"Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" is an iconic blues album by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, featuring Eric Clapton. Released in 1966, it is often referred to as the Beano album because Clapton is pictured reading the Beano comic book on the album cover. The album features a fusion of Blues and Rock, significantly contributing to the British blues boom.
Before joining the Bluesbreakers, Clapton was a member of the Yardbirds and had earned a considerable reputation as a guitarist. However, he left the Yardbirds as he felt their sound was moving too far away from the blues. It was during his time with John Mayall that Clapton's prominence as a guitarist skyrocketed. His work on the album had a profound influence on the genre, and his unique style started to form what later became known as “the Clapton sound”.
Interestingly, the "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" is the band's only studio album featuring Eric Clapton. The album consists of blues standards and a few tracks written by Mayall himself. Throughout the years it's been acclaimed for its passionate and precise musicianship, with the three-way interaction between Mayall, McVie and Flint matching Clapton's virtuosity. Clapton's fiery temperament and technical brilliance as a guitarist was a seminal influence on the album.
"Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" is regarded as a milestone in blues-rock history and has significantly influenced many prominent rock musicians. It is not only recognized for its musicality but also as an album that provided Clapton the platform to display his virtuosity that would pave the way for his future achievements in rock music.
