Derek & Dominos - Layla
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Free Music Notes for Layla
Free Music Review: Clapton deserves even more credit than he gets..
Hit: 5 Stars
'Layla' is not only Clapton's pinnacle,(at age 25!), it may be the peak end-point for the musical cross-influencing of American and British roots and pop together. Clapton is a sponge, first absorbing the likes of Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, the three Kings, (BB, Albert ,and Freddy), Otis Rush and Buddy Guy, and then moving into the US to further his education at the hands of our best and brightest: Duane Allman, Bobby Whitlock, Delaney Bramlett, and JJ Cale. Combine all of these influences wth the lessons in pop structure learned from the Beatles,(mostly George), and you're left with all the tools. All that was needed was the heart and soul, as provided by his then-unrequited love for George's then-wife Patty Boyd, (soon to be Eric's), and the brew for the best music of the era is complete.PS: A little-known fact that makes the heartfelt message of 'Layla',(the song), even deeper: The lead guitar theme's first seven notes are borrowed from the opening vocal line in 'As the Years Go Passing By',(best known by Albert King). The lyrics that go with that riff: "-There is nothing I can do-....(if you leave me here to cry)."Whether this a coincidence or a decision, it adds another poignant dimension to this classic.DOMINOS MYSTERIES: 1/Drummer Jim Gordon wrote, and played -piano- on, the instrumental ending of Layla. His section's use was requested by the producers after they 'caught' him recording it during off-time, in an attempt to make his own record. For all of the fans who consider Clapton the world's greatest guitarist, keep in mind that MANY intelligent listeners felt that Gordon was the world's greatest drummer, and that Bobby Whitlock at the time was considered an even better singer than Eric, (although Eric's sound has aged better). Carl Radle was a unique cross of Duck Dunn and Paul McCartney, rock-solid Memphis-style soul mixed with beautiful melodies, and of course, Duane. The best.Free Music Review: LEGENDARY SUPERGROUP JOINED BY A LEGEND
Hit: 5 Stars
"Eric Clapton has had so much tragedy", my uncle said, "He should have been a Kennedy!!" This is true. Clapton started out in many Supergroups. After leaving the Yardbirds, he played with "John Mayall's Bluesbreakers", Then "Cream", then "Blind Faith". During these periods, he did little singing & was shy about his stardom. After Delaney & Bonnie, he formed another group with those musicians called "Derek & The Dominos". Duane Allman, a legendary slide guitarist from The Allman Brothers, heard Clapton was recording this album &, after a concert, rode his motorcycle from Sisco to L.A., in the rain & STONED ON HEROIN!! "I don't know how I made it alive", he later said. Well, he was sitting in a chair with other admirers when Clapton spotted him. "You're Duane Allman", he said. Allman replied, "I didn't know you knew I existed!" Clapton said, "Are you kidding? Get up here! I want you on my album!!" This took the "Layla" album to another level of legend!! After, a tour, Allman died, & the Dominos split up. The breakup was attributed to "The same paranoia & tension that made us great" Clapton added, "The Dominos ended too soon!" Before they did, they left us this legendary masterpiece! By now, everyone knows this classic version of "Layla". Most fans probably also "Bell Bottom Blues", which is one of the greatest songs Clapton ever recorded! The band also did a beautiful version of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing". And, the dominos' recording of Bessie Smith's "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out". The entire album is accented by Duane Allman's beautiful slide guitar, which ALMOST drowns out Clapton's work & steals the show! (THAT'S SAYING If you're an Eric Clapton fan, BUY THIS! If you're a Duane Allman fan, BUY THIS! If you want to hear some great blues & kicking rock, BUY THIS! If not, BUY THIS! I PROMISE, NOONE WILL REGRET Music Review: Clapton reaches the summitHit: 5 Stars Where popularity is concerned, Eric Clapton just keeps on keeping on, but he reached his artistic peak 30 years ago with the release of this superb double album. To be fair, how do you top this? Clapton was understandably devastated that the album he obviously put his heart and soul into failed to sell in numbers. Even the title track, which now seems to get as much air play as 'Stairway To Heaven', wasn't a hit until years after its initial release. Perhaps Clapton's tactic of releasing this 'anonymously', a la The Band, worked too well.
Having said that, it would be a mistake to see Layla as a solo album. While EC wrote the very best tunes, Bobby Whitlock makes important contributions, as does Jim Gordon, who wrote and played piano on the title track's beautiful 'second movement'. More importantly, despite the star-studded nature of the band and the extensive soloing throughout, this is ensemble playing at its best. The guitar marriage of Clapton and the great Duane Allman was made in heaven, evident everywhere but most especially on 'Any Day' and 'Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?'. Whitlock's keyboards and immensely powerful voice add vibrant colours to the sound, and Gordon's drumming is simply stunning (just listen to the intro to Bell Bottom Blues).
While Clapton's brilliant guitar playing comes as no surprise, his vocals are a revelation. For the most part he seems to be singing at the very top of his range, his voice about to crack at every turn, but this only adds to the emotion he is able to evoke. Here is a man on the edge.
It goes without saying that the title track is a classic, but other standouts include 'I Looked Away', 'Bell Bottom Blues', 'Anyday', 'Tell The Truth' and 'Why Does Love ...' MOJO's editors must have had a blank when they left this out of their top 100 albums. Essential listening.
Free Music Review: layla is a must own album
Hit: 5 Stars
There's a reason people consider Layla and other Assorted Love Songs a classic album. It's because it IS!
The album has a variety of moods and is mostly a songwriting album, and for those of you who are sick of hearing the song "Layla" on radio stations all the time, you should check out the album anyway, because there's a lot more here to enjoy besides that same overplayed song all the time.
I love Clapton's singing on the opening track "I Looked Away". Really emotional singing style with a brilliant vocal melody. "Bell Bottom Blues" is thankfully no longer a radio staple, which means the song still remains fresh and will continue to remain fresh as many times as you feel like playing it. "Keep on Growing" features some excellent guitar soloing that really proves the album has some variety, since the first three songs are drastically different from each other.
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" is a powerful slow blues rocker. It's not boring either. I like the lyrics too. The lyrics are exactly what you'd expect, packed with some emotions to elevate it WAY above average. "When you finally get up on your feet again, everyone wants to be your long lost friend". Amazing! Some of the guitar soloing near the end is quite fantastic.
"I Am Yours" is just a really nice song. It stands out in a positive way, just being so simple and pleasant. "Anyday" is a big WOW song, because the vocals and guitar playing is really sweet. "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad" is the same way.
The final song I want to mention is "Key to the Highway". It's a stomping blues track that's not really anything like the other blues number on here (the "Nobody Knows" track I mean). It's a really good song.
Just buy the album already!
Free Music Review: Great But Dangerous
Hit: 5 Stars
After owning this album for 33 or so years, now amongst a collection of 2000+ others, there is no longer any question in my mind that it is the greatest rock album ever made. Certainly there's other artists whose careers in total have surpassed EC's, (no not those boring Stones) but no one ever put together such a heartfelt, overwhelmingly powerful yet elegant collection. It is a greatest hits collection yet the story and music are one very coherent whole.What is it that makes it so great? First and foremost its the musicianship, the seamless call and response of the guitar and vocal duets, the feeling that every note that is there should be yet there are no unnecessary extras. Whatever led to this, whether it was the players' mucical skills, the combination of personalities, the Florida location, the personal inspiration, or the drugs, I don't know, but something was created which is greater than what mortal beings should be able to produce.
It was a magical, unrepeatable time in music. In fact I remember seeing the group shortly after the album's release on the old Dean Martin show (sans Duane of course) and thought the playing uninspiring and tired, although I'm sure its hard to put it all together for a few songs on a TV show.
What's dangerous about it? Make no mistake, every song on the album is great, but Little Wing has long been able to take over my mind and cut me off from the outside world. Other songs have come along which can do this for a few months, but only Little Wing has been able to do this so completely and for so many years. To me it blows Hendrix's original completely out of the water. I won't get into details about what happened this morning, but I'll just say I have to be way more careful about driving when this song comes up on the CD player.