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Aleady having more than a dozen Eric Clapton albums, and after reading his autobiography, I decided it was time to go back to the roots. This is absolute classic blues with a much younger Clapton doing a version of Ramblin on My Mind that is a must have. This CD sooths the soul and makes me smile everytime I listen to it.
Interestingly (at least to me) , it is one of the few albums that I prefer in MONO untouched by either the artifice of being made into stereo or the ingenuity of digital re-mastering. This is an extraordinary album, and a seminal one for many people getting into blues in the '60's. I have had this in one form or another since the week it originally came out on vinyl in Mono in the US. Not to say that it is not exemplary in those formats, but the raw power projected by the original Mono release is something else again. However you own it, you'll enjoy it and you'll own a piece of music history.
I wrote my comments after I read someone saying Mayall had all these originals. WHITE STATIONS called ALL BLACK MUSIC-- "RACE MUSIC." I can understand how a young kid in high school would 'really dig' this album. They are covers, and the originals are well worth listening to. At the time this release came out, BLACK artists were not allowed to play on US radio. I just wish there was a real effort to make the TRUE ORIGINALS heard, generally for the first time, by so many people who 'loved the blues' for '40+ years,-- back when this "64-ish" record came out into the racist, limited airwaves that were all kids could hear. Its suprising how Jimi and many others were actually not ALL ORIGINAL, dont get me wrong, I love him TERRIBLE, and SRV, and MISTER CLAPTON.
From the opening track, "All Of Your Love", from the closing track, "Bernard Jenkins", this album is non stop ride of blues and R&B and rock all mixed together too make this 34 minute album. Its a true classic and this the only album you need by them. I cant even describe how great this CD is its one of the best blues albums of all time in my opinionLove this CDyou have gotta own this if you listen too eric clapton or cream.you dont know what your missing
Bluesbreakers, John Mayall With Eric Clapton *****To not go track by track describing the genius of each track is going to be a challenge as every song here is worth outstanding merit. He had the Yardbirds before this but this is what sparked the 'Clapton is God' graffiti all over England. Even though some where covers the young kids didn't know that and thought they were Clapton originals, not that it matters because he did make them each his own. But the music heard and played here is beyond comparison and beyond inspired. Also the groups reworking of 'What'd I Say' is fantastic with a (not boring) drum solo.From start to finish Bluesbreakers is an energetic album that never fails to satisfy with each passing listen. The heartfelt playing from Clapton would never be matched again, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs came mighty close but still falters in comparison to this. Before Bluesbreakers who knew Brits had so much soul, I know I didn't. Songs like 'Keys To Love' 'Hideaway' 'All Your Love' and 'Steppin Out' were all suspects for the cause.
Mayall alone was a powerhouse already but teamed with the great Clapton and they were unstoppable. As you all know this was the album that made Clapton. Mayall's reading of 'Parchment Farm' is as noteworthy as anything from Clapton as it is one of the top tracks on the album. After this Clapton would leave to go on to other things, and Mayall would find a replacement some would say was just as good, but it was the paring of Clapton and Mayall that made this record golden, and neither of them would ever top it ever again.
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