With a history as sordid and romantically blighted as his, Clapton was never one to shirk his responsibility to the music. Not only did he turn his entanglements and heartache into solid gold songs, but he probably made the greatest unrequited love album in the process. That album is Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970). Under the moniker of Derek & the Dominos, Clapton recorded probably the single best album of the entire year of 1970, hands down, no holds barred. The album, which outlines and takes its name from the story of Layla and Majnun (vaguely), is more or less about the heart-rending tryst that developed between Clapton and George Harrison’s wife, Pattie Boyd; and so, Clapton turned his obsession into pure dynamite, bringing together the best studio men of the day for his purposes, and inviting friends to join. One friend in particular, Duane Allman, essentially gave the album it’s voice. His stinging and godlike slide guitar playing essentially commutes the raw emotion of Clapton’s longing like the strings of fate, and coupled with the immaculate backing section, the music is demonstratively perfect. Layla will go down in history as probably the most important album of Clapton’s career, but it was a marked turning point for a man who changed styles so many times in order to find that essential blues soul that got him started. All the tracks are known; each and every note is imbued and coded into the lexicon of popular music. I don’t need to say anymore. Get this album.
Listen to “Little Wing” and “Layla” (Live, 1984)
Download “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs“
