Bluesbreakers

men in stonewashed jeans at a pub jam night. played by talented musicians but bland and having the impressive ability of sucking all of the soul out of the blues and turning it into an egotistical self important thing. its painting by numbers. its probably the whitest version of the blues i've ever had to listen to. utter dross.

No way am I gonna listen to fuckin Eric Clapton

A quintessential blues album which gained Clapton his “God” nickname. This influenced very popular guitar sounds in the years and decades which followed and is an album which many many successful artists will point to as inspiring. I see there’s a lot of haters for this one. Like it or not, it’s had a massive impact. It’s not just “another blues album”, it’s one that helped bring the blues into the limelight for decades to come. It’s fine to dislike it or hate on Clapton out of context, I don’t even disagree with some of that sentiment, but in context, this simply is a transformative record for rock n roll, blues, the British Invasion, and guitar playing. Fuck the haters, 1966 Clapton is God.

Meh - A bunch of privileged white dudes signing about how they want to get over on girls while they misappropriate blues music. Hows about putting some actual blues artists in the list.

Fuck Eric Clapton.

Didn't listen. Well I got three tracks in and it was all horrible white man blues and then the the guy started singing 'You're gonna be my little girl, you've been through 18 years of pain' which really creeped me out. Zero on all counts. Zero zero zero zero zero

The first track sounds like Santana, but trying to play without passion. Like a divorced man in his 40s who has just got his first band together and is playing at the next thing up from a Wetherspoon's to three alcoholics and two teenaged barstaff who are laughing behind his back as he makes sexfaces during the solos. I mean, it's 55 years old. I'm sure that people in 1966 didn't bother with much music from 1911. Music has moved on so far from people being impressed by somebody going 'widdle widdle' on an electrified guitar with some distortion that it's almost unfair to be this damning to it. But then, Revolver, Blonde On Blonde and Pet Sounds came out in 1966, all of which still sound great today. Also, white blues is generally meh, and Eric Clapton is a racist and a terrible parent. I made it halfway through. If the second half is a heartbreaking work of staggering genius, I'm sorry, and also very surprised.

Uber blues. Couldn't be arsed with the whole thing. It's probably unfair to judge this because everyone has heard the blues been done so, so, so many times that it all just sounds the same. Maybe this was pioneering at the time...but who gives a fuck? If it was a footballer, it'd be Michael Ballack. Not due to ability, but because he played for Chelsea, a team in blue and also, more importantly because like Eric Clapton, who features in this, his son died. Yeah, sue me.

don't like Eric Clapton so not gonna listen to it and give it 1 star out of spite

Lame, offensively bland "blues."

false

White boy "blues" about fucking eighteen-year-olds. No thanks.

No

Little girl

Eric Clapton's 'on-the-rise' guitar chops coupled with John Mayall's versatile vocals make this an essential blues record. The entirety of the album comprises of CHBs, earned through its infectious blues bars and concise lyricism - a prodigious achievement especially for a 1966 release. 'Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton' is influential in both the genre and equipment - trademarking the Gibson Les Paul wired into an overdrive amp sound, which is apparent in the whole album.

SERIOUSLY?! Someone needs to audit the algorithm! I'm fairly sure two Clapton albums within three days is a violation of the Geneva Convention. That said, this one wasn't nearly as terrible as the last (largely due to their comparative lengths), but in the end, trash is still trash.

Let's all say it together.... Fuck Eric Clapton!

This was very good. Eric Clapton is a racist, and yet reviewers refer to this as "white boy blues". Wonders never cease.

Clapton's recent and not-so-recent shenanigans render this pretty unpalatable for me. I get why your dad likes it but it's not for me today.

I had a horrible day today, I'm going to give myself the small treat of not doing a a thorough writeup of this useless album. It's boring blues, and Clapton is a deeply uncreative player. There. That's my take. Get fucked Clapton, you racist piece of shit.

Is Clapton a good guitar player? Sure, but if you listen really closely, you can hear his guitar shouting slurs on his behalf. Anyways, this album bored me to tears. Painful listen. Would not recommend to anyone unless they asked “hey man, do you know any shitty blues albums that sound worse than the average rock & roll after school program band?” In which case, I would probably still forget this album exists because I’m going to delete it from my memory ASAP.

It's the fucking Bible for white boy blues lawyers, and you can hear middle aged men playing copies of these copies of Chicago blues in small bars worldwide to this very day. It's better than the Yardbirds (whose records are all incredibly shit), but it is still a gross act of appropriation, spearheaded by noted arsehole Eric Clapton. The covers are generally well chosen, but I could nearly always think of a version I prefer. Have You Heard, however, is an embarrassing cliché and should never have been heard. It is generally well played (appalling drum solo in What'd I Say aside) and massively influential (how many have tried to copy that guitar tone?), but influence is not always a good thing. It's blues for people who don't like black people. Three stars, reluctantly.

As a very fair weather blues man, I have never heard of these guys. Groovy but wore on me after 1/2 album.

Eric Clapton + "blues" = ew?

Still got 2 songs left but I see that they're actually bonus tracks, not from the original album, so i'm just shutting it off here. What a fucking bore. Felt like an hour had gone by and when I checked there was still half the album left.

Solid blues-rock thing. Nothing really mind-blowing, but if you like blues, it's got just everything you'd hope for.

"Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" stands as a seminal album in the history of British blues, showcasing the virtuosic talents of Eric Clapton during his tenure with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Released in 1966, the album not only propelled Clapton to iconic status but also solidified Mayall's reputation as a preeminent figure in the blues revival of the 1960s. Let's delve into a comprehensive review of this influential record, examining its lyrics, music, production, themes, and lasting influence, while also highlighting its pros and cons. **Lyrics:** The lyrical content of "Bluesbreakers" predominantly consists of traditional blues themes such as heartache, longing, and personal struggles. Mayall's songwriting, while not revolutionary, effectively captures the essence of the blues tradition, with tracks like "All Your Love" and "Hideaway" showcasing his ability to convey raw emotion through simple yet evocative lyrics. Clapton's impassioned delivery adds depth to these themes, infusing each song with a sense of authenticity and sincerity. **Music:** Musically, "Bluesbreakers" is a tour de force, highlighting Clapton's extraordinary talent as a guitarist. His blistering solos and impeccable phrasing throughout the album set a new standard for blues guitarists, earning him the nickname "Slowhand" in the process. Tracks like "Have You Heard" and "Ramblin' On My Mind" exemplify Clapton's mastery of the instrument, with his soulful playing elevating the material to new heights. Mayall's contributions on vocals and keyboards provide a solid foundation for Clapton's guitar wizardry, while the rhythm section of John McVie and Hughie Flint ensures that the grooves remain tight and infectious. **Production:** Produced by Mike Vernon, "Bluesbreakers" boasts a stripped-down, no-frills approach that puts the focus squarely on the performances. The raw, unvarnished sound of the album lends it an air of authenticity, capturing the energy and intensity of a live blues performance. Vernon's decision to eschew elaborate studio effects in favor of a more organic sound pays dividends, allowing the musicians' talents to shine through without any unnecessary embellishment. **Themes:** Thematically, "Bluesbreakers" explores the universal themes of love, loss, and redemption that are central to the blues tradition. Mayall's lyrics touch on topics such as heartbreak ("Have You Heard"), loneliness ("Another Man"), and existential angst ("Double Crossing Time"), imbuing the songs with a sense of emotional resonance that resonates with listeners on a visceral level. Clapton's expressive guitar playing further enhances these themes, conveying a depth of feeling that transcends mere words. **Influence:** The influence of "Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" on subsequent generations of musicians cannot be overstated. Clapton's groundbreaking guitar work on the album revolutionized the blues genre, inspiring countless aspiring guitarists to pick up the instrument and emulate his distinctive style. The album also played a pivotal role in popularizing British blues among mainstream audiences, paving the way for the explosion of blues-rock acts that would dominate the charts in the late 1960s and beyond. Additionally, the album's emphasis on authenticity and musical integrity set a standard for artistic excellence that continues to resonate with musicians to this day. **Pros:** 1. Eric Clapton's virtuosic guitar playing. 2. Authentic and emotive vocal performances by John Mayall. 3. Tight, cohesive musicianship from the entire band. 4. Raw, unvarnished production that captures the energy of a live performance. 5. Timeless themes that resonate with listeners on a universal level. 6. Lasting influence on the blues genre and rock music as a whole. **Cons:** 1. Limited lyrical depth compared to more introspective songwriters. 2. Lack of stylistic diversity, with most tracks adhering to a traditional blues format. 3. Occasional moments of derivative songwriting that hew too closely to established blues conventions. In conclusion, "Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton" stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of blues and rock music, showcasing the unparalleled talents of its principal players while laying the groundwork for a new era of musical innovation. Despite its shortcomings, the album remains a timeless testament to the enduring power of the blues, serving as a touchstone for generations of musicians and listeners alike.

This album is so fucking good. This Eric Clapton guy might have a future on the guitar. Such diverse and interesting blues themes in the instrumentals. Favorite tracks: Hideaway, What'd I Say, Have You Heard

I'm tough on the Clapton records on this list; a lot of his solo records on this list border on his yuppie 80s rock. This, however, is just a solid blues record. Love the horns, love the organ, and Clapton is absolutely ripping through this album. If I had one minor complaint, it's that John Mayall's voice is a little weaker than needed for some of the notes, but it's never so bad it's offensive. Favorite tracks: "Hideaway", "What'd I Say", "Have You Heard"

really, really well done album it really feels like it made the most out of the blues genre there’s so much creativity and diversity, I love it - 10/10

Eric Clapton playing the blues at his best. Searing guitar work on both the covers and original songs. Didn't know that John McVie played bass in this band. I'd like to give it a 4.5 as I'm trying to save the 5's for things I absolutely love, but since that's not an option, this is strong enough for me to round up!

An excellent blues album, even if you don't care about the groundbreaking sound design.

Incredible blues. Album, enjoyed every track on here. Guitar, organs, drums all phenomenal.

incredible - an album from my childhood days. My brother bought it at the time and I listened along, because he always listened to his music a little louder. John Mayall and Eric Clapton, 2 blues musicians of the extra class

Ultimate classic

Loved this album. I could hear where this album influenced so many other albums.

It’s a real shame that Eric Clapton is a disgusting human being, because this is a real nice little blues album, even if it is blatantly stolen from the very people he’s prejudiced against.

Forget Clapton, doesn’t McVie look so young on the cover? This is one of my dad’s foundational albums, and though I’d never listened to it front to back, enough has been sucked deep that I can’t clearly judge it. Still, some fragments: Like many albums here, it’s off-the-cuff, a snapshot the band probably thought they’d repeat and better, which gives it a liveliness almost unique to the period. Clapton’s set in here like the band’s jewel and, maybe for the only time in his career, he sounds relaxed, almost conversational in his playing. Macclesfield man Mayall had a soulful croon. For an album that’s meant to have influenced many, it sounds surprisingly antiquated, an eccentric object made for purposes long left behind. This is a sort of timelessness. Nice rhythm section: this swings. There is a reasonable chance me or my partner in this exercise may have been let into a college by Hughie Flint, the band’s drummer. I can’t remember if I ever followed up on my dad’s exhortations to look him up. I’ll leave the last word to my dad, who wrote this to me today: “It stands still as the record that really opened my mind to music outside of the record charts, because then without Internet radio was the only vehicle outside of seeing live music or listening to records. TV was black and white. Gus Dudgeon was the engineer who listened to Clapton and how he wanted the guitar to be recorded. Have You Heard still stands up for me.”

I enjoy the fiery blues.

69 Based on this scale: 1 - 0 to 19 2 - 20 to 39 3 - 40 to 59 4 - 60 to 79 5 - 80 to 100 Eric Clapton's a racist shitbag, but he's not without talent as a guitarist. I'm not a fan of his playing, but that doesn't make it bad. Pretty good blues album. overall.

I like this album better than Jeff Beck’s Truth which I listened to a couple weeks ago. This being more traditional blues and better production in my view. But probably the biggest reason is Rod Stewart isn’t here scratching everything up with his stupid voice. Clapton’s solos are great of course, and I’m aware of how influential his guitar work is here. Too bad Clapton is such a prick. And apparently he’s been a d-bag since at least 1966 when he “felt like being uncooperative” during this album’s photo shoot, which is why he’s reading a comic book on the cover. What an ass.

3.2 - solid blues album. Nice guitar licks from Clapton. Not something I’ll be coming back to a lot when I want to hear the genre.

Standard fare blues music performed by standard fare Englishmen. You've heard better and you've definitely heard more authentic than this. A few good tracks on here but overall it's boring. And that's without mentioning Enoch Powell's number one fan on guitar. Highlights: All Your Love, Have You Heard

I must have been aware that there was a missing link between 50s electric blues records (mostly American musicians) and 70s glam rock (mostly British musicians) and that there must have been a period in the 60s where young British musicians just ripped off the blues without adding any of their own influence or flavor. I'm sure this influenced the next generation of musicians to make more interesting interpretations of blues into rock. That doesn't mean I have to think it's good! In addition, while I can separate a lot of Eric Clapton's work from his vile personality (separate art from the artist etc), I would struggle to do with this one as it is a one-to-one copy of blues music by black musicians such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, all by a man who just ten years later was openly and proudly racist against black people and in favour of a white ethnostate within Britain. As a result, I have a lot of mixed feelings - mostly negative - about the context of this album. But what about the music, I can hear you asking? The big highlight is unfortunately Eric Clapton's guitar work, he can make the guitar talk in that satisfying way and gives this the bluesy feel it needs. The downside is the rest of the band doesn't really have that bite that blues needs - there's not much emotion here. So I think all of this writing is for an album that is just not that memorable in the first place. Hopefully this is the last one from this lot, though I have a feeling I'll be hearing from Mr. Clapton again on this challenge...

White boys Blues, with Eric Clapton leaves a sour taste…

Livet er for kort for blues.

Blues for Wanks.

I guess this was the o.g. but it's still dull white blues. Better than the Yardbirds at least [EDIT: Sorry, Mark - this music bores me to tears. So weak]

White guy cosplay. Blues for people who think mayo is spicy.

I’d call Clapton a c*** but he lacks the warmth and depth

take culture vultures like this off the list

The black pioneers of blues have a lot to be angry about

Decent guitar but god awful singing...blues should be all about soulful melodies, and emotionally charged lyrics of hardship, struggle, resilience and lament. The original tracks had none of that and the singing was so bad I wanted to stop listening after the first track. However I carried on mainly to hear how Clapton faired in a mediocre band but having finished it I wish I hadn't. There's a lot of anti-clapton sentiment in the reviews because of the person he is and rightly so. As an artist he's overrated, sure he can play guitar but was he any better than his UK peers during his peak, such as Gilmour, Page, Beck, Townsend, May...nope.

This is not a great blues album. The original blues music from the US is better than this - as is the British rock music that owes its legacy to blues. This is a pretty generic set of songs. Deserves 2/5 but the pro Enoch comments from Clapton makes this a 1/5

oh so despite the band name, this is actually just eric clapton? yikes. i listened to all of it for some reason, and i can officially confirm: this is just the same boring twelve-bar white guy blues as usual, but now with extra creepiness towards young girls! absolute garbage-tier music.

Listening to some racist play 13 bar blues for 40 mins isn't my idea of fun Easily one of the worst records on this list. Boring, predictable, shite I could be listening to anything else right now Boring, predictable, shite. Ive had a really shocking list of albums in the last two weeks. Its a level under mediocre, the 3s have been barely a 3 and rest have been as bad as this absolute turd. Im gonna give it a 1, which is interesting as its the biggest number 2 I've heard in my life. Genuinely one of the worst on the list. Actually evil. God I thought it was over and then the 12 bar blues kicked in. The biggest positive is that after one listen, that's it, i never have to listen to this guff again. One and done. Eric Crapton. Layla is good, but unfortunately it wasn't on this album . ITS OVER THANK THE LORD

Det blir for mye "nå skal jeg vise deg for flink jeg er" for min del dette her

Clapton's a fuckin' wiener and I'm sick of the blues.

0.5 - Fuck Eric Clapton

The clearest example so far this list has given me of white people lazily copying black music to make a quick prophet. Zero effort put into the performances - the guitarwork is by Clapton so it is of course lackluster, the vocalist sounds like a muppet, and there is zero effort being put into anything else.

Ok for all our complaining about dad rock this might be the worst dad rock offender of all. Buncha white dudes just blues riffing while the blandest kids discover that maybe black music is cool but attribute it to Clapton and spray paint “Clapton Is God” on walls. Yuck. Hey how do you make Ray Charles boring???? Asking for a friend.

unsurprisingly miserable experience! i've always hated Clapton & never been a big blues fan, especially of something as reductive as this. the instrumental tracks are far more tolerable than anything with lyrics (Little Girl is a bit on the nose, no?) but there's less than nothing here outside of a couple harmonica licks to latch onto does this list know that there are blues musicians other than white people

Snoozefest + all the homies hate Eric Clapton

What’s worse than white guy blues? BRITISH white guy blues. Just, couldn’t be worse. They technically know how to play their instruments well, but there’s no soul in it. It’s merely a means to brag about how technically good they are. Covering “What I Said” by Ray Charles as badly as they did should be illegal. I wanted to turn off the album right there. Also, fuck Eric Clapton. Appropriately black culture and music the entirety of this album while being a vile, racist POS….screw this shit!!!

Life is too short to listen to Eric Clapton.

Blues - but nobody is sad. 1/5

beginning

brilliant album.

Better than expected!

got it, like it

Classic English Blues!

Le premier album qui m'a fait découvrir le blues(-rock) Clapton dans sa fougue de jeunesse.

Bell gang de cokés. Ça semble être tout des standards blues. J'adore le jeu de Clapton. What'd I say il y a le riff de Day Tripper à la fin. Les Beatles dans leur ère blues rock (white album, revolver, abbey road et surtout let it be) semblent avoir puisé ++ de là. Clapton et Harrison ont dû s'acoquiner à cette époque. L'harmoniciste est pro aussi. Me fait penser à notre grand Guy Bélanger. Ramblin' on my mind excellente

I’ve not really enjoyed the other Clapton on this list so am surprised how much I liked this one. It makes me want to go back and give the others another chance. Rating: 4.6

A great album. A great Eric Clapton album. It ist still 1966 and he will develop a lot but very fine blues (although not so extremely creative) already to hear here. Wonderful.

Loved it! Thanks fir showing me this one

This is the ultimate modern blues revival album. Definitely worth listening to.

Histórico, seminal y fundamental.

In the '60s, everything Eric Clapton touched turned to gold. It's no wonder he was called "God." This album is awesome! 5 stars.

Simple blues done simply well. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. Eric Clapton before Cream, John McVie before Fleetwood Mac, & then two people I’ve never heard of in Hughie Flint & John Mayall. RIP to John Mayall, by the way. Great drums & vocals though; they shine really well here. Take those 4, do a bunch of blues covers & a couple of originals, and you get a groovy fucking album that showcases their talent really nicely. Yes, I hesitate to give Eric Clapton credit, but his guitar playing more than earns the right to get the co-starring role on the album art. Apparently, it’s kind of revolutionary in terms of the production circumstances, so that’s a big plus. No misses here, save for “Another Man” being kind of unpolished to my ears, but overall, I enjoyed all of this. All the covers seemingly do justice rather well – even the slightly baffling drum solo thrown into “What’d I Say” is fine. I do, however, wish it had a bit more of the original track incorporated into it. The original tracks are all good, *especially* “Key to Love”. If I have any complaints, it’s that I wish the mono mix gave just a little more room to some of the buried instrumentation, but that’s a really minor nitpick, partially brought on by the technology of the era. There’s moments where you can barely hear an organ or harmonica in the back, and other instruments that I wish had more clarity to them. All in all, it’s some damn good blues, especially with the way the electric guitar is incorporated. This is the only album recorded by this version of the band’s lineup, and that’s a bit of a shame, but I think it ultimately ended up pretty well for most of these guys. Hell, if you follow the throughline of the Bluesbreakers as a whole, Fleetwood Mac emerges out of it pretty damn quickly. I can see exactly why this is on the list, and I can see why Rolling Stone had it in their top 500 for a while. Pretty fast 38 minutes, and a very enjoyable album. A recommended 5.

# Album Name: Blues Breakers # Artist: John Mayall and the bluesbreakers # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: This is a great album. A real music focussed album. The quality of the band is 2nd to none. # Top Tunes: The album # Would I listen to it again? Yes

the good life

Sexy album. I loved the instrumentation on this thing. The guitar from the Clapper is delicious, vocals are smooth, and the harmonica isn't overused.

whatever you think about the artist, sometimes the art is worth talking about on its own merit (and i do agree that sometimes it is not) i hear this album as a statement of appreciation and affection for what the original black blues artists were saying. can’t possibly know what the young white british artists intended but i honestly don’t care. 5/5

Really enjoyed this.

ive had a bunch of clapton on here and its all been mid. this one is tits tho.

Great classic Blues

John Mayall and his various conformations of the Bluesbreakers were major figures of the British blues boom of the early 1960s. The Bluesbreakers were a hothouse for musical talent that broke out of the blues into genres such as heavy rock, psychedelia and eventually AOR. An excellent album, most;y blues standards, and hugely influential.

Hughie Flint's drum solo sounds like that nice kid whose parents bought him a drum set and nobody has the heart to tell him that he just isn't very good. Hughie's pretty good when just laying down the beat, but that solo is embarrassing. But that's my only complaint. I can only imagine the effect this had in 1966 because it is an exceptional blues album.

Legendary.

Bangin' album, a hommage to all their Blues legends. It's full of covers and thus doesn't really have its own material, so the focus is mainly on how they play it. I'm a sucker for the 60's Blues Rock scene so this is right up my alley. The playing here is brilliant, they don't really stretch the blues songs too far like people would later in the 60's, but there is still room for them to stretch and solo the songs. Claptons guitar playing takes center stage, but I love the drums and singing here as well. I think there are other, more interesting British Blues albums, but this one is still a pleasant listen.

The album that spread blues over the ocean

Great album from top to bottom. A lot of British bands took their shot at it, but this is the best.

One of the best albums I have heard.

Great stuff

Excellent

A fantastic album. This is one I own on vinyl so I didn't need to listen to it again, but I did anyway. Mayall's first three albums are masterpieces of British blues. He had an ear for talent. The blues is where it's at.

Rock and roll baby

Hands down blues classic