I agree with a lot of what has been posted here and I suppose, if based strictly on the "athletic" talent of playing guitar, I would have to go with SRV, but there is more to playing the blues than just that. Niether of these guys was/is particulary innovative or original; both wore their influences on their sleeve, so to speek. EC was clearly influenced by a whole host of guitarists, including Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, etc. SRV was influenced by Lonnie Mack(surprised not much mention of him), Albert King, Kenny Burrell, etc. I get the feeling that the sheer breadth of EC's career is getting short shrift here: Yardbirds, Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, solo. The 'Bluesbreakers With Eric Clapton' and 'Layla', imo, both surpass anything that SRV recorded in terms of lasting impact. Not to mention EC's version of 'Crossroad'(which, of course, I just did).
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Buried Alive In The Blues
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