Editing John Mayall (section)

====Harvey Mandel as guitarist, 1970–1971====
Mayall continued the experiment of formations without drummers on two more albums, although he took on a new electric blues-rock-R&B band in guitarist [[Harvey Mandel]] and bassist [[Larry Taylor]], both plucked from [[Canned Heat]], and wailing violinist [[Don "Sugarcane" Harris]], lately of the [[Johnny Otis]] Show and formerly with [[The Mothers of Invention]].<ref name="LarkinBlues"/> On ''[[USA Union]]'' (recorded in Los Angeles, 27–28 July 1970), though, Mandel was compelled to make do without his remarkable [[sustain]] and usage of [[feedback]] as musical, even melodic, technique; and on ''Memories'' the band was stripped down to a trio with Taylor and [[The Ventures#Resurgence and decline in the US|Ventures]] guitarist [[Gerry McGee]].<ref name="LarkinBlues"/>

In November 1970, Mayall launched a recording project involving many of the most notable musicians with whom he had played during the previous several years. The double album ''[[Back to the Roots (John Mayall album)|Back to the Roots]]'' features Clapton, Mick Taylor, Gerry McGee and Harvey Mandel on guitar; Sugarcane Harris on violin; Almond on woodwinds; Thompson and Larry Taylor on bass; and Hartley on drums.<ref name="LarkinBlues"/> Paul Lagos was with Sugarcane and ended up drumming on five. Mayall wrote all the songs and sang all the vocals, as usual by now, plus played harmonica, guitar, keyboards, drums, and percussion. The London sessions took place in January 1971 and as such represent some of Clapton's last work before [[Derek and the Dominos]] attempted "[[Layla]]" follow-up sessions and band disintegration that spring.<ref name="Larkin"/>

''Back to the Roots'' did not promote new names, and ''USA Union'' and ''Memories'' had been recorded with American musicians.<ref name="LarkinBlues"/> Mayall had exhausted his catalytic role on the British blues-rock scene and was living in Los Angeles. Yet, the list of musicians who benefited from association with him, starting with ruling the London blues scene, remains impressive.<ref>[[Pete Frame]], The Complete Rock Family Trees, Omnibus Press 1993. {{ISBN|978-0-7119-0465-1}}</ref>