176. Derek and the Dominos | Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep on Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyday
7. Key to the Highway
8. Tell the Truth
9. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved a Woman
11. Little Wing
12. It's Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree in the Garden

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Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a phenomenal album. The music is straight up blues rock. Eric Clapton teamed up with the Delaney and Bonnie rhythm section (Jim Gordon on drums and Carl Radle on bass) plus Duane Allman to make this album.

Eric Clapton is on fire on every single song. His work with John Mayall and Cream is impressive because he's such a great guitarist. And he's great on this album too, but what was lacking previously is present on this album: emotion. He puts so much feeling into these songs.

Fortunately, Clapton has Gordon and Radle to back him up. Perhaps, with any competent drummer and bass guitarist the same great album would have been made. But nevertheless, they provide a great framework for Clapton. The addition of Duane Allman on slide guitar is just icing on the cake. Unfortunately, it was just one album and it's a downright shame that Duane Allman would die the following year.

This album is essential listening. Moreover, it's essential in any serious collector's collection. It's the strongest blues rock album up to this point on the 1001 Albums list. It's also a different interpretation of the blues than what English blues rock bands were doing in the mid- to late-sixties; it has a country music influence that isn't heard from English blues rock musicians.

Every song is excellent on this album. Bell Bottom Blues and Layla are the songs I knew before hearing the album and are outstanding, of course. Keep on Growing, Anyday, Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?, Little Wing and It's Too Late are my favorites. No one can outdo Hendrix doing Hendrix, but Clapton does justice to Little Wing. And It's Too Late just sounds so good, it makes you want to go listen to the Crickets.

★★★★★★★★★★