There's always work (John Mayall) (LP 407-408)

John Mayall with Eric Clapton Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (Vinyl, Lillith Records 1966, this version 2008) *****
John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers A Hard Road (Vinyl, Lillith Records 1967, this version 2011) *****

Genre: Blues 

Places I remember: The Warehouse (Hastings NZ)

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Steppin' Out, It Ain't Right (Beano album)




Gear costume:  Dust My Blues (A Hard Road)



Active compensatory factors: The Bluesbreakers albums are legendary artifacts - the first one, also known as the Beano album, was the only one to feature a young guitar slinger named Eric Clapton, and the second one was the first to feature Peter Green.

Phew - some heavy dudes! What I love about them is that they are so different stylistically but both so brilliant. 

After Beano, Clapton bailed out to join Baker and Bruce in Cream. It was definitely a logical progression for him.

The Beano album is a fine one and the pinnacle of his pre Cream days, but the Bluesbreakers didn't suffer at all from his departure. A Hard Road is a completely new sound thanks to Peter Green's exceptional guitar playing, and great in its own way.

Where do they all belong? Basically, this was the start of Mayall's long and extremely distinguished career. And he's still going strong - his latest album came out last year!