# Ugly American Werewolf in London: John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pantheon-podcasts-for-music-lovers-769338/ugly-american-werewolf-in-london-john-mayall-the-bluesbreakers-with-eric-clapton
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/pantheon-podcasts-for-music-lovers-769338/ugly-american-werewolf-in-london-john-mayall-the-bluesbreakers-with-eric-clapton.md
Podcast: [Pantheon - Podcasts for Music Lovers](https://stenobird.com/podcast/pantheon-podcasts-for-music-lovers-769338)
Published: 2026-07-11T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/PAN2279488393.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/PAN2279488393.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/pantheon-podcasts-for-music-lovers-769338/episodes/ugly-american-werewolf-in-london-john-mayall-the-bluesbreakers-with-eric-clapton
Duration seconds: 4853

## Resource

Eric Clapton had achieved pop success with The Yardbirds but that's not what he wanted. All Eric wanted to do was play the blues. So he left The Yardbirds to join John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers where through many miles and many gigs honed a guitar sound & style that would create a mythology around Clapton like no guitar player before. Their gigs must see happenings as once they were into a groove, the Bluesbreakers could improvise their way into something spectacular. John Mayall wanted to capture that live energy and creativity on an album but their first attempt (with bassist Jack Bruce who would figure into Clapton's story later) was not up to par. So they went to Decca Studios and worked to capture the best bits of their live set. Eric doesn't just take off, he does seem to build throughout the record just as he might during a live show. And John Mayall does take the spotlight as the lead singer, solid piano/organ man and a cool harmonica player. John McVie (who would eventually break from Mayall to form Fleetwood Mac with future drummer Mick Fleetwood) holds down the bass and Hughie Flint keeps it steady on the drums leaving room for Mayall and Clapton to do their thing. Though Mayall contributes some originals, they borrow from blues legends like Freddie King, Little Walter, Memphis Slim and Robert Johnson. On Johnson's Ramblin' on My Mind Clapton offers his first attempt at singing lead, something he was reluctant to do throughout his career but John nudged him. Clapton's playing was groundbreaking at the time and his reputation as a master of the guitar built rapidly. Graffiti popped up around London - Clapton is God. The Wolf & Action Jackson try their best to imagine what it must have been like to hear Eric play live at that time. Because they've never known…

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