Eric was playing great blues way back in the 60's, his work with the Bluesbreakers was outstanding, grantd it was mainly loud electric blues with little subtlety, but back then he was not addicted to heroin, he had not lost a child, and he was not at that time hopelessly in love with Patti (Layla) Boyd who was George Harrison's wife. He was a young man on his way to the top, you see no troubles yet he still managed to coax tortured screaming blues licks from his guitar. He's just got a great feeling for the blues, it's inside you and you can't get away from it. I think Eric could take 'Happy Talk' and make it lowdown, dirty and heartbreaking.