Hi Jim ? this is completely off topic (since I don?t have a Burny), but just checked your website ? Very Neat! Your musical influences are fairly similar to mine (well, same stuff as most guitar guys), although I never really noticed Jimmy Page & I don?t really know the US guys at all (except Roy Buchanan & original bluesmen like Freddie King & Otis Rush).
But I was just recently going back over some early Clapton stuff, & that 1964-65 Yardbirds material is interesting for the way you can hear Clapton?s tone & phrasing in 64 & how similar it is to his subsequent playing on Beano in 66 (eg on tracks like Got To Hurry and I Ain?t Got You, albeit using a Tele instead of Les-P). Similarly, you can hear the roots of Beck?s more experimental style right there in 65-66.
You say Beck lost you on the more Jazzy stuff, but what about Wired & Blow by Blow, you don?t list those,?but Beck?s best two albums imho? I understand why you?re not keen on too much Jazzy stuff, but if you haven?t heard it then try listening to Alan Holdsworth?s playing on the Gong album ?Gazeuse? (Virgin rec. 1976) ? it?s not a fashionable or celebrated record & it?s a long time since I played it, but as I recall Holdsworth?s playing is simply beautiful & influenced me to get more jazzy bits into my playing. Agree too about Mick Ronson on Ziggy Stardust album (great seminal album), not so much his playing, but his tone is fantastic :-? .
Eh,?apologies to ToneTimes2 for the off-topic diversion.
Ian.