“Blues Breakers”, colloquially known as “The
Beano Album”, is the debut studio album by the English blues rock band John
Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, originally credited to John Mayall with Eric
Clapton. Produced by Mike Vernon and released in 1966 by Decca Records (UK) and
London Records (US), it pioneered a guitar-dominated blues-rock sound.
The album was commercially successful and most critics viewed it positively. In
2003 and 2012, Rolling Stone ranked it number 195 on its list of the "500
Greatest Albums of All Time". It was voted number 391 in Colin Larkin's
All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).
With the original plan of a live album, now discarded, John Mayall & the
Bluesbreakers recorded “Blues Breakers” at Decca Studios, West Hampstead,
London in May 1966.
The band on this album includes Mayall on piano, Hammond organ, harmonica, and
most vocals; bassist John McVie; drummer Hughie Flint; and Clapton. Augmenting
the band on this album was a horn section added during post-production, with
Alan Skidmore, Johnny Almond, and Derek Healey.
The album consists of blues standards by well-known artists, such as Otis Rush,
Freddie King and Robert Johnson, as well as a few originals penned by Mayall
and Clapton. Most tracks serve as a showcase for Clapton's playing. Although he
provided some co- and backing vocals with his former group, the Yardbirds,
"Ramblin' on My Mind" is Clapton's first solo lead vocal to be
recorded.
The album is often called “The Beano Album” by fans because of its cover
photograph showing Eric Clapton reading The Beano, a British children's comic.
Clapton stated in his autobiography that he was reading The Beano on the cover
because he felt like being "uncooperative" during the photo shoot.
David Wedgbury took the photograph near the Old Kent Road.
“Blues Breakers”, cunoscut in mod familiar si
ca “Albumul Beano”, este albumul de studio de debut al trupei britanice de
blues rock John Mayall&the Bluesbreakers, compusa original din John Mayall
si Eric Clapton. Produs de Mike Vernon si lansat in 1966 de Decca Records (UK)
si London Records (US), albumul este un pionier al sunetului dominant de
chitara in blues rock.
A fost un succes comercial si cei mai multi critici l-au primit pozitiv. In
2003 si 2012, revista Rollin Stone l-a clasat pe locul 195 in lista sa de “cele
mai bune 500 de albume din toate timpurile”. In anul 2000 a fost votat pe locul
391 in topul 1000 al albumelor din toate timpurile. Renuntand la planul
original al unui album live, trupa a inregistrat albumul la Decca Studios din
West Hampstead, Londra, in mai 1966.
Pe acest album trupa il are pe Mayall la pian, orga Hammond, muzicuta si cea
mai mare parte din vocal; basist este John McVie;baterist este Hughie Flint; si
Clapton. Trupa a fost augmentata cu o sectie de suflatori, introdusa post
productie si compusa din Alan Skidmore, Johnny Almond si Derek Healey.
Albumul consista atat din cantece blues standard ale unor artisti cunoscuti ca
Otis Rush, Freddie King si Robert Johnson, cat si din compozitii ale lui Mayall
si Clapton. Majoritatea pieselor este ca o vitrina pentru interpretarea lui
Clapton. Desi in Yardbirds Clapton a mai cantat back vocals sau in duet, aici
in piesa “Ramblin on My Mind” auzim prima inregistrare cu el ca prim vocalist.
Fanii numesc deseori albumul ca “Albumul Beano” deoarece pe coperta Clapton
apare citind revista pentru copii Beano. In biografia sa, Clapton a declarant ca
citea acea revista pentru ca s-a simtit necooperant la sedinta foto. David
Wedgbury a facut fotografiile langa Old Kent Road.
List of tracks
Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "All
Your Love" Otis Rush 3:33
2. "Hideaway"
(instrumental) Freddie King, Sonny
Thompson 3:15
3. "Little
Girl" Mayall 2:35
4. "Another
Man" Mayall 1:45
5. "Double
Crossing Time" Eric Clapton, Mayall 3:02
6. "What'd
I Say" Ray Charles 4:25
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Key
to Love" Mayall 2:06
2. "Parchman
Farm" Mose Allison 2:20
3. "Have
You Heard" Mayall 5:55
4. "Ramblin'
On My Mind" (Clapton on vocals) Robert
Johnson 3:07
5. "Steppin'
Out" (instrumental) L.C. Frazier
a.k.a. Memphis Slim 2:30
6. "It
Ain't Right" Marion Walter
Jacobs a.k.a. Little Walter 2:40
Personnel
Blues Breakers
John Mayall – vocals, piano, organ, harmonica
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals on
"Ramblin' on My Mind"
John McVie – bass guitar
Hughie Flint – drums
Horn section on tracks 7, 9, 11
Alan Skidmore – tenor saxophone
Johnny Almond – baritone saxophone (also on
track 5)
Derek Healey – trumpet
Additional musicians
Geoff Krivit – guitar (disc two tracks 8–10,
not featured on original album)
Jack Bruce – bass (disc two tracks 14–19, not
featured on original album)
Production
Gus Dudgeon – engineer
Mike Vernon – producer
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