Derek & Dominos - Layla
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Free Music Notes for Layla
Free Music Review: BEFORE JESSICA THERE WAS LAYLA
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1970, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs was released, featuring two of the most outstanding guitarists ever, namely Eric Clapton and Duane Allman. A landmark album in its own right, Layla is perhaps one of the most widely disputed LPs in terms of how proper mastering was and is to be done on CD.
The first known CD release was in the early 1980's in a two-disc format; production capabilities of this then-new format could only allow a maximum play time less than 75 minutes, roughly two-and-a-half minutes short of the entirety of this masterpiece. This issuing was, by and large, not well-received by fans and audiophiles, because there was too much noise and tape hiss, signaling that duplication and reproduction had been done from a source quite removed from the original masters.
Since then, serious attempts have been made to issue CD's properly remastered from the original source recordings. Thankfully, Polydor has followed through with the "Clapton Remasters" series, which includes Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. In this version, the 1996, 20-bit production has a rich sound far better than the first generation of CD's to ever come forth.
Contained are the introductory "I Looked Away" and the album rock staple, "Bell Bottom Blues". Quite noteworthy is the band's version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing". The album was released only three months after Hendrix's death, so many thought that this cover was an immediate tribute to the guitar icon. In fact, the track was recorded about one week before his passing. Near the end is the immortal "Layla", arguably one of the greatest rock songs, if not the greatest rock song, ever recorded.
Collectively, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a most enjoyable, though sometimes poignant, listen. On a parallel with the sorrow that would emanate from witnessing the passing of young, promising stars, including Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, and the aforementioned Hendrix, one cannot help but feel the great loss the music world would suffer less than one year after the completion of Layla when, on October 29, 1971, Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident.
All in all, the album has, again, the finely tuned, top-notch guitar work of the great Clapton/Allman combination. Perhaps most importantly, it has inaugurated and, due to the popularity that remains over a generation later, has preserved the legacy of not only Eric Clapton and blues artists but also that of the Allman Brothers and the Southern rock genre.
Free Music Review: Erics Best Stuff is All HERE!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Just the fact that Eric Clapton and Duane Allman (R.I.P.) were in a band together makes you want to listen to stuff... But i doubt you would think it would be as great as it is... and i mean that. This album is one of the greatest albums of ALL TIME... it should be in everyone collection and in everyone's top 25 list of their favorite albums.Here's a Rundown:
1. I Looked Away - 8/10 - Great opener and good vocals from Clapton.
2. Bell Bottom Blues - 10/10 - one of the albums best, great vocals, great solo, great emotion, great song!
3. Keep On Growing - 8/10 - good... thats all
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out - 10/10 - amazing song that you can listen to over and over and over and over and over, amazing solos from Eric and Duane.
5. I Am Yours - 7/10 - not bad, not amazing, its good...
6. Anyday - 7/10 - same as above...
7. Key To The Highway - 9/10 - wonderful song, wonderful solos.
8. Tell The Truth - 8/10 - good, strong song
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? - 9/10 - love the vocals, and solos, Duane is amazing and does better on solos than Clapton, and this shows it!!!!
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman - 10/10 - might be the albums best song, and Erics greatest solo.... Duane also does outstanding well, and i love how they trade off to one another, soo much emotion in these solos.
11. Little Wing - 10/10 - i love how they didn't try to replicate Little Wing, and no one will ever come close (with exception to Stevie Ray Vaughan) and i hate it when people try to sound like Hendrix, they can't do it... instead they rework this song into some extraordinary and seems perfect for the album, if Hendrix hadn't writin the original it seems like DATD would have writin this version on their own.
12. It's Too Late - 7/10 - not exciting... but good...
13. Layla - 10/10 - people always say this is the best song on the album, i disagree, but i still LOVE this song, its amazing, Eric at his best, and the last 4 minutes are truly amazing music, the emotion is there, and it comes together so well, and Duane slide solo is wonderful, it brings a tear to the eye
haha... no really its awesome....
14. Thorn Tree In The Garden - 9/10 - Good Closer... but i think this shud be song 13 and Layla be 14 (the Closer) cuz it closes an album better thant Thorn Tree In The Garden, but this song is amazing and just might be the most calming of all the songs.
ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!!!!
Free Music Review: What a "Supergroup"
Hit: 5 Stars
Derek and the Dominos was one of the great supergroups. Short-lived, to be sure, but what a legacy. Kind of like a supernova? Shines brilliantly for a bit and then disappears. The pictures of the group at work that come with the CD are shocking in a sense. Man, were they young when they created this masterpiece! I'm used to Eric Clapton the way he looks now. . . . One characteristic of this work that makes sense is that the cuts are long, and they feature a lot of instrumental work; it's like the group wants to jam a lot. And why not? The group was made up of some power house players: Eric Clapton (guitar/vocals), Duane Allman (Guitar), Bobby Whitlock (Keyboard/Vocals/Acoustic guitar), Jim Gordon (Percussion), and Carl Radle (Bass).
Some illustrative cuts from this masterpiece:
"Bell Bottom Blues" (Clapton). One nice line:
"Bell bottom blues,
You made me cry.
I don't want to lose this feeling.
If I could choose a place to die,
It would be in your arms."
Splendid guitar work and nice ensemble playing. This is a kind of "laid back" song, with real power in the instrumental work.
"Key to the Highway" (Segar/Broonzy). A great blues sung well rendered by this group. The band plays well; they project a fine blues sensibility onto this song. This cut lasts over 9 minutes (like many cuts, it is leisurely, as if the band enjoys playing with one another, playing off one another). The vocals are okay, but almost secondary. The guitar work is stellar. A recurring line:
"I got the key,
The key to the highway."
"Little Wing" (Hendrix). I like this cut, first, simply because it's a Jimmy Hendrix song. Second, the group does it justice. The guitar work is what it should be, which is no surprise, given who is playing guitar with this group.
Finally, "Layla" (Clapton/Gordon). What a great opening guitar riff. Indeed, the guitar playing is stunning throughout. Clapton, in my view, has never been a great rock and roll singer, but he does what he needs to do in this song. The backing vocals are fine, too. What power from this band! The extended instrumental playing works throughout this CD--and in this song as well. No filler or fluff here.
So? This is one of the finest supergroups of the time. This CD stands up well several decades later. One of the best of rock and roll albums. . . .
Free Music Review: Triumph
Hit: 5 Stars
What a one-shot group, Derek and the Dominoes! A sensational double album clearly having no redundancy or filler. More known for the teaming up of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman on the title cut's fabulous guitar work, Layla also benefits from the worthy contributions of Jim Gordon and Bobby Whitlock on keyboards and elsewhere and Duane's presence on most other songs.The title track is one of rock's classic long, or any, songs. It is in the vein of passion and beauty rather than R&B--"Light My Fire" rather than "Brown Sugar," but while the former is otherworldly, "Layla" is the best of this world. Like The Doors' magnum opus, it has a terrific keyboard solo (Gordon) and great guitar soloing, tho in reverse order; the screeching slide guitar enraptures in advance of Gordon's majestic piano. Interestingly (and in reverse of the White Album), George Harrison appears on the credits. He was the husband of Patti Boyd, to whom the song was dedicated and who moved over to Eric's affections.
"Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad" is another highlight, and my second favorite. Again, Eric's passionate singing and soloing are characteristic of a recording that emphasizes beauty over the hard edges, but this song still is hard-driving and hints at the blues. Of course, with Eric, you can always expect no dearth of the blues, and this masterwork is no exception. The best moment is Eric's and Duane's jam on "Key To The Highway," whose moderate tempo allows you to absorb the fluid blues licks. The other best songs are the sweet and sentimental "Bell Bottom Blues" and a terrific rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing." For good rhythm guitar blasts, check out "Anyday."
Think about those performers you like whose songs have relatively simple structures but are great--"Be My Baby" will always be one of my favorites. But then you have a know-it-all friend who says "musically, it isn't that good." Who cares, your favorite is always better than his expansive junk. But then, cite Layla--it will be musically better than his junk or almost anything, and an absolute top notch group of songs to boot. What an accomplishment by this talented ensemble--oh, yes, Carl Radle (percussion and bass) is the one I did not yet mention. Moreover, the melodic strength and great structures of this superb collection of tunes have broad appeal, regardless of someone's genre focus. Actually, anyone who does not like Layla should have his or her head examined.
Free Music Review: Key to the Highway...what a song...
Hit: 5 Stars
The best song on the LP would be Key to the Highway. It's Clapton at his bluesiest and best, plus he trades awesome solos with Duane Allman. Don't be scared off by it's 9:37 length, it's essential Clapton listening, not to mention a must-hear for anyone studying the guitar. Possibly Clapton's greatest song, ever, counting what he did with Cream and Blind Faith. Just had to get that out of the way.
Besides Key to the Highway, Layla is loaded with gems and one of the best double-albums ever. If you want the song-by-song breakdown, here we go...
1. I Looked Away: 7/10. Emotional vocals, but doesn't quite do it for me.
2. Bell Bottom Blues: 10/10. Amazing guitar solo, but even that pales in comparison to Clapton's gut-wrenching vocals.
3. Keep On Growing: 10/10. Great high-energy jam, with nice soloing from Clapton and Allman.
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out: 10/10. Again, great vocals from Eric. Nice reading of this age-old blues standard.
5. I Am Yours: 6/10. The weakest track on the album, it isn't bad but it sounds like a CSN ripoff. (I do like CSN, though).
6. Anyday: 9.5/10. A great, energetic-yet-downcast tune. Only problem is Clapton's falsetto.
7. Key to the Highway: 10/10. I wrote a whole paragraph praising this one. It's gotta be good. Forgot to mention that I love Duane's slide.
8. Tell the Truth: 8/10. Solid, but not the best.
9. Why's Love Got to Be So Sad: 8/10. Again, it's really good, but there are better songs here.
10. Have You Ever Loved a Woman: 10/10. Whoa!!! Nobody can play the blues like Clapton, let's face it. Even though it was a cover, you could've fooled me into thinking it was an original. Perfect for Eric's mood, especially with the whole Patti Boyd thing. Second-best song.
11. Little Wing: 10/10. I always loved Hendrix's, but this is worlds different. A very good jam version, and another favorite of mine.
12. It's Too Late: 10/10. What can I say? Great song.
13. Layla: 10/10. The album's other classic (first being Bell Bottom Blues) starts off as a metal-ish rocker helped by Duane's high-pitched, haunting slide parts and ends with a lovely piano solo from drummer Bobby Whitlock.
14. Thorn Tree in the Garden: 7.5/10. Nice way to close a great album.
Overall: 9/10. Yeah, you really should own this album if you don't already. It's one of the greatest double-albums of all time.