[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Derek and The Dominos, Layla"]
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This album kicks ass. And I've got to say I knew nothing about Eric Clapton (only that he's a great guitarist with some great songs). I didn't know anything about his musical history, his bands, etc. So this was a great surprise to listen to and research.
This album has the sexiness of most blues-inspired albums and has incredible guitar (which is why Eric Clapton is called one of the best guitarists of all time). I love the smooth guitar, and the overlaid slide guitar by Duane Allman. It's like the slide acts as another vocalist, filling moments between words with deep expression. The album has an incredibly sophisticated sound for the 70s, too. It was released in November 1970, around the time where so many psychedelic-rock bands were popular. Yet, "Layla" has a phenomenal togetherness in the orchestrations that are unlike so many of the slightly chaotic (and much more "raw" sounding) albums of the period. And I love the diversity. In the first five tracks, we've covered some great, classic rock, a slightly grungy blues piece ("Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"), and a quieter ballad ("I Am Yours"). And the tracks just keep coming!
Of course, the classic tracks ("Have You Ever Loved A Woman" and "Layla") which Clapton are so well known for, are on this album as well. And it has Clapton's distinct vocal and guitar sound, since he is one of the two main vocalists on the album.
The blues reminds me of a little bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, which I love, and it has this incredible depth to the music that is so unique and different from other albums during the time. Aside from the obviously skilled musicianship, some of that depth might come from the fact that the album, "Layla" was inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for his future-wife/future ex-wife (and George Harrison's then-wife), Pattie Boyd. She also inspired "Wonderful Tonight", which many of you probably know.
Anyway, this is a really awesome, rockin' blues album with a great, full feeling. Check this out and enjoy it. Maybe with a glass of whiskey on your back porch?
Related articles
[/caption]
This album kicks ass. And I've got to say I knew nothing about Eric Clapton (only that he's a great guitarist with some great songs). I didn't know anything about his musical history, his bands, etc. So this was a great surprise to listen to and research.
This album has the sexiness of most blues-inspired albums and has incredible guitar (which is why Eric Clapton is called one of the best guitarists of all time). I love the smooth guitar, and the overlaid slide guitar by Duane Allman. It's like the slide acts as another vocalist, filling moments between words with deep expression. The album has an incredibly sophisticated sound for the 70s, too. It was released in November 1970, around the time where so many psychedelic-rock bands were popular. Yet, "Layla" has a phenomenal togetherness in the orchestrations that are unlike so many of the slightly chaotic (and much more "raw" sounding) albums of the period. And I love the diversity. In the first five tracks, we've covered some great, classic rock, a slightly grungy blues piece ("Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out"), and a quieter ballad ("I Am Yours"). And the tracks just keep coming!
Of course, the classic tracks ("Have You Ever Loved A Woman" and "Layla") which Clapton are so well known for, are on this album as well. And it has Clapton's distinct vocal and guitar sound, since he is one of the two main vocalists on the album.
The blues reminds me of a little bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, which I love, and it has this incredible depth to the music that is so unique and different from other albums during the time. Aside from the obviously skilled musicianship, some of that depth might come from the fact that the album, "Layla" was inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for his future-wife/future ex-wife (and George Harrison's then-wife), Pattie Boyd. She also inspired "Wonderful Tonight", which many of you probably know.
Anyway, this is a really awesome, rockin' blues album with a great, full feeling. Check this out and enjoy it. Maybe with a glass of whiskey on your back porch?
Related articles
- 10 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time (mademan.com)
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