Ah, the English and their love of legend. Derek is Eric Clapton in disguise, the Lancelot to George Harrison’s Arthur and Pattie Boyd’s Guinnevere, with Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon rounding out the table and Duane Allman as the American knight errant. The group’s one and only studio record, Layla (1970), was released at nearly the same time as George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass (1970), which also featured Derek and his Dominos minus Allman. Those two releases, totaling five elpees, represent some of the best music this side of The Beatles and Cream.
The group’s origins have their roots in Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, as everyone in D&D had previously played in the Bramlett’s band. When Bobby Whitlock left the band, he joined Clapton in England and they began to work on new material. Radle and Gordon, who had also appeared on Clapton’s first solo album, were brought in to play with George and Eric, and the Dominos were born. Unfortunately, Derek (Eric) and his Dominos turned out to be as short-lived a supergroup as Blind Faith. Bookended by the death of two great guitarists (Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman) and beset by various addictions, D&D disappeared, leaving a live concert album in its place. Like Harrison’s ATMP or Stephen Stills’ Manassas, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (as it is sometimes credited) is the most creative and substantive work in Clapton’s entire solo catalog. A reunion is out of the question, sadly, as Radle passed away in 1980 and Gordon was institutionalized in 1983. Some have suggested the band was cursed, but I think we’ve already crossed that road before.
The Discography
Tell The Truth (1970)
b/w Roll It Over. Released as promotional 7-inch in 1970 in the US (Atco, 45-6780).
LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS (1970)
I Looked Away / Bell Bottom Blues / Keep On Growing / Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out / I Am Yours / Anyday / Key To The Highway // Tell The Truth / Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Little Wing / It’s Too Late / Layla / Thorn Tree In The Garden. Released on 2LP in November 1970 in the UK (Polydor, 2625 005) and the US (Atco, SD-2704); reached #16 on the US charts (RIAA certified gold record). Re-issued on 2LP in 1971 in Japan (Polydor, MP-9359/60) and Mexico (Polydor, 2612 014), in 1972 in the US (Polydor, PD2-3501), in 1973 in the UK (RSO, 2671 110); reached #107 on the US charts in 1974. Re-released in on 2LP and cassette in 1977 in the UK (RSO, SPDLP1) and the US (RSO, RS/CT-2-3801); reached #183 on the US charts in 1977. Re-released on 2LP in 1975 in Japan (RSO, MW-9067/8), in 1979 in Japan (RSO, MWX-9956/7) and in 1987 in Japan (RSO, 28MW-0050/1). Re-released on 180g vinyl 2LP in 2008 in the UK, the US and France (Universal, 5310373). Re-released on 2LP picture disc in 2013 in the UK (Universal, 00600753454510). Re-released on remastered CD in the US (Mobile Fidelity, UDCD-585), in 1998 in Japan (Polydor, POCP-9128), in 2004 in the UK (Universal, 9818111) and Japan (Universal, UICY-9735), in 2005 in Japan (Universal, UICY-95008) and in 2008 in Japan (Universal, UICY-90753). Re-released on 180g vinyl 2LP, CD and expanded 2CD (with 13 bonus tracks) in 2011 in the UK and the US (Universal/Polydor, 5331425/8/9) and on expanded 2CD on March 30, 2011 in Japan (Polydor, UICY-15015). Re-released as 40th Anniversary Edition on 4CD+DVD+2LP boxed set with tons of bonus material in 2011 in the UK (Universal, UMC-1432).
Layla (1970)
b/w Bell Bottom Blues (UK), I Am Yours. Released on 7-inch in December 1970 in the UK (Polydor, 2058 130), on March 1971 in the US (Atco, 45-6809), and in 1971 in Germany and the Netherlands (Polydor, 2001 172) and Italy (Polydor, 2001 182); reached #51 on the US charts (charted on March 27, 1971 for 10 weeks). Regional versions feature picture sleeve. Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1970 in the US (Atco, 45-6809) featuring the long and short versions of “Layla” or the mono and stereo versions on other promo releases. Re-pressed on 7-inch in the 1970s in the UK (Polydor, 2058 130); reached #7 on the UK charts and #10 on the US charts in 1972. Re-released on 7-inch in July 1984 in the UK (Old Gold, OG-9422) with “Only You And I Know” on the flip side.
Bell Bottom Blues (1971)
b/w Keep On Growing. Released on 7-inch on February 1971 in the US (Atco, 45-6803); reached #91 on the US charts. Also released as promotional 7-inch in 1971 in the US (Atco, 45-6803) with mono and stereo versions of “Bell Bottom Blues.” Re-released on 7-inch in February 1973 in the US (Polydor, 15056) with “Little Wing” on the flip side; reached #78 on the US charts (charted February 17, 1973 for 5 weeks).
IN CONCERT (1973)
Live tracks: Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad / Got To Get Better In A Little While / Let It Rain / Presence of the Lord / Tell The Truth / Bottle of Red Wine / Roll It Over / Blues Power-Have You Ever Loved A Woman. Released on 2LP in January 1973 in the US (RSO, SO2-8800), in March 1973 in the UK (RSO, 2659 020) and in 1973 in France (RSO, 2671 101), Japan (RSO, MW-9029/30) and the Netherlands (RSO, 2658 106); reached #20 on the US charts (RIAA certified gold record) and #36 on the UK charts. Re-released on 2LP in the 1980s in the UK (Polydor, 2479 101) and in Japan (RSO, MWU-9711/2). Re-released on audiophile 2LP and 2CD in 1996 in the US (Mobile Fidelity, MFSL2-239, UDCD-660). Re-released on 2CD in 2009 in Japan (RSO, UICY-93961).
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad (live) (1973)
b/w Presence of The Lord (live). Released on 7-inch in 1973 in the US (RSO, 2090 104).
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad (new mixed version) (1973)
Released as promotional 7-inch in 1973 in the US (RSO, SO-400) featuring mono and stereo versions.
Layla (1982)
b/w Wonderful Tonight (live). Released on 7-inch and 12-inch in January 1982 in the UK (RSO, RSO/RSOX-87) and Germany (RSO, 2141 493) with picture sleeve; reached #4 on the UK charts.
THE LAYLA SESSIONS (1990)
I Looked Away / Bell Bottom Blues / Keep On Growing / Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out / I Am Yours / Anyday / Key To The Highway / Tell The Truth / Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Little Wing / It’s Too Late / Layla / Thorn Tree In The Garden // Jam I / Jam II / Jam III / Jam IV / Jam V // Have You Ever Loved A Woman (alternate master 1) / Have You Ever Loved A Woman (alternate master 2) / Tell The Truth (Jam I) / Tell The Truth (Jam II) / Mean Old World (rehearsal) / Mean Old World (band version master take) / Mean Old World (duet version master take) / When Things Go Wrong (It Hurts Me Too) (jam) / Tender Love (incomplete master) / It’s Too Late (alternate master). Released on 3CD and 2CS boxed set on September 18, 1990 in the US (Polydor, 847 083-2/4); reached #157 on the US charts.
LIVE AT THE FILLMORE (1994)
Live tracks: Got To Get Better In A Little While / Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad / Key To The Highway / Blues Power / Have You Ever Loved A Woman / Bottle of Red Wine / Tell The Truth / Nobody Knows When You’re Down And Out / Roll It Over / Presence of the Lord / Little Wing / Let It Rain / Crossroads. Originally recorded in October 1970 and released on 2CD on February 22, 1994 in the UK and the US (Polydor, 521 682-2) and Japan (Polydor, UICY-3082/3).
