Of course, naming his current band the "most creative" he has ever worked with is a tall order to fill, given that Mayall's ever-shifting Bluesbreakers lineup over the years has served as an apprenticeship/stopping point for a Who's Who of '60s British blues-rockers. Those include many who would go on to much greater fame, including Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce (Cream); Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac); Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones) and Andy Fraser (Free).

In fact, 1966's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton -- nicknamed the "Beano" record for the title of the comic book that Clapton is reading on the cover -- was hugely influential and is probably his best known release, coming in #195 on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

But after all the ensuing decades, is Mayall ever bothered that any article on him (including this one) and even his official bio makes so much of his former hires? Does he ever think, "Hey, that was my band? What about me?"

"Well, I suppose a little bit of that," Mayall laughs. "But that's what you get when the musicians that you've launched are so incredibly good. So it's natural for people to make that connection."

A little bit older than many of his '60s bandmembers, Mayall also handily used his huge record collection to influence their playing and outlook. But despite tales of young Englsh players hounding returning sailors for American records or -- in the case of Mick Jagger -- sending money to Chess Records in Chicago and then waiting until the precious discs were shipped back over to England, Mayall says it wasn't too hard finding the music. He says the older artists especially had all been handily issued in Britain.

"I had been collecting blues records quite easily from 1950 onwards, plenty of 78s around from artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson, Josh White, and Leadbelly," Mayall recalls. "Jagger and Clapton an all those guys didn't know about those artists [at first], they were mainly [interested] in the artists from Chess."

In a huge list of credits, one stands out in Mayall's career as being a bit interesting. At the end of the 1978 movie musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, his is one of dozens of "Guests of Pepperland" standing on huge risers belting out the title song.

The filming brought together a nothing-like-it-ever gathering of stars like Peter Frampton, the Bee Gees and George Burns, who appeared in the film, with a wildly divergent group of musicians and actors including Stephen Bishop, George Benson, Donovan, Leif Garrett, Etta James, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Rivers, Hank Williams, Jr., Sha Na Na, and...Carol Channing.

In one short bit, Mayall even gets a close-up turning his face in rhythm before the chorus begins again.

"I don't know whose idea it was, but it was a lot of fun!", he laughs, surprised at the question. "It lasted all day and was a great social meeting point. A fun time and a great party. A very good vibe!"

John Mayall performs tonight at Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N., The Woodlands. $88-$108, ticket price includes three course meal and soft drink. Dinner will be served between 6-7:30 p.m.

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