From: dhey@mcs213a.cs.umr.edu (Dirk Heydtmann)
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc
Subject: Re: Layla  (Compilation of info)
Date: 15 Oct 92 21:15:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: umr.1992Oct15.211500.22057
Organization: University of Missouri - Rolla

In rec.music.misc I asked:

>     somebody told me, Eric Clapton's 'Layla' is about George 
>     Harrison's wife, who Eric was in love with. Now I was told,
>     'Layla' is just a cover version of a song by 'Derek and the
>     Dominoes'.
>
>     What is true?

Thanks to everybody who answered me. I was snowed with email.
I thought I'd compile the information and post it here. I hope nobody
objects against being quoted.

Dirk (dhey@cs.umr.edu)

-------------------------


Contents: (i)  about Eric Clapton and 'Derek & the Dominos'
          (ii) about Eric Clapton and George Harrison's wife


(i)  about Eric Clapton and 'Derek & the Dominos:
-------------------------------------------------

   " When EC left Blind Faith he went on a tour with an obscure band, and 
then formed Derek & The Dominos out of member of said band. About the time
he was extremely unsure of himself, and keen to keep out of the limelight.
Consequently he did everything he could to keep his name out of promotional
literature for the band, though he was basically the band leader. "

   " Derek & the Dominoes consisted of Eric Clapton [Derek] and Duane Allman
and some others, with Clapton authoring many of the songs i.e. Layla. "

   " 'Layla' was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon (...) Clapton was
one of the guitar players of this group, Gordon was the drummer (he wrote
the piano part at the end). "

   " The slide work you hear on Layla is his (Duane Allman's of the Allman 
Bros. Band). "

   " Derek & the Dominos IS Eric Clapton(plus Duane Allman, Bobby Whitlock,
Jim Gordon, and Carl Radle). The band released one studio album- LAYLA AND
OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS i 1970, and a live album IN CONCERT in 1973.
There are also some unreleased tracks from the LAYLA sessions on a
boxed set called THE LAYLA SESSIONS, released in 1990, and some from the
never-finished 2nd album, on Clapton's CROSSROADS, released in 1988. The
only other official release of the song "Layla" appears on 1992's
UNPLUGGED. "

   " The full story of the Layla sessions is in the booklet in the Layla
Sessions boxed set, together with out takes, extra songs and jams which
never made it onto the already outstanding album. Well worth getting! "

   " There was supposed to be a second Derek and the Dominos album, 
but it was never completed.  Several tracks were laid down for this album
and they can be found on Clapton's "Anthology" collection. "

   " When Derek & The Dominos split up a couple of years later Eric went
into a 3 year drug induced slump, before finally returning as a solo
artist. "


(ii) about Eric Clapton and George Harrison's wife:
---------------------------------------------------

   " The song Layla was indeed written about Patti Boyd, Mrs. George 
Harrison at the time.  She did actually marry Clapton in the early 
eighties, but Clapton had a child by another woman, I believe it was 
Conor, his son who died a few years ago and for whom the song Tears in
Heaven was written.  Anyhow, Patti Boyd left Clapton after it came out
that he had fathered the child. "

   " While he was recording the only Derek studio album he was reading 
an arabian love story "The Story of Layla & Majnun" by Nizami, which was
basically about unrequited love. Eric basically wrote the song about the
story, though its not hard to make the connection to his relationship 
with Patti. "

   " Allegedly, ALL of Clapton's love songs are still about this woman,
with whom he is apparently still obsessed. "

   " He also wrote 'Wonderful Tonight' about her, and George wrote
'Something' about her.  Must be one heck of a woman :) "
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc