Lon,
IMHO, even when, or perhaps especially when, Eric is playing Freddie or Otis note for note (which I don't hear quite as often as some hear(sic)), the effect is still different, intentially and significantly so to me. It's not just that he recorded the Bluesbreakers album at club gig volume ('11') but that's certainly part of it. By the way, has anyone heard Beano in mono (UK posters?)--is it that different? Now that I think about it, did Freddy write "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" or was it written for him?