Album of the Week - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Oozing with the blues, is a timeless classic
Recorded and released in 1970, literally two months apart is Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs by super group Derek & the Dominos (Eric Clapton and friends) has been getting some serious play time from me lately - so why not, lets talk about what makes Layla great.
Post breakup of Cream and Delaney & Bonnie, Clapton was struggling to find his footing. In a dark emotional place, he set off for Miami with some friends to record an album, which would turn out to be our Layla, and my first double LP album of the week! Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs is comprised of 14 songs, clocking in at 76:44. For the entirety of the 76:44, Clapton pours his heart into this album.
For those unaware, Eric Clapton was wildly in love with his best friends wife, that bestie was none other then George Harrison of the Beatles. Obviously, George wasn’t about to send his wife to dumpsville so Eric could shack up with her - and not trying to pick a fight with George, Eric did what he does best. He played the blues… maybe a little to well here, because immediately, critics, fans and George knew that he was talking about Patti Boyd (George’s wife) on the album, a true mark of good blues music. The emotion is a so poignant.
Like I said, Eric set off to Miami to write and record this album - and it shows. While it may be subtle to the average listener, the Miami music scene influenced this album, similar to Band On the Run being recorded in Lagos! Spanish and Latin microtones and vibe flourish this record adding in a bit of spice to the Englishmen’s blues.
The majority of the songs on this record are written by Eric Clapton and keyboardist Bobby Whitlock. Comprising six of the nine original songs on the album, five covers made up the balance - which I will breakdown in the track by track, but hold your horses we still have to talk about this album a bit longer. In addition to Bobby Whitlock, Derek & The Dominos was made up of Carl Radle on bass, Jim Gordon (who would later be convicted of murdering his own mother [for all you true crime junkies out there]) and Duane Allman. Yes, that Duane Allman. Slide guitar virtuoso, and leader of the Allman Brothers Band. Duane’s influence on this album is undeniably solid. His Gibson guitar pairs and clashes with Clapton’s Fender nicely on this album. In my honest opinion, Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs would not be what it is, with out the addition of Duane. Especially the title track, that was written as a ballad prior to Duane joining in the groove.
Now that we have all the pieces to the Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs puzzle: Eric Clapton, Miami, Patti Boyd, and Duane Allman… Let’s break it down.
Track by track:
Side A
I Looked Away
I Looked Away, although the Side A opener, has been one of my favorite songs on Layla for a long time. It sets the pace quite well, without giving away all the secrets that Derek & the Dominos had planned for the rest of the album.
Bell Bottom Blues
The first released single from Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs… and after the full album release! A cash grab by the label? Maybe. Bell Bottom Blues is our first real visceral look at the raw emotions Clapton was experiencing during this time. With calmer solo sections, it ramps up nicely into the next song.
Keep On Growing
Keep On Growing, is in all honesty - my favorite song on this album. Long and ripping solos show the feel of this record. Accompanied by a very busy and funky bassline and full of conga flair. The Miami influence is heavy on this track. I was fortunate to see this song performed live by Tedeschi Trucks Band, a great extended jammed-out version can be found on their live album: Live from the Fox, Oakland. Keep On Growing
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
Speaking true to the blues, nobody knows you when you’re down and out, is structured and played in finest Clapton blues fashion. That is all you get on this track. This is also our first cover song on Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs.
Side B
I am Yours
Side B opens with this acoustic track. While it may not be a big fat jammer like Keep On Growing, it offers a nicer contrast and calms us down for Side B.
Anyday
Kicking things back up a notch with the Hammond B3 organ, and a funky rhythm guitar section is Anyday. Adding in lots of bluesy flair, to the higher tiered Clapton vocal. One of the songs on this album that features a wild and powerful vocal by Bobby Whitlock.
Key to the Highway
Another cover, and at this point a standard, Key to the Highway is a pure blues jam. The longest song on the record clocking in at 9:40, its turnarounds are fast and chord driven - unique to the Derek & the Dominos version.
Side C
Tell the Truth
Tell the Truth offers some of the best Duane Allman slide guitar on Layla - which like I mentioned before, adds some special elegance and presence to the jammed solo section.
Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?
Good question, Eric. Opening with some incredibly flavorful rhythm/lead work by Clapton and heavy B3 organ. One of the faster and higher octane tracks on this album, if you explore live cuts from Derek & the Dominos - they really jam this one out. I was also able to see this song performed live by Tedeschi Trucks Band (at a different show then Keep On Growing) which gave me a new appreciation for the song.
Side D
Have You Ever Loved a Woman
Back to pure blues structure on this one, also a Billy Myles cover. Everything on this one screams blues and is some of Clapton’s finest blues guitar work.
Little Wing
Ah Little Wing. For those keeping track at home, this is our second go round with Little Wing - covered here, by Derek & the Dominos, we talked about this song in our last album of the week - Axis: Bold As Love by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This version is structurally very different then Jimi’s, you will have to listen to both to see the differences.
It’s Too Late
Another cover, this time Clapton covering Chuck Willis, It’s Too Late has also been covered by The Jerry Garcia Band, and while I like JGB’s cover preferably - this version of It’s Too Late offers some great back and forth vocal work from Eric and Bobby.
Layla
Here we are at the title track and best known song from the record. Layla, co written by Eric and Jim Gordon, offers one of the most recognizable and iconic riffs of all time.
The second released song from Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, Layla was recorded on a 5-watt Fender amp, which to me is baffling, how did Eric get that sound out of a 5-watt amp?
I did see Clapton perform this song acoustically back in 2012 at Pine Knob and was not disappointed.
Thorn Tree in the Garden
Closing out Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs is Thorn Tree. Written and performed by Bobby Whitlock… this song is also the shortest song on the album, the piano outro to Layla, segways nicely into Thorn Tree.
What makes Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs great is how you and others interpret it. Many songs from the above track list have been covered by countless artists and bands over the years - but one stands out to me. Layla Revisited (Live at LOCKIN’) by Tedeschi Trucks Band ft. Trey Anastasio. Tedeschi Trucks and Trey covered the album in its entirety, from front to back adding their own interpretations, and emotions to this classic album. Slide guitar included.
Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs is a pure blues album, front to back - it is a great foray and introduction to the blues or at least blues basics. I don’t care if you need the blues emotionally, or not - both the original and Layla Revisited are worth a listen… especially on vinyl.