Kevin Bryan delivers his verdict on some of this week's CD releases.

John Mayall,"The First Generation" (Madfish/Snapper)-This limited edition collection from the good people at Madfish extends over no less than 35 CDs as it explores the early musical legacy of venerable bluesman John Mayall.The all embracing package features newly remastered versions of all the albums that "The Godfather of British Blues" recorded for Polydor and Decca between 1965 and 1974, along with a string of unreleased BBC recordings and music from seven hitherto unheard live gigs in the late sixties and early seventies, including shows in Windsor, Gothenburg, Berlin and San Francisco. Macclesfield born Mayall seems to be much more notable for his ability to discover and nurture new talent than his own considerable capabilities as a writer and musician, and this anthology boasts superlative contributions from many of the luminaries who've passed through his various line-ups over the years, including Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and the late lamented Peter Green to name but a few.

"Dreamboats & Petticoats-Music That Lives Forever" (Decca)- The compilers of this easy on the ear 4 CD set have rounded up many of the usual suspects in order to populate their latest foray into the world of the archive anthology as they serve up no less than one hundred classic creations from pop's golden era half a century and more ago. The contents are obviously aimed fairly and squarely at record buyers of a certain age, with the inclusion of iconic contributions from the likes of The Who, Four Tops, Chicken Shack and The Zombies to name but a few destined to ensure very healthy sales figures for the latest addition to the highly lucrative "Dreamboats & Petticoats" series.

Ben Kunder,"Searching for the Stranger" (Comino Music)- Canadian singer-songwriter Ben Kunder is one of the leading lights of the country's indie folk scene, earning a whole host of criticial plaudits for his skilfully crafted musings on the vagaries of the human condition. The Toronto based musician's captivating follow-up to 2018's "Better Human" represents a distinct creative progression from its well received predecessor as Kunder embraces his deeply held belief that "the strange and weird can be beautiful too," unveiling subtly memorable gems such as "Berlin," "Stranger" and "Breaker" in the process.