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.

Fuck Eric Clapton.

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.

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

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.

false

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.

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.

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

Lame, offensively bland "blues."

No

Little girl

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.

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.

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.

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

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]

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.

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

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

Muy bueno

What a beauty of a album

Best album of all time.

This is a super solid album with some exceptional musicianship. As a blues fan this is a 5

The Beano, a blues classic. I've dusted off the guitar and the blues picking for this one.

9/10

5/5

When I close my eyes and pretend to be a blues guitarist, this is the album I’m playing. (I’m a beginner-at-best guitar player and never heard this album before.) I’ve discovered that if you learn to love the blues, it opens up a whole universe of music to bathe in. Totally recommend this album for anyone who’d like to take the plunge! Five-on-the-side!

A true classic. Early Clapton and Mayall

There’s a lot of reviews on here saying how generic this is - but that’s because after this came out everyone wanted to sound like this. John Mayall sadly died a few weeks ago but his influence in reimagining and popularising blues music was immense. And this album is great. Sadly, Eric Clapton is a jerk in real life.

Excellent blues! While Clapton headlines, his guitar does not seem to feature more than the other instruments, and the standout moments of sax, harp, organ, and piano, make this a well-blended album. Mayall it a great artist.

I was initially planning on giving this a four, largely because of the whole "white guys covering black music" issue, which is a real problem with the blues, particularly. After a couple of listens, I decided it was inspired enough to give it five stars anyway. A first for me!

Great

Had never heard this album...loved it. Eric Clapton is one of the greatest guitar players of all time and this is a magnificent version of him and John Mayall is perfection!

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.

Excellent blues guitar from Clapton. Will definitely listen again.

Ooo this was nice! For me this was just right in a lot of ways. It was blues, but folk, but rock and a little something else in between. I would listen to this over and over.

"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.

Blues

This album is five stars because of one thing, that guitar tone.

I’m not a huge blues fan but damn this record is outstanding. That Clapton guitar is amazing and Mayals vocals are killer.

Desde la disqueria, uno de mis álbumes favoritos

awesome classic blues

Quintessential blues and happy surprises! So love all that!

AWesome!

I can't help but love this album, its mostly nostalgia I'm sure. There are definitely some unfortunate lyrics and probably 60s British blues in general hasn't aged well, but it just sounds really good.

What a great album!

Really solid blues rock. Favourite songs: It Ain't Right, Parchman Farm, Key to Love, Little Girl, Bernard Jenkins, Lonely Years, Double Crossin' Time, All Your Love, Ramblin' On My Mind, Steppin' Out Least favourite songs: if forced to pick: What'd I Say 5/5

This makes me wanna do a jive

This is pleasantly surprising. I mean, it was fairly obviously going to be blues ("The Bluesbreak" gives that away) but it turns out to be pretty good blues. Especially for some white guys. I've no idea what percentage of this is original material, if any, but even if it isn't, it's executed well. So it'll get a good rating.

Love the heavy sounds

Starting to feel self-conscious about handing out so many 5* ratings but this is way too precisely built for me. Eric Clapton is such a wizard, it's a shame that he has become yet another artist that you need to separate from his art. Very interesting to read about how influential the sound of this album was - it sounds so perfectly like what modern electric blues should, and turns out that's because everyone copied it. Marshall even named its amp the Bluesbreaker because of it!

Some classic blues guitar here. It’s hard to imagine Clapton ever topping this electric performance.

fantastic guitar and drum solos

Classic

Excellent British blues rock album from the mid-1960s, and I'm not even into blues that much. I greatly enjoyed listening to it. Clapton shows his very best on this album.

Fenomenaal ruig bluesalbum, heel erg genoten vooral van de plaatjes met mondharmonica. Dit albumpie ga ik zeker vaker aanzetten

Great album. I prefer this sort of rock blues compared to blues blues.

Geen genre zo voorspelbaar en weinig innovatief als de blues, en toch is dit de vette shit. Kippenhokmuziek van het beste soort, ik vergeef ze zelfs de te lange drumsolo. Maar ja, met Eric Clapton in de gelederen kan het eigenlijk al niet misgaan. Gisteren al gedraaid tijdens de sessie Beer is los in de mancave van Eric D., vandaag met veel plezier nog een paar keer opgezet.

Je kan dit wel dood analyseren, maar je kan hier beter gewoon lekker van genieten. Want wat is dit een heerlijk album zeg!

Fijne afwisselend mijmerende en dan weer opzwepende blues(rock). Ik heb gelijk hierna maar even Cuby en de Blizzards opgezet, want dat is natuurlijk de NLse John Mayall. Met Eelco Gelling als Eric Clapton. Het zit een beetje tussen een 4 en een 5 in, maar ik ben in een goede bui, dus ik rond het weer eens lekker af naar boven.

Ah the Beano album. This is the album you tell people to listen to when they say they don't like blues. The diversity on this album is great, with differing instruments, tempos and feel for each song. Everybody talks about Clapton (with good reason - his playing on this album changed blues and rock), but the rhythm section of Flint and McVie is solid, and ultimately most of the credit deserves to go to Mayall.

Can white men play the blues? They most definitely can. Loved this album even though I'd never heard any of the tracks before.

I own it on vinal--that's an automatic 5. Another route through which naive girls learned about the blues. Departed from the slapped together junk British youth immitated at the time. Don't know what Clapton was complaining about--not authentic enough. It was all about him anyway. Mayall was pretty amazing too.

This album absolutely rules. The blues are tight as fuck. The arrangements beyond the guitars are top notch. The guitar playing...I mean, the words don't exist. Just so superlative. Favorite track: Hideaway

This is a 5 for me, although probably barely. It's got that super classic blues rock feel - this is the era and style that all that blues-based rock that we love so much is actually based on. I bet Clapton's later work is seen as 'better' but I think this is the most fluid and loose I've ever heard from him. He's got so much 'feel' coming through in his improvisation here, and I FWIW I am beginning to wonder if the Les Paul years suit me better than the Strat years haha Anyway great record, a lot of fun, killer guitar work.

"Blues Breakers" is the debut album by English blues band John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers with guitarist Eric Clapton. After the release of Mayall's first album, Eric Clapton joined the group leaving the Yardbirds. The album was originally planned to be a live album but ended up recorded at Decca Studio in London. It is credited with helping pioneer a guitar-dominated blues rock sound with Clapton's guitar guitar tone very influential in future commercial rock-style guitar playing. Besides Clapton on guitar, the band includes John Mayall (vocals, piano, organ, harmonica), John McVie (bass) and Hughie Flint (drums). A horn section is added in the second half of the album. Of note, the album title as well as Clapton's guitar are nicknamed "The Beano" after the album cover where Clapton is pictured reading "The Beano." The album opens with a cover of Otis Rush's "All Your Love." A bluesy rhythm section. Background organ. Mayall's strong vocals. It starts slow then picks up pace. Clapton's guitar both having rhythm and lead aspects. A searing Clapton solo. Let's get this out of the way. Every song has a searing Clapton solo, so no more mentioning of them. They are all great. "Little Girl" has a quicker pace. A Mayall original. I like the melodic tone of Clapton's guitar both in the chorus and solo (Oops, last time). "Double Crossing Time" features the piano and has a stomping bluesy groove. One of my favorite songs on the album. The second half adds horns which kicks off with "Key to Love." This is a bouncey song. Lest we forget that John Mayall is one of the best harmonica players, the band covers "Parchman Farm." Never a better blues subject than spending time in the state pen. Some more great rhythm section playing. A bouncey feel. Horns start off "Have You Heard." This is slower. Great interplay between EC's guitar and the horns. Eric Clapton's guitar playing, guitar solos and especially his guitar tone are all spetacular. But, there is more here. The rhythm section is tight. Mayall's harmonica playing and vocals are top notch. There's variety in their blues approach using horns, an organ, a piano or a harmonica with EC's guitar. This is rightfully put up with the best-ever blues rock albums.

Blues rock. Clapton. Vinilo.

Genres: Blues rock, blues Formed: 1963 Run time: 24 songs, 1 hour, 14 mins (12 songs, mono then again in stereo) The debut studio album by the English blues rock band. This band has had a phenomenal list of members over the years: Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce (both later of Cream), Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie (those three would form Fleetwood Mac), Mick Taylor (the Rolling Stones), Aynsley Dunbar (Frank Zappa, The Mothers of Invention), Jon Hiseman, Dick Heckstall-Smith and Tony Reeves (these three would form Colosseum), and many others. Most modern Rock guitar laden music can trace its roots back to this group and album. I’ve never heard of John Mayall or The Bluesbreakers, but I am very familiar with the groups formed by the artists passing through. Spotify: Least popular song: >350k Most popular song: >33M plays. Out of the 200+ albums I’ve listened to as part of the “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” there have only been a couple that I actually believed lived up to that grand title, and this is one of them. Listen Again?: Yes My Rating: *****

Goddamn what a star studded cast. Almost every song had me clicking over to see which great was involved. Really good album.

Oh wow.

did not like the little girl song but good vibes

This is known as the preeminent blues album for lead guitar work for very good reason. Clapton’s 1960 Les Paul screams throughout. This album is the Mecca towards which all electric blues guitarists are migrating towards when they practice. I learned that the 1960 Les Paul Standard used two PAF (patent applied for) humbucker pickups, which hold a revered place in many guitarists hearts. These pickups eliminated the humming sound of single coil pickups by wiring two opposite polarity single coils in serial (nerd shit). The manufacturing process was inconsistent during the early years leading to each guitar having a unique sound. Over the years, the manufacturing process became more standardized and design efficiencies were introduced. Eventually, the original humbucker design was so well sought after in the community that Les Paul, and other companies, spent significant resources trying to replicate the pickups from this guitar’s time period due to performances such as Clapton’s on Bluesbreakers.

This was really good

Straight blues. Great album.

Hits you in the face with blues, then some more, and even a little jazz. Some of my favorite Clapton.

In My late 20s & early 30s I had a rock/blue phase. I'd go to blues clubs & festivals, so this album fits that part of me perfectly. I love this style of guitar & vocals...it sounds like soulful sex. I'm taking this as a reminder to revisit this genre. 5 outta 5.

Own on Vinyl

Blues rock. Clapton. Vinilo.

Eric Clapton is my beloved little blues guitarist. I've recently come to appreciate good blues. This album is an excellent example of good blues. No, amazing blues!

I demand an explanation for why I had to grow up only hearing Tears in Heaven and Layla but not Clapton's best stuff. This is a fantastic blues rock album with excellent guest artists and a great sound.

Wow great album. My favorite so far. Good easy listening blues

Loved every second of it. Best track: All Your Love

Easy listen. Can't really fault it. It's on the lower end of 5 though.