The story goes ... Clapton leaves the Yardbirds to pursue bluesier projects so he joins forces with John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers, they make a couple singles and an album. Steppin' Out is a compilation of those singles and most of the record, aka The Beano Album. Unlike the Yarbird hard blues rave up style taken from the Howlin' Wolf, The Bluesbreakers take their inspiration from Chicago Blues, a smoother more flowing style of the music; these guys were so good at it that they even scored sessions with Champion Jack Dupree and Otis Spann, which are represented on this record. In the end, yes the album is good, but there's something about it that sounds uninspired, it seems to lack that visceral blues feeling that only comes from within ... all the talent in the world can't teach you that!
