Rock-n-Roll Oldies: Derek and the Dominos - 1970

Reaganite Republican ^ | February 11, 2011 | Reaganite Republican

[Reaganite Republican]

Eric Clapton with Pattie Boyd

Derek and the Dominos were a blues-rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton along with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. The band released only one studio album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, featuring major contributions from guitarist Duane Allman working with the band as a session musician.

The album went on to receive critical acclaim, but initially faltered in sales and in radio airplay. Although released in 1970 it was not until March 1972 that the album's single 'Layla' (a tale of then-unrequited love inspired by Clapton's relationship with his friend George Harrison's wife, Pattie Boyd Harrison) would make the top ten in both the US and the UK.

This sole album produced as Derek and the Dominos -hailed by critics and fans alike for songs such as 'Bell Bottom Blues', 'Layla', and 'Wonderful Tonight'- is widely considered to be the defining achievement of Clapton's career.

Assuming the fictional identity of "Derek" was simply something the ever-complex Clapton utilized in order to express himself: he later remarked that he had trouble facing the fact that he was trying to steal another man's wife, but needed an outlet for his feelings. fwiw, Eric Clapton in fact later married (1979) -and divorced (1989)- "Layla" aka English model and photographer Patty Boyd.

And the classic 'Bell Bottom Blues' was written to Pattie Boyd Harrison as well, as she had requested Clapton pick her up a pair on a tour of the States,  and the lyrics tell the tale...

Derek and the Dominos: Bell Bottom Blues - 1971
Plus a real gem, a live 1970 TV appearance on 

The Johnny Cash Show...
get a load of Clapton and Cash joined onstage by Carl Perkins

Both videos/more at Reaganite Republican

Wikipedia
____________________________________________

Additional background re. Eric Clapton with Cream -here-

Previous RR Rock n Roll Oldies features -here-

[Mase]

Best Clapton guitar riff ever is from "Badge" when he was with Cream. So simple, so incredible.

One of my favorite live albums of all time is the Rainbow Concert with Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ron Wood, Pete Townshend and many other greats. Little Wing live is awesome.

[NC28203]

>>>Well, the Devil has all the best tunes....

Just ask Robert Johnson about that. 8^)

[Frantzie]

John Cale of the Velvet Underground? Dumb song.

[Georgia Girl 2]

At the risk of dating myself “Bell Bottom Blues” was my theme song. LOL!!

[Frantzie]

The Stones pretty much kept repeating themselves. Their early songs were very good and then it went downhill. I was way too young (before my time) but Brian Jones was always the coolest.

I always liked how Charlie Watts always dressed like a gent. He loves playing jazz.

I really never liked Jagger but his comments about being well grounded because of his parents and his middle class work ethic that he spoke about was also a plus. I forget who he ripped into because they were drunk or messed up to preform. He yelled at them and said that people had paid money to see you and you better get out there and perform. He was always a senisble businessman though I wonder what really happened to Brian.

[astounded]

With all due respect, are you serious?

“Sticky Fingers”

“Exile on Main Street”

Both are stacked, top to bottom. Not a loser on either.

Just MHO.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“Once Brian Jones died all the songs were rubbish. The Stones repeated themselves for about 30 + years.”

I beg to differ. I think the Stones did some of their best work while Mick Taylor was in the band. But since they released Some Girls, they’ve been phoning it in for the most part.

[astounded]

Actually, Clapton comes in well behind the Texas Cannonball....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbqtnNorgQA

[andy58-in-nh]

Have you ever heard Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of Little Wing? That just might be my favorite. So damned beautiful it could make a grown man cry.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“John Cale of the Velvet Underground? Dumb song.”

While J.J. Cale’s first name is John, he’s not the same person as the VU member you refer to.

[Frantzie]

Mick Taylor - nice bloke who was treated shabbily and was later replaced by that creepy gyppo.

After the burst of early great tunes like 19th Nervous, Lady Jane, As Tears Go By and a few others - I found them rather boring.

Shattered, Waiting on a Friend, Start Me Up - dreadful stuff. Popular but just not very good.

[Frantzie]

I did not think John Cale would write something like that. I had forgotten there were two.

John Cale is a rather interesting bloke and was one of the more intereesting people in The Velvet Underground.

Lou Reed was NOT one of the cool ones in VU and was also a dope head/H junkie.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“Personally, I liked Clapton’s version of Little Wing better than Hendrix.”

You’re certainly welcome to your opinion. :) I find Clapton’s “Little Wing” a bit bombastic.

I also am really particular about Hendrix covers, as I’m a big Jimi fan. But EC is in my top three along with him (have to admit what got me to listen seriously to Clapton’s music was an interview with Eddie Van Halen where he mentioned Clapton as an early influence).

[SnuffaBolshevik]

The guitar solo towards the end of “Let it Rain” does it for me. When I’m out of steam I put that on and it’s like doing a couple of lin....uh, drinking some extra strong coffee. ;)

[andy58-in-nh]

Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire still sound amazingly good to my ears... after all these years.

[Frantzie]

LOL! Too true. Hey Jude is one of the most tedious (Paully) songs. Dreadful.

The Beatles at the end were a shambles. Yoko sitting next to John in the studio as if he were her puppet.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“Have you ever heard Stevie Ray Vaughan’s version of Little Wing? That just might be my favorite. So damned beautiful it could make a grown man cry.”

I’ve heard it, and it is indeed gorgeous. It’s one of only a handful of covers I prefer to the original.

[Mr. K]

The piano solo in “Tuesday’s Gone” and also “Call Me The Breeze” are right up there at the top too.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

“Yoko sitting next to John in the studio as if he were her puppet.”

Or was John Yoko’s puppet?

I always thought the real tragedy of John Lennon’s death was that Yoko wasn’t even grazed. :)

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Agreed. Billy Powell was a great player.