Eric Clapton is already 63 but he still looks fine at an age that many of us are thinking about retirement. Often viewed by critics and fans alike as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Clapton was ranked fourth in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and number 53 on their list of the Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. For many years, he also has been embarrassed by the famous slogan "Clapton is God", spray-painted by an admirer on a wall in an Islington Underground station in the autumn of 1967. Of course he isn't God, he's only a very talented guitarist who made human mistakes (also musically), as well as any other human being. He always loved the blues and used his talent to make some recordings that you should have in your collection.

Everyone should be familiar with the first one. "The Bluesbrakers: John Mayall with Eric Clapton" was recorded after he joined John Mayall's Bluesbrakers for the second time, in 1965. It was during this stint that his passionate playing established Clapton's name as the best blues guitarist on the club circuit. From now on, the world knew that there was at least one white boy (he was only 20 in those days) who could play the blues. On "Layla and other assorted Love Songs" (1970) Clapton was spurred to perhaps the best guitarplaying of his career by the presence of Duane Allman. Out of his mellow-period I would recommend "461 Ocean Boulevard" and "Slowhand", two albums that should be examplary to every enthusiastic bluesrocker who tries to play guitar like Ayrton Senna used to drive his Formula I machine. To make it all perfect, try to listen to this music in the company of a good glass of Chivas Regal 25 Year Old or a Crown Royal. As a bonus, watch the clip below with some snapshots from the BluesBrakers in the old days. Have fun!

Video: The Bluesbrakers - John Mayall with Eric Clapton - Hideaway

Photo: Eric Clapton at the Tsunami Relief concert - Cardiff 2005

The Bluesbrakers: John Mayall with Eric Clapton - Deram 1966
Layla and other assorted Love Songs - Polydor 1970
461 Ocean Boulevard - Polydor 1974
Slowhand - Polydor 1977

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