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Derek and The Dominos was a blues-rock band that formed in 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton, keyboardist and singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. The band is best known for their only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which featured the classic song “Layla”, inspired by Clapton’s love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison. The album also featured the guitar work of Duane Allman, who joined the band for the recording sessions. The band’s music was a blend of blues, rock, soul and country, and showcased the band’s musical chemistry and talent.
Origins
The band’s origins can be traced back to Clapton’s involvement with Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a soul band fronted by Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Clapton had joined the band as a guitarist in 1969, after leaving his previous supergroup, Blind Faith. He was impressed by the band’s musical style and camaraderie, and became friends with Whitlock, Radle and Gordon, who were also members of the band. Clapton also collaborated with the band on his debut solo album, Eric Clapton, released in 1970.
However, Clapton soon became dissatisfied with the band’s management and financial issues, and decided to leave the band with Whitlock, Radle and Gordon. The four musicians formed a new band, initially called Eric Clapton and Friends, and started working on new songs. They also played as the backing band for George Harrison’s solo album, All Things Must Pass, in 1970. During the sessions, they adopted the name Derek and The Dominos, after a mispronunciation by a DJ who introduced them on the radio. The name was also a way to avoid the excessive attention that Clapton’s name would bring to the band.
Breakthrough
The band recorded their debut and only studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, in 1970, at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. The album was produced by Tom Dowd, who had worked with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Cream. The album featured 14 songs, seven of which were written or co-written by Clapton and Whitlock, and the rest were covers of blues and country songs by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Big Bill Broonzy and Bobby Bland. The album also featured the guitar playing of Duane Allman, who joined the band after meeting Clapton at a concert. Allman added his signature slide guitar and harmonized with Clapton on several tracks, creating a unique and powerful sound.
The album’s most famous song, “Layla”, was inspired by Clapton’s unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, who was married to his friend and former Beatle, George Harrison. Clapton had fallen in love with Boyd in 1969, but she had rejected his advances. Clapton was also influenced by the Persian poem The Story of Layla and Majnun, by Nizami Ganjavi, which tells the story of a man who goes mad with love for a woman who is married to another man. Clapton wrote the song with the help of Jim Gordon, who composed the piano coda that ends the song. The song features Clapton and Allman’s dueling guitars, and Clapton’s passionate vocals.
Masterpiece
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs was released in November 1970, and was initially met with lukewarm reception from critics and fans. The album did not sell well, and only reached number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. The single “Layla” also failed to chart in the US, and only reached number 51 in the UK. The band also faced some difficulties and tragedies during this period, such as drug addiction, personal conflicts, and the death of Allman, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971.
However, the album’s reputation and popularity grew over time, and it is now considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time. The album has been praised for its musical quality, emotional depth, and artistic achievement. The album has also influenced many musicians and genres, such as blues-rock, hard rock, and southern rock. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA, and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song “Layla” has also become a classic rock anthem, and has been ranked among the best songs of all time by Rolling Stone, VH1, and Q. The song also reached the top 10 in both the US and the UK in 1972, after it was re-released as a single.
Legacy
Derek and The Dominos never recorded another studio album, and broke up in 1971, after a failed attempt to record a second album in London. Clapton went into a period of depression and heroin addiction, and did not release another album until 1974. Whitlock, Radle and Gordon also pursued their own solo careers, but faced some personal and professional problems. Radle died of kidney failure in 1980, and Gordon was diagnosed with schizophrenia and sentenced to prison for murdering his mother in 1983.
Clapton eventually recovered from his addiction and depression, and resumed his successful solo career. He also maintained his friendship with Boyd, who divorced Harrison in 1977, and married Clapton in 1979. They divorced in 1988, after Clapton’s affair with another woman. Clapton has performed “Layla” and other songs from the album throughout his career, sometimes with Whitlock as a guest. He has also paid tribute to Allman, Radle and Gordon, and has expressed his admiration and gratitude for their contributions to the album.
Derek and The Dominos is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important bands in rock history. They have created a masterpiece of blues-rock music, and have left a lasting legacy of musical excellence and emotional expression. They are a true legend of music and culture, and a source of inspiration for many.
