In April 1965, Eric Clapton replaced Roger Dean in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Multi-instrumentalist and singer, Mayall was a key figure in the development of electric blues in Britain. Shortly after Clapton joined, the group recorded the single "I'm Your Witchdoctor" with the B-side "Telephone Blues." After touring with the group for a few months, and absorbing a broad range of ideas, Clapton recorded the album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton in April 1966 at Decca's West Hampstead Studio in London.

A confidence and maturity within the blues idiom is clearly evident on the album, and on certain tracks, Clapton demonstrates his influences. Although "All Your Love" by Otis Rush is similar to Rush's original 1958 recording, there is a clutch of outstanding instrumental. Freddie King's "Hideaway," for instance, contains a variety of sounds with strong finger vibrato, and a sweet tone contrasting with passages of broken, distorted chords. "Steppin' Out" is marked by a muscular, expressive riff and a powerful solo with string bending and sustain. John Mayall's own compositions "Have You Heard" and "Key to love" also feature exceptional guitar solos and fills that incorporate soaring bends, trills, vibrato, distortion, and hammer-ons and pull-offs. On "What I'd Say," Clapton suddenly inserts The Beatles' "Day Tripper" riff, which he plays with great verve and assurance.

Fresh cream

On Fresh Cream, Cream's first album, the group forged a new style of sophisticated rock. "I Feel Free" features distorted guitar playing rhythmically with the bass and drums. "N.S.U." opens with arpeggiated chords and switches to an emphasis on the upbeat with driving power. The two Baker compositions "Sweet Wine" and "Toad" have simple and effective riffs, harmonies, and rhythms. On many tracks, all members freely contribute to the structure of the music and interact effectively. As a result, Clapton's solos start to move away from a conservative blues style toward an extended improvisational melodiousness. The lengthy version of Skip James' "I'm So Glad" typifies the direction in which the group was moving.

Clapton with Cream

In the summer of 1966, Cream was formed by Eric Clapton, bass player and vocalist Jack Bruce, and drummer Ginger Baker. Comprising three strong instrumentalists with a tremendous reputation, Cream was one of the first lineups to be termed a "supergroup." They recorded their debut single "Wrapping Paper" in July 1966 and started putting down tracks for their first album, Fresh Cream, which was recorded in London. This material marked an important step in the development of pop music - Cream played blues covers, featuring Clapton working within a familiar framework, as well as innovative compositions by Bruce. At this time, they evolved a new musical landscape in which Bruce and Baker worked with the sophistication of a jazz rhythm section the bass often-playing countermelodies and the drums using a variety of fills and African elements. Above this rhythm section, Clapton's distinctive, high-powered, searing, vocalized electric-blues style established him as a key figure in the genre.

Evident on Disraeli Gears (1967), Cream's second album, is a wider range of progressive rock and folk influences. "Strange Brew" sounds like psychedelic pop with Stax blues. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Jack Bruce wrote the album's "Sunshine of your Love," a seminal track containing one of the most popular guitar riffs of the 1960s. Disraeli Gears also shows Clapton's development toward new sound textures, including wah wah breaks on "On Tales of Brave Ulysses," distorted and sound-processed playing on "Swablr," wah-wah chords on "World of Pain," and an Asian-style solo on "Dance the Night Away."

Wheels of Fire (1968), a double-album comprising one live disc recorded in America and a studio disc features one of the 1960s most popular guitar solos. The live take on "Crossroads," based on Robert Johnson's "Cross Road Blues", finds Clapton playing an inspired solo with waves of climaxes and tension-release phrasing a style that is a hallmark of his playing. In the studio recordings, Clapton is brooding; atmospheric-power sets off "White Room," on which he uses distortion, sound processing and wah wah for fills and soloing. "Politician" contains a stark riff with two interweaving melodic blues solos using overdubs. Clapton uses acoustic guitar very effectively for rhythm and color on "Deserted Cities of the Heart" and "As You Said." Highlights of the album are the traditional songs "Sitting On top of the World," with its distorted blues playing, and "Born under a Bad Sign," on which Clapton plays a melodic solo.

Goodbye Cream (1969) was released shortly after Cream split in 1968, with one of Clapton's most inventive solos on the live "I'm So Glad." "Badge," featuring George Harrison playing a distinctive, arpeggiated figure, sees Clapton adding fills with tasteful string bending. These differing tracks sum up Clapton's career with Cream, showing his ability to bridge and progressive rock and pop.