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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Crossroads

CLAPTON IS GOD

Following his departure from the Yardbirds, Eric briefly joined John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, in April of 1965. It was during this period that "Clapton is God" graffiti began appearing around London, painted by his devoted fans. The debut album from the Bluesbreakers was released in 1966 and rose into the Top Ten on the charts.
Eric in white suit
Photo courtesy of Jim's Eric Clapton Site
However, there were personality clashes in the group and Eric soon departed, along with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. The three musicians then formed Cream, immediately developing a loyal fan base and becoming a legendary power trio. Drawing on their shared love for the blues, they often performed old standards and it is Cream's version of "Crossroads" which is best known. But once again, the members began to squabble amongst themselves and the group eventually dissolved.



Legend and Interpretation

The lyrics plainly have the narrator attempting to hitch a ride from an intersection as darkness falls. But in close association with the mythic legend of Johnson's short life and death, it has come to represent the tale of a blues man going to a metaphorical crossroads to meet the devil to sell his soul in exchange for becoming a famous blues player.
Posted by Edward Alshut + Shawn Alshut at 8:12 PM
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6 comments:

  1. WesSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:39:00 PM CST

    The Yardbirds Line-Ups (1963-1968)
    Original lineup

    (June 1963 - October 1963)

    Keith Relf - lead vocals, harmonica
    Anthony "Top" Topham - lead guitar
    Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar
    Paul Samwell-Smith - bass, backing vocals
    Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals
    Clapton replaces Topham

    (October 1963 - February 1965)

    Keith Relf - lead vocals, harmonica
    Eric Clapton - lead guitar
    Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar
    Paul Samwell-Smith - bass, backing vocals
    Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals
    Beck replaces Clapton

    (March 1965 - June 1966)

    Keith Relf - lead vocals, harmonica
    Jeff Beck - lead guitar, vocals
    Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar
    Paul Samwell-Smith - bass, backing vocals
    Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals, percussion
    Page replaces Samwell-Smith

    (June 1966 - September 1966)

    Keith Relf - lead vocals, harmonica
    Jeff Beck - lead guitar
    Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, bass
    Jimmy Page - bass, guitar
    Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals
    Beck is fired

    (November 1966 - July 1968)

    Keith Relf - lead vocals, harmonica
    Jimmy Page - guitar
    Chris Dreja - bass
    Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals, percussion

    New Yardbirds
    (September 1968 - October 1968)

    Jimmy Page - guitar
    Robert Plant - lead vocals, Harmonica
    John Paul Jones - bass
    John Bonham - drums

    Yardbirds become Led Zeppelin
    (October 1968)

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  2. WesSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:41:00 PM CST

    Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton is a 1966 electric British blues album by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton as lead guitarist. It is often referred to as The Beano album because the photograph on the album cover shows Clapton reading The Beano, a well-known British children's comic.
    Apart from being one of the most overall influential albums in blues-rock history, it was likely the first time anyone had heard a Gibson Les Paul guitar through an overdriven Marshall amplifier; this unique sound would become particularly influential. The re-introduction of the Les Paul by Gibson was largely fueled by the blues boom that so often featured it. Clapton's incendiary playing inspired graffiti saying "Clapton is God" on the streets of London around the time of the album's release.
    The Bluesbreakers included John Mayall on harmonica and a majority of the vocals, John McVie on bass, Hughie Flint on drums, and John Almond, Alan Skidmore and Derek Healey, misrepresented on the sleeve as Dennis Healey, as the horn section.

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  3. Edward Alshut + Shawn AlshutSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 8:56:00 PM CST

    Very interesting Lineage.
    I did not know of the connection to Led Zeppelin.

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  4. Edward Alshut + Shawn AlshutSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 9:38:00 PM CST

    Did we part ways with Steve Hanks and Estrogan at the Crossroads??

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  5. WesSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 9:38:00 PM CST

    seems like a takeover

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  6. WesSaturday, February 27, 2010 at 10:01:00 PM CST

    FE@9:38 -

    I certainly hope not

    I suspect Estrogan is absorbing the landscape and will unleash at some point

    I am actually a little bit more concerned about Hanks - Steve, let it go - politics is not off base...nor law...or whatev...come on out and play...

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