[NTLUG:Discuss] MySQL question

[Bobby Wrenn]

I've checked the MySQL web site, the man pages, the OReilly book and another 
MySQL book. No help

I have a default install of MySQL on Mandrake 8.2.
I type "mysqladmin -u <username>" I get the help screen and the command 
prompt back. I type "mysql -u <username>" I get the mysql prompt and no 
password prompt.

In mysql I type;
mysql>  create database atestdatabase;

The system responds;
ERROR 1044: Access denied for user: '@localhost' to database 'atestdatabase'

How can I enable access for a user?

I have only one user on the system. Root cannot even run the mysql CLI.
What gives?

TIA
Bobby