* Eric Clapton (April–August 1965, November 1965–July 1966) and Jack Bruce, who both left to form Cream,
* Peter Green, who had replaced Clapton, played until August 1967, when he departed with Mick Fleetwood and then also enticed Bluesbreaker John McVie a few weeks later to form Fleetwood Mac
* Mick Taylor (August 1967–July 1969) who later joined The Rolling Stones, and reunion tours in 1982–83 and 2004,
* Harvey Mandel, Walter Trout, Larry Taylor (later in Canned Heat),
* Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Randy Resnick, Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser (Free), Chris Mercer, Henry Lowther, Johnny Almond and Jon Mark (later of Mark-Almond).
The Bluesbreakers were formed in January 1963 and became an ever-evolving lineup of more than 100 different combinations of musicians performing under that name. Eric Clapton joined in 1965 just a few months after the release of their first album. Clapton brought the blues influences to the forefront of the group, as he had left The Yardbirds in order to play the blues.
The group lost their record contract with Decca that year, which also saw the release of a single called "I'm Your Witchdoctor" (produced by Jimmy Page), followed by a return to Decca in 1966. The album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton (also known as The Beano Album because Clapton is shown on the cover photo reading a copy of the comic) was released later that year; it reached the Top Ten in the UK.
Clapton and Jack Bruce left the group that year to form Cream. Clapton was replaced by Peter Green for A Hard Road, after which he left to form Fleetwood Mac. Finally, in 1969, the third Bluesbreaker-guitarist departed when Mick Taylor joined the Rolling Stones.
By the time the 1960s were over, the Bluesbreakers had finally achieved some success in the United States.
With some interruptions, the Bluesbreakers have continued to tour and release albums (over 50 to date), though they never achieved the critical or popular acclaim of their earlier material. In 2003, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and Chris Barber reunited with the band for John Mayall's 70th Birthday Concert in Liverpool — the concert was later released on CD and DVD. In 2004, their line up included Buddy Whittington, Joe Yuele, Hank Van Sickle and Tom Canning, and the band toured the UK with Mick Taylor as a guest musician.
In November 2008 Mayall announced on his website he was disbanding the Bluesbreakers to cut back on his heavy workload and give himself freedom to work with other musicians.
Have You Heard
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Interesting Facts ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, how I love her you don't know.
Have you heard about my baby?
How I love, how I love her you don't know.
I declare it hurt me so bad,
Yes, when I heard she'd got to go.
Have you heard about my baby?
Heard about my baby?
Ooh yes, I tried and I let her down.
Ooh, she burned me with her love,
Yes, no other, no other will wear her crown.
Yes, indeed.
Have you heard about my baby?
Where she gone, where she gone, I just don't know.
Yes, have you heard about my baby?
Ooh, where she gone, where she gone, I just don't know.
Well, if you should see my baby,
Yes, please tell her that I love her so.
Yes, no more next time.
The song "Have You Heard" by John Mayall is a heartfelt and soulful plea to the listener to help him find his lost love. The lyrics express the deep love and longing that Mayall feels for his baby. He asks if the listener has heard about his baby and how he loves her, and admits that it hurts him so bad to think that she is gone. The song is an expression of the pain and heartache of losing someone you love, and the longing to find them again.
In the second verse, Mayall admits that he tried to hold on to his baby, but ultimately let her down. He acknowledges that she burned him with her love, but he still loves her and no other will wear her crown. This line suggests that even though Mayall may have lost his love, he still considers her to be the most special and amazing person he has ever known.
In the final verse, Mayall makes a direct appeal to the listener to help him find his baby. He doesn't know where she's gone, and he is desperate to find her. His plea is a reminder of the importance of love and the deep desire we all have to connect with the ones we care about.
Overall, "Have You Heard" is a timeless song about love and loss that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Interesting Facts:
Interesting Facts
Note: This section uses generative AI, which can be inaccurate.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard about my baby?
The singer is asking if the listener has heard about his girlfriend.
Yes, how I love her you don't know.
The singer loves his girlfriend deeply and the listener might not fully understand it.
How I love, how I love her you don't know.
The singer repeats that he loves his girlfriend deeply and the listener might not fully understand it.
I declare it hurt me so bad,
The singer is asserting that he is really hurt.
Yes, when I heard she'd got to go.
The singer was hurt when he heard that his girlfriend had to leave.
Yes I tried, yes I tried, but I let her down.
The singer tried to be there for his girlfriend but failed and feels guilty.
Ooh yes, I tried and I let her down.
The singer repeats that he tried and failed to be there for his girlfriend and feels guilty.
Ooh, she burned me with her love,
The singer was deeply affected by his girlfriend's love.
Yes, no other, no other will wear her crown.
The singer thinks that no one can replace his girlfriend.
Where she gone, where she gone, I just don't know.
The singer doesn't know where his girlfriend went.
Ooh, where she gone, where she gone, I just don't know.
The singer reiterates that he doesn't know where his girlfriend went.
Well, if you should see my baby,
The singer is asking the listener to tell his girlfriend that he loves her if they see her.
Yes, please tell her that I love her so.
The singer restates that he wants the listener to tell his girlfriend that he loves her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MAYALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Knottenbelt
To my mind, this is one of the finest lead breaks that Clapton has ever played. Simple yet blistering at the same time !
Jason Lyte-Armstrong
Oh yeah. You got that right, for sure. We have are own unique sound of blues back in Chicago, but I sure love this British blues.
John Knottenbelt
HI Jason ! Thx for your response ! LOved Chicago Blues from way back ! Muddy Waters, Howlin Woolf, Lil Walther, Paul Butterfield.... to name but a few ! GREAT Stuff mate !
Jason Lyte-Armstrong
Hey John, have you found any contemporary blues bands that are any good?
John Knottenbelt
Jason Lyte-Armstrong Yeah Jason, quite a few, but like anything, taste belongs to the "Taster". Go seek & enjoy ! :D
japonaliya
This (a similar) much better solo was first done on the legendary "Stormy Monday" blues recorded in 65 or 66 depending on who you ask.
Daw Step
In 1974, the NME did a series of articles on great guitarists and their best solos. This was one of them. It was a bit of a backward look to his 'earlier' stuff than and it seemed like a bygone age I made sure to try and get the record so I could hear it, which wasn't easy, but I totally heard what they meant. Here I am 46 years later and its appeal hasn't faded. A true classic
Kabuki Kommando [Fourth World]
I haven't even been into this album a decade yet, and I'm 31. We all gotta start somewhere, man. Cheers to you and everyone who feels the same way about the Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton. All of you guys (and girls) rule!!
Joshua Stephens
Easily one of Eric Clapton's best solos and one of my absolute favourites. He really earned that "Clapton is God" hysteria with this one.
Mitch Clement
Not only this song... but hideaway and stepping out! Nobody ever came close to this guitar tone and phrasing, jus too bad the guitar was stolen after this album... les Paul through the Marshall Amp.