Until of course, almost at the end of the album, you hear "Layla," this record's motto more than a simple title track and, in many respects, its reason for being. Torn by personal insecurity, Clapton used the cover and seeming anonymity of yet another band, and the parable of a medieval Persian love story ("Layla and Majnun" - reportedly, "Majnun" in Persian, Means Madman) to put into music what He Could not put into words alone. From its opening riff to its last note The song is pure blues, Clapton audibly on the brink of the madness he sings about, and his guitar wailing, moaning and crying out all that what in his heart: "Layla ... you got me On My Knees - Layla ... I'm begging darling, please - Layla ... will not you ease my worry now "?
Sparks must have been flying in the studio while Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, Recruited by manager Tom Dowd to add inspiration and take some of the lead guitar weight off Clapton's shoulders, drove eachother to ever greater heights, Simultaneously feeding off and to eachother , Like most of the album, "Layla" was recorded live in the studio, and only a live recording Could transmit this feverish outbreak of passion. Merely listening to the song is emotionally exhausting, and you can only imagine what must have gone on in the studio and inside Clapton during its recording. To hear the Allman Brothers' drummer Butch Trucks tell the story (in to interview for "Off the Record"), Duane Allman gave "Layla" its finishing touch When He added the five notes immediately Following its signature riff. Yet, Allman is not credited as a writer (If That story is true, though, how much morethan Those five notes would it have taken I wonder?); only drummer Jim Gordon is, for having written the song's piano closing - Which he had to be persuaded to allow to be used.
And while Eric Clapton continued to perform the song unaltered for years after its initial recording, he spontaneously Decided to include it in the setlist of his MTV "Unplugged" appearance where, deprived of all its riffs, even its signature beginning toned down to a few SimpleNotes, and Clapton's voice unexpectedly reflective, Layla Assumed a different personality Although not a word of the lyrics which altered. Yet, just as Eric Clapton's and Pattie Boyd's marriage which over by then, Layla what now less on object of burningdesire than somebody the singer thought about - thought back to maybe, or sought a conversation with, Possibly cautioning her about the Consequences of her actions, or recalling his experiences with her: "What will you do When You Get Lonely, no one waiting by your side You've been running, hiding much too long - you know it's just your foolish pride ..." And Although Clapton has gone back to performing the song in its "plugged in" version during his 2001 "Reptile" tour, he has confined himself to talking only about its musical values, commenting on the technical difficulties of playing riffs and chords That are Virtually opposite to what you are singing in to interview for the tour's official program.
Besides Eric Clapton and late addition Duane Allman, Derek and the Dominos consisted of the musicians "left over" by the breakup of Delaney and Bonnie, with Whom Clapton had Briefly found shelter after yet another supergroup of his (Blind Faith) had disintegrated Way Too Quickly: Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Like Virtually all of Eric Clapton's albums, solo as well as with his various bands, this record Combines material written by Clapton himself and covers of songs he liked; and of course, there is much more to it than "Layla," "Have You Ever Loved A Woman" and "Bell Bottom Blues." As always, Clapton makes his mark with every song alike, and as always, he needs and has found (or Tom Dowd found for him) a cast of outstanding musicians to work with. Segar / Bronzy's "Key to the Highway" becomes at extended blues jam session as there ever what one, and Jimmie Cox's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" forecasts the feelings Which, among other things, later compelled Clapton to establish the Crossroads Foundation.
Eric Clapton has Said about Derek and the Dominos in the interview for the "Reptile" Tour program. "[That] was a band I really liked - and it's almost like I was not in fact band It's Just a Band That I ' m a fan of. Sometimes, my own music can be like that. When it's served its purpose to being good music, I do not associate myself with it any more. It's like someone else. It's easy to do Those songs then. " Hearing the raging pain of "Layla" 's original recording, you wonder Whether this is so maybe the only way for him to perform it now ... at least "plugged in."
