* 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.
Telephone Blues
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was sitting by my telephone.
All the time a-wastin',
All the love you've never shown.
But someday, someday darling,
You will realize I'm alone.
You promised me you would call.
But time is running out, babe;
No call at all.
My life is so lonely
Standing by my telephone.
But someday, someday darling,
You will realize I'm alone.
In "Telephone Blues," John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers sings about a brokenhearted person who can't sleep because they keep expecting a phone call from their loved one. It's a poignant and relatable portrayal of the angst and loneliness that can follow a sudden break up or separation. The singer expresses their disappointment and sadness at the lack of love and attention from their partner, who failed to call as they had promised.
The lyrics also reveal a note of hope in the singer's tone as they anticipate that their loved one will see their mistake and come back. The chorus "But someday, someday darling, You will realize I'm alone" emphasizes the longing and the expectation the broken-hearted character holds to receive affection and attention from her lover. In sum, "Telephone Blues" captures the emotional turmoil and aching desire for love and companionship that so often accompanies heartache and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
I couldn't sleep last night.
I had trouble sleeping yesterday.
I was sitting by my telephone.
I was waiting for a phone call by the phone.
All the time a-wastin',
I'm wasting my time just waiting around by the phone.
All the love you've never shown.
You haven't shown me any affection or indication of love.
But someday, someday darling,
I hope someday you will understand and regret not being there for me.
You will realize I'm alone.
You will come to realize that I am alone and sad.
The last time I saw you,
The very last time we met.
You promised me you would call.
You promised to call me back.
But time is running out, babe;
I'm running short on time for you to keep your promise.
No call at all.
You didn't call me at all.
My life is so lonely
My life has been very sad and lonely without you.
Standing by my telephone.
I'm still waiting for your call, by the phone.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MAYALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LordDavid
"It was recorded at Pye Studios with jazzer Hughie Flint on drums, John McVie on bass, John Mayall on keyboards and vocals and Eric Clapton on guitar. It was recorded in June of 1965." - Jimmy Page, producer of this session
@ldognz
a masterpiece
@jayturner3397
Thank you..wonderful 😊 uk '23
@joekaplowitz2719
This is why we can say that Clapton is a guitar master. He mastered the roots of 20th century music.
@meyou-dv8ns
HE MASTERED TWO SCALES. LOL. AND HAS BEEN PLAYING THE SAME TWO SCALES EVER SINCE, BUT BOY OH BOY. HE DID IT SO WELL. HE MADE A LIVING ON IT, JEFF BECK WENT MORE OVER THE BLUES SCALE AND PENTATONIC SCALE AND JEFF KICKS ASS. BUT PEOPLE LIKE PAT MARTINO AND OTHER LIKE PAT. ARE MONSTERS ON THE GUITAR AND PLAY GREAT NO MATTER WHAT KEY OR HOW MANY JAZZ CHORDS THERE ARE IN A SONG. NO PROBLEM, HAVING SAID THAT. WHO CARES RIGHT, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU WANT TO LIKE. BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS TO PLEASE YOUR EARS
@grizzledtriggerfinger7141
Couldn’t have said it better myself…he’s the guitar GOAT.
@14liljinx
@@grizzledtriggerfinger7141 ....doesn't hold a candle to Hendrix, but that isn't a criticism. There are levels, even among the elite
@jonathanhines2441
Hendrix was Hendrix and he was more experimental or "outside of the box," but you can hear Clapton's influence in the guitar played in almost every style of music over the last 6 decades. Arguably the most influential player of the classic rock era for that reason alone.
@robertrobles4028
This is a wonderful track from 20 year old Eric Clapton. Jeff Beck said this is great!
@user-hs4uv1fv1o
Even at 21 Jimmy is as a studio wizard.