(THEY CALL IT) STORMY MONDAY (1966) by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers live w/Eric Clapton

One of the rare recordings of Eric Clapton playing live with Mayall's Bluesbreakers. It was recorded at the Flamingo Club London on 17 March 1966. The other players were Mayall on organ, Hughie Flint on drums, and future Cream bandmate, Jack Bruce on electric bass.

Clapton rips it up on his Les Paul and Vox AC30 amp. On the Beano album, he was better known for using a Marshall amp, a combination that influenced countless guitarists everywhere. His playing during this period was also influential, with guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen and Sting stating that they learned guitar copying the studio Bluesbreakers album with Clapton. I have to say I did too, and I learned more guitar off that record than any other.

Eric Clapton told Guitar Player magazine that the 1960 Les Paul Standard he played on Blues Breakers was "the best Les Paul I ever had... just a regular sunburst Les Paul that I bought in one of the shops in London right after I'd seen Freddie King's album cover of Let's Hide Away And Dance Away, where he's playing a gold-top. It had humbuckers and was almost brand new -- original case with that lovely purple velvet lining. Just magnificent. I never really found one as good as that. I do miss that one." According to Clapton lore, his sacred 1960 was purchased in Lew Davis' guitar shop on Charing Cross Road in London in 1965.

This is my third video of Mayall/Clapton (see Steppin Out and Hideaway on my channel). Comments are invited.