Best Ever Albums

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 08:50:33 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 06/02/2026 12:50

There was an overwhelmingly positive response in this mornings listening group to this album which I found very gratifying.

The pick for July is one of the most famous albums of all time,

Pet Sounds (1966) by The Beach Boys

I'll be posting a separate thread for that one

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:58:45 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/30/2026 08:58

Blues Breakers, AKA The Beano Album, is an album of blues standards and a few originals penned by Mayall or Mayall and Clapton. It’s really an album designed to showcase Clapton's playing. Mayall was a great advocate for young British blues guitarists as also demonstrated by his collaboration with Peter Green pre Fleetwood Mac

It’s not the greatest album ever made but it is an important album in the sense that it brought Eric Clapton and the UK blues scene to a much wider audience with a stellar line up of John Mayall on piano, Hammond organ, harmonica, and most vocals; bassist John McVie; drummer Hughie Flint; and Clapton.

Might this be Clapton’s best album? I think that some of the Cream albums are probably better overall but his playing on here just shows what all the fuss was about in the mid 60’s

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:57:47 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/30/2026 08:57

So that's it for the Beano album. Not a lot of chat around this album but that's OK. A shame though as I think that this is an important album

I'll post a new thread for the next album once my group has met on Tuesday

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:55:06 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/30/2026 08:55

It Ain’t Right

Nothing really that special about this concluding track.

Great harmonica though and a high paced blues number that Fits nicely into the albums flow.

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Thu, 28 May 2026 07:31:27 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/28/2026 11:31

Steppin Out

An excellent instrumental track. Very in keeping with the rest of the album. Clapton is really going for it here. Great stuff

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Wed, 27 May 2026 03:37:50 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/27/2026 07:37

Ramblin On My Mind

Unusual (at this time) for having Eric on vocals for this Robert Johnson blues standard. Played very much in the traditional blues style. Nothing much new added to this great song by this track but, it’s still a very good blues track

Some really nice guitar work here

Odd but Haven't yet found a video of the track which I can share but will keep looking

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Mon, 25 May 2026 12:38:59 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/25/2026 16:38

Link

Have You Heard

It is a slow blues track heavy on the jazz and benefits from the longer track time. The sax on this is a great intro.

As is common on this album, Clapton does a blistering, fiery guitar solo that takes over the second half of the song.

I love this track

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sat, 23 May 2026 05:49:41 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/23/2026 09:49

Parchment Farm

I heard this before hearing the Mose Allison original so this, for me is the definitive version of the track

Great, no, fabulous harmonica playing. I’ve dabbled with the harmonica (very briefly when I was much younger) and this is next level playing. Great although rather short track

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Wed, 20 May 2026 01:59:43 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/20/2026 05:59

Key To Love

One of the shorter tracks on the album. Well played but nothing outstanding. Not much more to say about this one to be honest

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Mon, 18 May 2026 08:51:58 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/18/2026 12:51

What’s I Say

A classic Cover version of a great Ray Charles track. Not sure that this version adds much to what is already a great track. Certainly not a filler track but not the best on the album.

Some great organ here and the rhythm section take more of a lead than on other tracks. Never been a huge fan of drum solos so this track leaves me a little cold TBH

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sun, 17 May 2026 04:46:04 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/17/2026 08:46

Double Crossing Time

A Mayall / Clapton penned track of slow, melancholy, the weight of the world on your shoulders type blues. I really like it with superb guitar playing from Clapton.

I consider it a track which goes rather under the radar on the album but a great track IMO

Link

Take your time to really listen to this. I'd love to hear what you think

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Thu, 14 May 2026 06:00:03 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/14/2026 10:00

Another Man

Another Mayall original and a rather short track unfortunately.

John was a great harmonica player and this has become a classic, much covered blues standard. You can’t tire of harmonica playing of this quality

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Tue, 12 May 2026 02:57:41 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/12/2026 06:57

Little Girl

First of the original compositions (by Mayall) on the album and the track has become a bit of a blues classic in the subsequent 60 odd years

Problematic lyrics aside it’s a great blues track with Clapton playing more incendiary guitar. Pretty much a “typical” Beano track.

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Mon, 11 May 2026 03:50:38 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/11/2026 07:50

Hayden wrote:

This one never quite did it for me (mind, haven't heard it in a smidge), but Clapton's playing abilities for his age are certainly outstanding—

It's a nice ode to blues legends past and present at the time—

I get why this album may not do it for people, I'm not a 100% fan of it either but This album and his work with Cream are when Clapton was at the peak of his powers (for me anyway) and, as you say, at such a relatively young age. Undoubtedly extremely talented but went far too mainstream and bland as he got older.

He also had a great start with The Yardbirds of course, another great breeding ground for British blues at the time

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Hayden — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:37:30 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 05/11/2026 01:37

This one never quite did it for me (mind, haven't heard it in a smidge), but Clapton's playing abilities for his age are certainly outstanding—

It's a nice ode to blues legends past and present at the time—

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sun, 10 May 2026 11:58:43 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/10/2026 15:58

Romanelli wrote:

Johnnyo wrote:

Hide Away

Instrumental track that’s a blues standard. It demonstrates some great blues guitar from Clapton but it’s not all about Clapton on this track. The rhythm section is also on fire here but….

I suppose at the end of the day, it’s Clapton’s playing that stands out. It really does show what a phenomenal guitar player he was when he stuck to the “true” blues.

Hard to believe that it’s the same guy who made albums like Back Home, Pilgrim, August and Happy Xmas. So sad

Link

Clapton did make some true duds...but Pilgrim is a great record.

Never could get into pilgrim. Possibly a little harsh to put it the same category as happy Xmas but yes, he’s made some real duds. Never understood going from Bluesbreakers to some of these other albums. A mystery why his career to that turn

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Romanelli — Sun, 10 May 2026 09:16:13 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/10/2026 13:16

Johnnyo wrote:

Clapton did make some true duds...but Pilgrim is a great record.

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Sun, 10 May 2026 05:16:34 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/10/2026 09:16

Hide Away

Instrumental track that’s a blues standard. It demonstrates some great blues guitar from Clapton but it’s not all about Clapton on this track. The rhythm section is also on fire here but….

I suppose at the end of the day, it’s Clapton’s playing that stands out. It really does show what a phenomenal guitar player he was when he stuck to the “true” blues.

Hard to believe that it’s the same guy who made albums like Back Home, Pilgrim, August and Happy Xmas. So sad

Link

Re: Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Wed, 6 May 2026 08:04:36 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/06/2026 12:04

All Your Love

Great cover of the Otis Rush penned standard. Clapton really does make the guitar sing on this one moving effortlessly from a slow to faster tempo with some of his best guitar playing on the album.

Clapton is ably supported on this one by a Hughie Flint on drums and John McVie on bass.

Great opening track to the album

Link

Bluesbreakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

Johnnyo — Tue, 5 May 2026 06:49:34 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/05/2026 10:49

The album that we will be listening to in my 60's listening group in June is

Blues Breakers (1966) by John Mayall & Eric Clapton

If you have any thoughts on the album please let me know

Previous albums discussed are

Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe And The Fish (August)
Sounds Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel (September)
Revolver by The Beatles (October)
In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson (November)
Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield (December)
Disraeli Gears by Cream (February)
in Search Of The Lost Chord by The Moody Blues (April)
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly (May)