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John
Mayall- Bluesbreakers
with Eric Clapton
June 5, 2001
John Mayall/Vocals,
Piano, Organ, Harmonica, Eric Clapton/Guitar & Vocals
on ""Ramblin,'' John McVie/Bass, Hughie Flint/Drums
1.
All Your Love (Rush, Dixon)
2. Hideaway (F. King, Thompson)
3. Little Girl (Mayall)
4. Another Man (arr. Mayall)
5. Double Crossing Time (Mayall, Clapton)
6. What'd I Say (Ray Charles)
7. Key To Love (Mayall)
8. Parchman Farm (Allison)
9. Have You Heard (Mayall)
10. Ramblin' On My Mind (Johnson)
11. Steppin' Out (Frazier)
12. It Ain't Right (Jacobs)
13. Lonely Years
14. Bernard Jenkins
Review
(by Tommy
Chung)
In
1966, Eric Clapton was arguably (some say unarguably) the
best Blues guitarist in the world; he was at the height of
his power. If Eric Clapton did not record a single thing after
this recording with John Mayall, he would still stand as one
of the greatest Blues player ever. Some 35 years later, the
music still sounded great, it has lost none of its magic.
The recording was ground-breaking and made history. The sound
of Les Paul through a cranked up Marshall - the power, the
touch of the man, his expression on the guitar, were all way
ahead of time.
Long
before 1966, John Mayall had been a crusader for the Blues
in England. Mayall was the one guy who single-handedly brought
the attention of the British to the Blues. In the swinging
60's, Mayall was undoubtedly the father of the British Blues.
The strongest feature of Mayall as a musician is not his singing,
harp or vocal ability, it is his natural instinct in spotting
talent. After Clapton, he got Peter
Green to join the band. When Peter packed it
in, he grabbed Mick Taylor.
John Mayall seems to have this unerring instinct to spot talent.
"Bluesbreakers" was a John
Mayall album, but Clapton just stole the whole show, pulled
the carpet right under Mayall's feet. But having said that,
I do not think Clapton at the time could have done a solo
recording. For a start, he couldn't sing. It was Mayall who
provided the perfect setting, a springboard for Clapton to
showcase his talent.
All
the tracks on the recording were great, I cannot even choose
which are the highlights. But if you insist, All
Your Love, Hideaway, Stepping Out. Before the
session, no one played the Blues Clapton did. Clapton does
not only show us how it is done, but also how it can be done.
Like all great musicians, Eric Clapton learned from the masters,
notably Freddie King, B.B.
King, Robert Johnson,
assimilated what he learned and turn it into something of
his own. The rhythm section was John
McVie and Hughie Flint.
Flint was undoubtedly the best British Blues drummer ever
to emerge. No one can play shuffle like him, not even Charlie
Watts.
If you want to buy one CD that epitomizes the British Blues,
this is it. Maybe you want to get Fleetwood Mac's "Mr.
Wonderful" as well. But this is it. Many years
later, Clapton released "From
The Cradle." To be honest, I really wish he
hadn't done that, it just spoiled the legend. "From
The Cradle" was stiff, lifeless and sounded unnatural
and concocted. But we are forever thankful to Eric Clapton
for showing us the light.
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