FEATURES

JOHN MAYALL SAVES THE DAY: How one Brit unearthed talent for American blues and kept the music alive—and some say better than ever—for the rest of us

ARTHUR LEE: The show goes on. Friends and strangers organize a benefit for a dying genius, and discover how hard being a benefactor can be. Robert Plant asks, “Can I sing some Zeppelin songs?”

DEPARTMENTS

From the Photo Editor: Matt Helminski travels to the forests of Japan to find Nathan’s, sake, and the great unifier, American music. Rokku N Roru!

Influences: Ike Turner and Pinetop Perkins helped make rock and blues what they are today. Go back 70 years to their early days, and listen up.

Kickin’ in Your Stall: You don’t have to be an old soul to have soul. Oli “Lightning” Brown may look like he’s playing hooky, but he’s channeling Hooker.

Stax Profiles: Eddie Floyd, Booker T and more

On the Record: Tom Petty’s misnamed—he’s Tom Major. Then Dylan, uh, then Elvis Costello, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Dinah Washington, Calexico, Gladys Knight and other major talents

Collecting: John Mayall. Fifty albums in 50 years, more-or-less. Here are the eleven must-haves.

Also Appearing: Bob Dylan (again, in print), Gram Parsons (still fascinating), the Byrds (ever harmonious), and Kris (in his prime)

Re.Issues: The definitive John Lee Hooker box set. Lesser-known gems from Roy Orbison, Edgar Winter and some righteous surfer dudes