most sorry that he is going, we wish him great success and much happiness".[17] Taylor made a statement to the press:
The last five-and-a-half years with the Stones have been very exciting and proved to be a most inspiring period. And as far as my attitude to the other four members in concerned, it is one of respect for them, both as musicians and as people. I have nothing but admiration for the group, but I feel now is the time to move on and do something new.
— Mick Taylor, 20 December 1974[17]
However, Taylor would later reveal that behind the scenes, things were more complicated:
By 1974, I felt I'd gone as far as I could with the band. I didn't think they'd stay together. The records were doing well but the band was falling apart—it was in chaos...I told the Stones' office I was leaving, they asked for my goldAmex card. Mick [Jagger] tried to persuade me to stay, but I told him I was fed up and how my drug problems were beginning to worry me. Mick suggested taking six months off, but I've never been good at taking advice. Maybe I should have listened.
— Mick Taylor, in a 2009 interview[18]
When interviewed byJann Wenner ofRolling Stone in 1995, Wenner wrote that Jagger had stated that Taylor never explained why he had left, and surmised that "[Taylor] wanted to have a solo career. I think he found it difficult to get on with Keith." In the same Wenner interview, Jagger had reportedly said of Taylor's contribution to the band: "I think he had a big contribution. He made it very musical. He was a very fluent, melodic player, which we never had, and we don't have now. Neither Keith nor Ronnie Wood (who replaced Taylor) plays that kind of style. It was very good for me working with him .... Mick Taylor would play very fluid lines against my vocals. He was exciting, and he was very pretty, and it gave me something to follow, to bang off. Some people think that's the best version of the band that existed".[26] Asked if he agreed with that assessment, Jagger said: "I obviously can't say if I think Mick Taylor was the best, because it sort of trashes the period the band is in now."[27]Charlie Watts stated: "I think we chose the right man for the job at that time just as Ronnie was the right man for the job later on. I still think Mick is great. I haven't heard or seen him play in a few years. But certainly what came out of playing with him are musically some of the best things we've ever done".[28][page needed] In an October 2002Guitar World interview, Richards reflected on his relationship with Taylor: "Mick Taylor and I worked really well together ... He had some lovely energy. Sweetly sophisticated playing, way beyond his years. Lovely sense of melody. I never understood why he left the Stones. Nor does he, I think ... I had no desire to see him go."[29] Taylor later admitted in the 2012 documentaryCrossfire Hurricane that he left because he wanted to protect his family from the drug culture surrounding the band. He further stated that in order to stay alive and fight his own demons (Taylor had turned into a drug addict himself by 1973), he needed to escape the realm of the Stones.[30]
In an essay about the Rolling Stones published after Taylor's resignation,The New York Times music criticRobert Palmer wrote that "Taylor is the most accomplished technician who ever served as a Stone. A blues guitarist with a jazzman's flair for melodic invention, Taylor was never a rock and roller and never a showman."[31]
Taylor has worked with his former bandmates on various occasions since leaving the Rolling Stones. In 1977 he attended London-based sessions for theJohn Phillips albumPay Pack & Follow, appearing on several tracks alongside Jagger (vocals), Richards (guitar) and Wood (bass).
On 14 December 1981 he performed with the band during their concert atKemper Arena inKansas City, Missouri.[9] Richards appeared on stage at a Mick Taylor show at theLone Star Cafe in New York on 28 December 1986, jamming on "Key to the Highway" and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"; and Taylor is featured on one track ("I Could Have Stood You Up") on Richards' 1988 albumTalk is Cheap. TheRock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Taylor along with the Rolling Stones in 1989.[32] Taylor also worked withBill Wyman's Rhythm Kings in the early 1990s.
In addition to his contributions to Rolling Stones albums released during his tenure with the band, Taylor's guitar is also on two tracks on their 1981 releaseTattoo You: "Tops" and "Waiting on a Friend", which were recorded in 1972. (Taylor is sometimes mistakenly credited as playing on "Worried About You", but the solo on that track is performed byWayne Perkins.)[33]
Taylor's onstage presence with the Rolling Stones is preserved on the albumGet Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, recorded over four concerts atMadison Square Garden in New York and theBaltimore Civic Center in November 1969, and on the albumBrussels Affair (Live 1973), compiled from two shows recorded inBrussels on 17 October 1973 in theForest National Arena, during theirEuropean Tour. Taylor's live performances also feature in the documentary filmsStones in the Park (released on DVD in 2001),Gimme Shelter (released in 1970) andCocksucker Blues (unreleased); and in the concert filmLadies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (shown in cinemas in 1974, and released on DVD and Blu-ray in 2010); these performances were also released on an album with the same title. Bootleg recordings from the Rolling Stones' tours from 1969 through 1973 also document Taylor's concert performances with the Rolling Stones.
For the 2010 re-release ofExile on Main St. Taylor worked with Jagger at a London studio in November 2009 to record new guitar and vocal parts for the previously unreleased song, "Plundered My Soul". The track was selected by the Rolling Stones for release as a limited edition single onRecord Store Day.
On 24 October 2012, the Rolling Stones announced, via their latestRolling Stone magazine interview, thatBill Wyman and Mick Taylor were expected to join the Rolling Stones on stage at the upcoming November shows in London. Richards went on to say that the pair would strictly be guests. At the two London shows on 25 and 29 November, Taylor played on "Midnight Rambler".[34][35]
During an interview on theLate Night with Jimmy Fallon show (broadcast on 8 April 2013), Richards stated that Taylor would be performing with the Stones for their upcoming 2013 tour dates.[36] Between 25 November 2012 and 13 July 2013 Taylor joined the Stones'50 & Counting Tour performing at each of the 30 shows across Europe and North America, including sitting in on four songs at theStaples Center in Los Angeles[37] and several numbers during their headline set at theGlastonbury Festival.[38] The tour ended with two concerts at Hyde Park, London, which resulted in the album,Hyde Park Live and the concert filmSweet Summer Sun: Live in Hyde Park. He once again accompanied the Stones between 21 February and 22 November 2014 for the 29 dates of the14 On Fire concerts across Asia, Europe and Australia/New Zealand.[citation needed]
After his resignation from the Rolling Stones, Taylor was invited by Jack Bruce to form a new band with keyboardistCarla Bley and drummerBruce Gary. In 1975 the band began rehearsals in London with tour dates scheduled for later that year. The group toured Europe, with a sound leaning more toward jazz, including a performance at the DutchPinkpop Festival, but disbanded the following year. A performance, recorded on 1 June 1975 (which was finally released on CD in 2003 asLive at the Manchester Free Trade Hall by The Jack Bruce Band), and another performance fromThe Old Grey Whistle Test, seem to be the only material available from this brief collaboration. Tony Sanchez claimed to have encountered Taylor some time after he left the Rolling Stones "living with a lady who pushedcocaine for a living",[15] and that "he had been reduced to selling off hisgold discs."[15]
Taylor appeared as a special guest ofLittle Feat at London'sRainbow Theatre in 1977, sharing slide guitar with then-frontmanLowell George on "A Apolitical Blues": this song appears on Little Feat's critically acclaimed live albumWaiting for Columbus.[39]
In the summer of 1977, Taylor collaborated withPierre Moerlen's Gong for the albumExpresso II, released in 1978. Taylor began writing new songs and recruiting musicians for a solo album and worked on projects with Miller Anderson,Alan Merrill and others. He was present at many of the recording sessions for John Phillips' prospective second solo album. The recordings for Phillips' LP took place in London over a prolonged period between 1973 and 1977. This led to Taylor working with Keith Richards and Mick Jagger who were also involved with the album. The LP was to be released on the Stones' own labelRolling Stones Records (distributed byAtlantic Records).Ahmet Ertegun decided to pull the plug on the project after hearing alarming reports of excessive drug use by Phillips and Richards, but bootleg recordings of the sessions circulated among fans under the titles "Half Stoned" and "Phillips '77". EventuallyEagle Rock Records made funds available to restore the original, rescued tapes and the album finally saw an official release in 2002 asPay Pack & Follow.[citation needed]
In 1977 Taylor signed a solo recording deal withColumbia Records. By April 1978 he had given several interviews to music magazines to promote a new, completed album which mixed rock, jazz and Latin-flavoured blues musical styles. The album, titledMick Taylor, was finally released by Columbia Records in 1979 and reached No. 119 on theBillboard charts in early August, with a stay of five weeks on theBillboard 200.[citation needed] CBS advised Taylor to promote the album through American radio stations but was unwilling to back him for any supporting tour.[citation needed] Frustrated with this situation, Taylor took a break from the music industry for about a year.
In 1981 he toured Europe and the United States withAlvin Lee ofTen Years After, sharing the bill withBlack Sabbath. He spent most of 1982 and 1983 on the road with John Mayall, for the "Reunion Tour" withJohn McVie of Fleetwood Mac andColin Allen. During this tourBob Dylan showed up backstage atThe Roxy in Los Angeles to meet Taylor.[citation needed]
In 1983,Taylor joinedMark Knopfler and played on Dylan'sInfidels album. He also appeared on Dylan's live albumReal Live, as well as the follow-up studio albumEmpire Burlesque. In 1984, Dylan asked Taylor to assemble an experienced rock and roll band for a European tour he signed withBill Graham.Ian McLagan was hired to play piano and Hammond organ, Greg Sutton to play bass and Colin Allen, a long-time friend of Taylor, on drums. The tour lasted for four weeks at venues such as Munich's Olympic Stadium Arena and Milan's San Siro Stadium, sharing the bill withCarlos Santana andJoan Baez, who appeared on the same bill for a couple of shows.[citation needed]
Taylor performed the lead guitar solo on the 1988Joan Jett & the Blackhearts top-10 single, "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Taylor guested with theGrateful Dead on 24 September 1988 at the last show of that year's Madison Square Garden run in New York. Taylor lived in New York throughout the 1980s. He battled with addiction problems before getting back on track in the second half of the 1980s and moving to Los Angeles in 1990.[citation needed] During this time Taylor did session work and toured in Europe, America and Japan with a band including; either Eric Parker or Bernard Purdie on drums, Wilbur Bascomb on bass,Max Middleton (formerly of theJeff Beck Group),Shane Fontayne, andBlondie Chaplin. He also played on the Dramarama albumVinyl, a throwback to classic rock that Taylor was an important part of from the previous decade, playing all guitar tracks, which, ironically, included The Rolling Stones slide guitar song "Memo From Turner". In 1990, his CDStranger in This Town was released by Maze Records, backed up by a mini-tour including the record release party at theHard Rock Cafe as well as gigs at theParadise Theater.
He began what was to be a significant series of collaborations with Los Angeles basedCarla Olson with their "Live at the Roxy" albumToo Hot For Snakes, the centrepiece of which is an extended seven-minute performance of "Sway". Another highlight is the lead track on the album, "Who Put the Sting (On the Honey Bee)", by Olson's then-bassistJesse Sublett. It was followed by Olson'sWithin An Ace, which featured Taylor on seven songs. He appeared on three songs fromReap The Whirlwind and then again on Olson'sThe Ring of Truth, on which he plays lead guitar on nine tracks, including a twelve-minute version of the song "Winter". Further work by Olson and Taylor can be heard on the Olson-producedBarry Goldberg albumStoned Again. Taylor went on to appear onPercy Sledge'sBlue Night (1994), along withSteve Cropper,Bobby Womack andGreg Leisz.[citation needed]
After spending two years as a resident of Miami, during which time he played with a band called 'Tumbling Dice' featuringBobby Keys,Nicky Hopkins and others, Taylor moved back to England in the mid-1990s. He released a new album in 1998 entitledA Stone's Throw. Playing at clubs and theatres as well as appearing at festivals has kept Taylor connected with an appreciative audience and fan base.[citation needed]
In 2003, Taylor reunited with John Mayall for his70th Birthday Concert in Liverpool along with Eric Clapton. A year later, in autumn 2004, he also joined John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers for a UK theatre tour. He toured the US East Coast with theExperience Hendrix group during October 2007. The Experience Hendrix group appeared at a series of concerts to honourJimi Hendrix and his musical legacy. Players included Taylor,Mitch Mitchell,Billy Cox,Buddy Guy,Hubert Sumlin andRobby Krieger.
On 1 December 2010, Taylor reunited with Ronnie Wood at a benefit gig arranged by blues guitaristStephen Dale Petit to save the100 Club in London. Other special guests at the show wereDick Taylor (first bassist in the Rolling Stones) and blues/jazz trombonistChris Barber. Taylor toured the UK with Petit, appearing as his special guest, featured on a Paul Jones BBC Radio 2 session with him and guested on Petit's 2010 album,The Crave.[40]
Taylor also helped to promote theBoogie for Stu album, recorded by Ben Waters to honour Ian Stewart (original Stones pianist and co-founder of the band), by taking part in a concert to mark the CD's official launch at the Ambassadors Theatre, London on 9 March 2011. Proceeds from the event were donated to theBritish Heart Foundation. Although Jagger and Richards didn't show up, Taylor noticeably enjoyed performing with Watts, Wood and Wyman, among others[citation needed]. In 2012, Taylor rejoined the Rolling Stones as a special guest on their 50 & Counting Tour, typically performing "Midnight Rambler" in a prominent lead guitar role.[41]
Guns N' Roses guitaristSlash states that Taylor had the biggest influence on him.[42]
Throughout his career, Taylor has used various guitars, but is mostly associated with theGibson Les Paul. His first Les Paul was bought when he was still playing with The Gods (from Selmer's, London in '65). He acquired his second Les Paul in 1967, not long after joining The Bluesbreakers: Taylor came toOlympic Studios to buy a Les Paul that Keith Richards wanted to sell.[43] On the '72/'73 tours Taylor used a couple of Sunburst Les Paul guitars without aBigsby. Other guitars include aGibson ES-355 for the recording ofSticky Fingers andExile on Main St., aGibson SG on the 1969, 1970 and 1971 tours. and occasionally aFender Stratocaster and aFender Telecaster.[citation needed]. For the instructional DVD,Mick Taylor: Rock Blues and Slide Guitar, he uses a Stratocaster. He started using theVigier Excalibur in 1997.
Though Taylor is primarily known as an electric guitarist he has also contributed acoustic guitar, bass guitar,[44][45] backing vocals,[46] keyboards[47][45] and synthesizers[47][45] to solo and guest recordings.
Taylor has been married twice and has two daughters. Chloe (born 6 January 1971) is a daughter by his first wife, Rose Millar (sister ofRobin Millar).[48] Taylor married Millar in 1975 after leaving the Stones, but the relationship was reportedly "in tatters"[15] before long and resulted in divorce only a few years later. Taylor's daughter, Emma, was born from a short relationship with an American woman, Susan McMinamin, who sang backing vocals with Taylor's band on one occasion.[49][50] Taylor is in a relationship with Marlies Damming. They live in Damming's homecountry of theNetherlands.[51]
Non-Rolling Stones work with Rolling Stones members:
Note:Too Hot For Snakes andThe Ring of Truth were released by Fuel/Universal autumn of 2012 as a 2-CD set with three bonus tracks including two previously unreleased songs from the Roxy Theatre.[citation needed]"Sway: The Best of Carla Olson & Mick Taylor" ~ a vinyl-only compilation, December 2020 on Sunset Blvd Records.
Music DVDs – Unofficial
Taylor played guitar on various songs, including "Hello Mary Lou" after developing ideas for the soundtrack withJohn Phillips.
Music composers: Mick Taylor andMax Middleton