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Product Description
Product Description
Rarely has any single record album induced such a shift in popular music. Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton not only catapulted Clapton to the helm of the burgeoning British blues-rock scene, it likewise made significant noise on the other side of the Atlantic--where the blues had literally been born, bred, and buttered. In addition to Mayall (guitar/vocals) and Clapton (guitar/vocals), this incarnation of the Blues Breakers utilises the talents of John McVie (bass) and Hughie Flint (drums). As a combo, this band was able to reinvent the American blues for a fresh audience whose ultimate response would give rise to subgenres such as heavy metal and other roots-related rock. While their contributions prove immeasurable, they are likewise sadly eclipsed by that of Clapton. In retrospect--unlike many of the other revolutionary changes occurring in pop music circa the mid-60s--the Blues Breakers are infinitely more subtle in their attack. Their most obvious weapon is the advantage of documenting in-the-studio material from their live performance set. Clapton needed precious little time to gestate the blues. His ability to express himself is uncanny, as if he were a man twice--if not three times--his age. The passionate inflections and unforgettable impressions Clapton makes upon these grooves swiftly catapulted him into both international exposure as well as legendary guitar rock idol status. Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton is an invaluable touchstone into primordial pre-metal rock & roll. --Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Product Description
CD =Remastered In 24 Bit Cont. Stereo & Mono Version=
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I first listened to this disc as a fifteen year-old and music was never the same thereafter. I started hunting straight away for the original US musicians who had inspired first Mayall and then the unbelievably young Clapton. And I'm still listening to the fruits of that search. Meantime it opened me up to the expanding British Blues scene and subsequently other new British genres, all the way from Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack, to The Groundhogs, Steeleye and Fairport. The music itself is quite simply inspired, mainly by the fusion of the very different talents of the individuals involved. I'm not sure that Mayall ever wrote, sang or played as well again 'though Clapton went on to far greater things. Just listen to Track 5, Double Crossin' Time, written by the both of them, which displays their different talents perfectly. This disc is one of those very rare seminal recordings which brings as much pleasure now as on the day it came off the presses.
61 of 62 people found the following review helpful
By Bob Heath
Format:Audio CD
Although John Mayall used a series of lead guitarists for his Bluesbreakers band in the 60s and 70s, including Peter Green and Mick Taylor, it was Clapton who really shone, as his guitar talent had already been formed with the Yardbirds. However, this is not an Eric Clapton album, as the main performer, and band leader, was Mayall himself who was an experienced and exciting blues player. Additionally, strong backing support was provided on bass guitar by John McVie (later Fleetwood Mac) and Hughie Flint on drums to what is going on out front. This one of the two best Mayall recordings, and Clapton features very strongly throughout. Indeed, his work here is probably stronger than the later Cream recordings. This is essential rhythm and blues from a period when good R & B bands were a dominant feature of the UK music scene (Rory Gallagher; Victor Brox: etc), and where Mayall represented the pinnacle. If you like blues and/or Clapton do not miss this one.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By thegdog
Format:Audio CD
The best guitar player of the time on top of his game. Classic tracks. The perfect combination of guitar and amp. Incredible solos... Listening to this album it is easy to see why rock took the directions it did. This is the blueprint for pretty much every rock/blues album that followed, and in my opinion the closest Clapton ever got to this ever again is on Layla... This is Essential.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By S. Roberts
Format:Audio CD
This is the album that launched the Gibson Les Paul + Marshall amp combination that has defined the sound of rock for so long. It is worth buying for that alone. Absolute, pure, smooth but crunchy, toney goodness! Thankfully, the music is top notch, ranging from the energetic opener to the instrumental "Steppin Out", to the drum solo and tribute to the Beatles' "Day Tripper" on "What'd I Say?". Excellent stuff.
65 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Few albums have had greater impact than the landmark John Mayall With Eric Clapton "Blues Breakers." Released by the Decca label in Britain on 22 July 1966, literally days after Clapton quit the Bluesbreakers and just a week before Cream's debut, it went all the way to #6, a pretty mean feat since Mayall's band had never had a hit single. This may have been a first in Britain.
Of course, this is the album that set the blues and guitar worlds aflame and established Eric Clapton's name worldwide as the most passionate of musical interpreters. If you haven't yet heard "Beano" (as the album is affectionately known, because Clapton is pictured reading "The Beano" comic book on its cover), then you ain't heard nuthin' yet!
From the album's first notes, you realize that you're in guitar heaven, as "Slowhand" shows us the way electric guitar can and should be played. Clapton's virtuoso playing is white-hot throughout. Playing with maturity beyond his 21 years, the young Eric Clapton was so influential that Gibson eventually reissued the (out-of-production since 1960) Les Paul model guitar, which Clapton then played.
John Mayall's Bluesbreakers served--and still serves today--as a finishing school for great musicians and sidemen (Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, John McVie, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Mick Fleetwood, Coco Montoya and others). Mayall's proselytizing the blues (he's 69 years old!), his songwriting skills, and his other musical talents should not be ignored nor taken lightly.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By Alan Burridge
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
On a week's holiday with my parent's in Littlehampton in Sussex during the summer of '66, as ever, I found a record shop. Without much money as I was still at school, (just), I had the choice, in my mind anyway, between two albums; The Mother's Of Invention's 'Freakout,' and 'Bluesbreakers.' Maybe there had been a lot of publicity at the time about 'Freakout,' I can't remember, but for some reason I was torn between which one to buy. Probably the fact that I was a Yardbirds fan and had listened to 'Five Live' a great deal made up my mind, and I plumped for 'Bluesbreakers.' It was to be the wisest move and the best purchase I ever made. As a then, and still now, 'would-be' guitarist, this album, for its time in rock history, had everything you wanted and more, and has pretty much stayed that way over the ensuing years. To play with this degree of skill and feeling at Clapton's age of 21 at the time, was and is incredible. At 15, he was almost an old man to me being 6 years older, yet even so, the bluesmen I had heard were in their 30's and over, (really old men!), and even now this album begs the question "Why was Clapton so great at such a young age?" We will never know, and if put to the question, probably neither would he? It was just something he was drawn to and did, and has had the good fortune to do so for the rest of his life. If you're a guitarist, Clapton fan, blues enthusiast, whatever, and you don't own this album, simply buy it now - it will remain a classic for as long as planet Earth keeps turning.
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Problems with packaging?
The CD is fine and plays well, but the outer storage casing was cracked. Last year I ordered a box set of DVDs and some of the casings inside the box were in a similar cracked and... Read more
Published 4 days ago by NanaSiSi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clapton is god!
Eric Clapton at his best. This is a classic album and listening to it, you can see why.
A must have for any collection
A must have for any collection
Published 5 days ago by S. Wilkinson
4.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME
Awesome stuff.....Best British Blues band , Best thing Mayall has done & best thing Claton has done. However The Paul Butterfield Band are better. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Warren
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blues Breakers
I am prejudiced. I love thes old albums from the start of blues in UK. Not to everyones taste but I love them
Published 5 months ago by Riverman
5.0 out of 5 stars
The moment that the lights went on
As with the excellent review by nickpaulmichael - this was the album that 'turned me on' to alternatives to The Shadows / Searchers / Beatles etc. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Greysuit
5.0 out of 5 stars
rock almighty
guitars at there very best, you can't help but air guitar along with the songs.highly recommended.will now look out for further albums
Published 10 months ago by steve
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genius
A true work of genius and essential for any music collection. Possibly the height of Clapton's career with a raw agression that may never be seen again.
Published 11 months ago by Mr. C. Davidson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A true classic & £8 less than my local HMV is charging!
Read the other reviews for more detail on this fabulous album. I just wanted to add that at Amazon's current price of £3. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Trev-R
5.0 out of 5 stars
good classic material
As a frequent visiter to music venues in the 60's (gigs as they are called now) the tracks on this cd are classics with John Mayall nurturing a young Eric Clapton.
Published 17 months ago by Anon
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome electric blues album ..
awesome in all areas .... !! basically that means that this encompassing field is way beyond banal .. is that enough words .. ?
Published 17 months ago by mickyt
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