Rare 1st pressing (1966) ‘Bluesbreakers, John Mayall with Eric Clapton’ mono LP
£
21
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28
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Description
Rare John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers vinyl LP: ‘Bluesbreakers, John Mayall with Eric Clapton’. First UK pressing, Cat. no. 4804 (matrix no. Side I: ARL- 7297- 1A, Side 2: ARL – 7298 – 1A etched on the vinyl).
This is the celebrated and hugely influential second LP by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. It was recorded in March 1966 at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, and released on the 22nd July 1966. I bought it in Leeds in the first week of its release. It is the original first UK mono pressing and highly prized collectable item.
This record also known as the ‘Beano’ album as Clapton is pictured reading this children‘s comic alongside band members Mayall, piano, organ and harmonica, Hughie Flint,, drums and John McVie, bass guitar. The band is augmented by John Almond, baritone sax, on track 5 on side 1 who is joined by and Alan Skidmore, tenor sax, and Derek Healey (misrepresented on the sleeve as 'Dennis Healey'), trumpet, on tracks 1, 3 and 5 on side 2.
The guitar that Clapton used during these sessions was a sunburst 1960 Gibson Les Paul Standard with two PAF humbucking pickups. Widely regarded as one of the most influential blues albums, it also initiated the ground breaking combination of a Gibson Les Paul guitar through an overdriven Marshall amplifier later used by numerous blues and rock guitarists. In 2003 this record was ranked 195 in the magazine Rolling Stone’s list: The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-20120531/john-mayall-with-eric-clapton-blues-breakers-20120524.
Besides providing a reworking of songs recorded by blues artists Otis Rush, Freddie King, Mose Allison and Ray Charles, the album includes five Mayall originals and the first airing of Clapton’s singing voice on Robert Johnson’s ‘Ramblin’ on my mind’: track 4 side 2. His guitar solos are also credited as the basis for the claim ‘Clapton is God’ which circulated around the London clubs during the mid 60s.
With regard to the albums condition
The outer laminated jacket
As the photos clearly illustrate this record has been kept in a heavy polythene sleeve since the day it was bought. Consequently, as the photos clearly show the outer jacket is in excellent condition with no cracks, bends, marks and only age related discolouration on both the front and back.
The inner paper and polythene sleeve
Apart from a couple of minor creasing at the corners the inner paper and polythene is intact with no tears or splits.
The Vinyl
It’s important to point out at the outset that this record is not in mint condition. It was played regularly during the 1960s and 70s. As the images show there are several visible scratches on both sides of the record. This includes a major scratch across tracks 1 and 2 and through tracks 4, 5 and 6. On side 2 there is a major scratch through tracks 2 and 3 and 5 and 6. Perhaps not surprisingly given that the record is made of 180gr vinyl, however these do not have a noticeable impact on the quality of sound produced when played.
I played the disc on a Steepletone 3 speed vinyl turntable record player (model ST918) at full volume and was genuinely surprised at how clear the reproduction actually was. Both sides played without any irritating repetitive clicking or sticking. There is some minor audible surface noise when the needle first hits the grooves on both sides of the album but this is gone before the music starts. There is also a noticeable click between tracks 1 and 2 on side 2, but otherwise there is nothing that detracts from the quality of the music being reproduced.
To reiterate this record is not in ‘mint condition’ but I have tried to identify all of its short comings as best I can. Indeed, despite the obvious signs of wear and tear it plays beautifully without interruption and reproduces faithfully the music of a band at the height of their game. It is in my view a worthy addition to both fan and collectors alike.
It has not been professionally cleaned.
Postage and packing costs quoted are for the UK only. Please contact me if you are thinking of buying this album and live outside Britain.
Thanks for looking.
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