Search - John Mayall, Eric Clapton :: Blues Breakers

William G. (Swapster) from DAHLONEGA, GA
Reviewed on 8/23/2009...

For this kind of talent-I expected every song to reach a steady grove in my memory--but it reminded me of the old 45's one sound is why you bought the record-- the other side if it was any good was just gravy--one out of three songs on this baby

Karola T. from BLANCO, TX
Reviewed on 8/18/2006...

Young, young EC!!

Slowhand Grows Up

Geoffrey F. Arnold | Hillsboro, Oregon USA | 02/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the album that "started" it all, at least that is what they say, whoever they are. The rumoured claim is that someone, after hearing this album, went down into a London subway station and scrawled "Clapton Is God" on the wall.



I grew up during this time, too, though a little younger than these guys. And this was a critical album, without question. While in some ways it sounds quite dated - more due to the production values and the musicians beginning to experiment with "new" equipment just coming to market, new amps and recording techniques than with the recording process (which is very, very clean here) - the music itself, the songs, are vital, immediate and even desperate at times; all necessary elements of the Blues if you want people to "buy" what you're "selling".



The performance of any music has to be "authentic" in order for people to "believe" you. I'm a musician of over 42 years' experience. Let me tell you, if you play music and don't honestly convey it in a way that says: "I own this, I AM this music", you will not find much of an audience.



At the time of this album's release, the English music scene was awash in Mods and Rockers battling it out with R&B and Rock n Roll respectively. The Blues scene was common to both camps, but separate at the same time. Crossing over into the Blues camp was seen as a betrayal. But somehow Clapton managed to do so without alienating anyone. He did this because his heart was always in the Blues. The Yardbirds was just what paid the bills.



This album works because everyone involved is so vested in the creation of this music, in conveying it in a way that had yet to be done succesfully by any band outside the Chicago Blues scene. This album works because these people are living through the music, the music is living through them. They made the vital connection necessary to be able to create the "magic" so people will see you are serious, and they will buy into it because they know you already have done so yourself.

"