Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Eric Clapton + Duane Allman, what can go wrong?... Absolutely nothing! There's never a dull moment or a wasted note. This entire album is a flawless 1:16 journey through the vast landscapes of love and relationships. 💯 Timeless classic
Legendary
Classic rock vibes, steady flow of sound and vibration - the first 5 star!
Of the 60's-70's guitar gods, I'm probably the most lukewarm on Clapton. I mean, I'm good with his hits and all -- but he always seemed better to me as a complementary player than the star of the show. And then he descended into farting through blues standards, After Midnight for beer commercials, and Tears in Heaven -- which is a song I personally cannot stand. So this comes up. I know Layla and Bell Bottom Blues, of course -- but the rest was a mystery. Glad that I looked into it. He sounds like a completely different guitarist here. There's so much joy in his playing that just vanished later in his career. (Heroin will do that to you, I guess.) Hearing him trading licks with Duane Allman is magical. Allman died a few months after this was recorded. There's just so much phat in the boogie they lay down here. Absolutely essential rock & blues. Unexpected bangers: Key To The Highway, Tell the Truth, It's Too Late.
Epic album. I had never actually listened, but very glad I did. Note: "Layla" is not Eric Clapton's greatest accomplishment. Not really his accomplishment at all. Duane Allman wrote the riff, and the riff makes the song. Duane >> Eric, but still, this album is 5 stars... maybe because Duane played on all but two tracks??
Banger
Loved it
What an album ❤️❤️❤️
I liked it
I loved the album and the first long version of the famous song "Layla". This album definitely is a must listen to. Epic guitar sound and amazing solos with great voices and heart broken lyrics. What do you want more of a blues rock album?
Liebesbeweise für Pattie Boyd
This is the best example of classic dad rock played on classic rock stations. Each song has the beats and blueprint you'd expect, and some decent guitar.
Every song is epic !
4.8 - Never heard of the band, but it sounded pretty familiar and thought it was really good. Then looked and saw it was claption and duane allman really surprised with me as I just never knew they had a band together. Just such a perfect collaboration and brings the best out of both of them. Only thing is it's a bit too long, but such a great album. I also think allman makes clapton less wanky
Pretty much the perfect proper rock album. Great songs, great musicians. And great stories behind the making of the album and the musicians lives since.
Classic album - one of the greats
I knew the singles on this album, but I’ve never listened to the whole thing. It’s absolutely perfect.. finally, a British blues album on this list that doesn’t suck
Bluesrock will never die!
An essential blues rock album with both Eric Clapton AND Duane Allman (no Derek, as I learned). I like that they didn't bother coming up with an album name; they knew which song people would be looking for when buying the record. The slide guitar is on point, and it's really cool that the name "Layla" is inspired by a book.
Day212 - judging by the music this is a five star album i try not to judge artists personal lifes but it’s crazy what the last four years did to clapton’s reputation
5.0 definitely an all time great album. Two of the greatest guitarists ever.
Top Ten album. An all time fave.
I'm in love. With this album. Who knew?
Every song on this album is great. Perfect example of blues rock.
Blues guitar driven Rock and Roll is the backbone of Rock since its inception. This album represents the peak of the mountain for blues rock. I consider it one of the major lasting artistic achievements of popular music. Every song is excellent. Detractors complain that many songs are appropriated. But putting your stamp on standards has been the way of Jazz and Blues for over a century. And this band certainly makes these their own. It created standards here as well with Bell Bottom Blues and of course the venerable all time title track. I saw many reviews panning the album because they do not like who Eric Clapton is. But this is not an Eric Clapton album. D&D and this album took many excellent musicians to complete. None more important than Duane Allman who contributed much including at least half of the song Layla. 5+
Layla is amazing
Layyy-laaaaaaa, you got me on my knees, Layy-laaaaaaaaaaa, I'm beggin' darlin' please
My god. What an amazing album. I need to get this on vinyl.
Prolly my favorite so far
Clapton could take a 40 year old standard and make it sound as new as his own compositions. This studio album sounds like a live album, jamming for an incredibly short hour and seventeen minutes. Encore!
just an all time album. Clapton really operating on all cylinders
-this album is incredible -I had this album on my list for a long time actually. Now after listening to it, I ask myself: "Why was I so dumb to not listen to this album earlier in my album journey?", but I got it today through this challenge and that's a relief. This album closes off my first month in this challenge in such a beautiful, electrifying way, and that says a lot about it! -a long album, but worthy of it's length -iconic album cover -passionate performances, everybody did an awesome job on this album -Clapton spits fire with his guitar on this album -iconic songs (well, mostly Layla, but there are also a few that are being played on the classic rock radio station) -great cover songs as well (especially the Hendrix cover | "Little Wing") -everything about this album is extraordinary -perfect album for people who are learning to play the guitar -favorite songs: I Looked Away, Bell Bottom Blues (<3), Keep On Growing, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, Anyday, Key To The Highway, Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (<3), Have You Ever Loved a Woman, Little Wing (<3), Layla (<3) -least favorite song: Tell The Truth
I enjoyed it. Lots of people giving it 1-2 stars. It’s a nice album
Skydog and Slowhand sounds like an Old West pair of gunslingers. It's ridiculous to have that much talent on one album. Pattie Boyd must have been something else. I guess I get the complaints about Clapton's voice...but if that's the worst thing you can say about this album, it's pretty minor. Great version of Little Wing. Layla...Duane and Eric playing together and it's almost perfect.
Soaring guitars. Such a blues mood.
Great album, awesome blues rock energy. Layla is the top song on this, but the whole album is great. "Nobody knows you when you're down and out" is a great track, "key to the highway" is great as well. Love all the guitar solos
Its an classic album and layla has an iconic guitar riff
Layla and Other Assorted Love Song by Derek and the Dominos pleasantly surprised me, exceeding my expectations. While the title track Layla is iconic but somewhat self-indulgent, the album as a whole showcases a rich blend of blues, rock, and soul. Tracks like Bell Bottom Blues and Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? highlight Clapton's emotive guitar work and soulful vocals, creating a compelling musical narrative. The interplay between Clapton and Duane Allman's guitars is particularly impressive, adding depth and texture to the album. Overall, it's a cohesive and timeless collection that showcases Clapton's musical prowess beyond his guitar hero image. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 8 STAND OUT TRACK - Key to the Highway
Großartig!
A killer album.
Clapton's greatest contribution to music. One of my all time favorite albums.
bons arranjos algo quase blues mas com alma de Rock
**Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs** is the only studio album by the blues-rock band Derek and the Dominos, released in November 1970. The band was formed by Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, and Jim Gordon, and the album is widely celebrated for its emotional depth, intricate musicianship, and groundbreaking guitar work. Below is an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with an analysis of the pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* predominantly revolve around themes of love, heartbreak, and longing, capturing the emotional turmoil Clapton was experiencing at the time, particularly his unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his close friend George Harrison. The title track "Layla" is the most poignant expression of this unrequited love, drawing inspiration from the Persian love story of Layla and Majnun, where the protagonist’s unattainable love drives him to madness. Other tracks like "Bell Bottom Blues" and "I Am Yours" also reflect Clapton’s deep emotional struggles. In "Bell Bottom Blues," Clapton’s yearning is palpable, as he sings about the pain of separation and the desire for reconciliation. "I Am Yours" is a more poetic and tranquil expression of love, borrowing verses from the ancient poem by Nizami Ganjavi, showcasing Clapton's ability to blend literary influences with personal sentiment. ### Music Musically, the album is a tour de force of blues, rock, and gospel influences. The dual guitar work of Eric Clapton and Duane Allman is a standout feature, creating rich, interwoven textures and soaring solos that have become iconic in rock music. The opening track, "I Looked Away," sets the tone with its soulful melodies and intricate guitar interplay. "Bell Bottom Blues" follows, driven by Clapton’s emotive guitar work and plaintive vocals. "Keep on Growing" and "Anyday" highlight the band's collaborative synergy, with Bobby Whitlock’s soulful keyboards and vocals complementing Clapton's guitar prowess. "Layla," the album’s centerpiece, features a dynamic structure with a powerful riff, passionate verses, and an unforgettable coda—a piano piece composed by drummer Jim Gordon. This track alone is often cited as one of the greatest rock songs of all time, encapsulating the album's emotional and musical intensity. ### Production Produced by Tom Dowd, the album’s production is both a strength and a limitation. Dowd’s experience with artists like Aretha Franklin and John Coltrane brought a polished yet organic feel to the recording. The sound is raw and vibrant, capturing the spontaneity of the band's performances. However, the production has been critiqued for its somewhat muddy mix, which at times obscures the clarity of the instruments. The dense layering, particularly in tracks like "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?" can overwhelm the listener, making it challenging to discern individual musical elements. Despite these issues, the production generally enhances the album's emotive power and live feel. ### Themes The central theme of *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* is unrequited love, encapsulated in the title track and echoed throughout the album. This theme is intertwined with motifs of longing, pain, and redemption. The album also explores themes of personal growth and resilience. In "Keep on Growing," Clapton and Whitlock sing about overcoming heartache and moving forward, reflecting a sense of hope amidst despair. "Thorn Tree in the Garden," the album’s closing track, is a somber acoustic piece that conveys a sense of loss and introspection, bringing the emotional journey full circle. ### Influence *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* has had a profound impact on rock music and has influenced countless artists across genres. The album's innovative guitar work, especially the interplay between Clapton and Allman, has been emulated by many musicians. Clapton’s expressive playing and Allman’s slide guitar techniques set new standards for rock and blues guitarists. The album also contributed to the popularization of the double album format in rock, demonstrating that an extended collection could be both artistically cohesive and commercially successful. Its influence extends beyond music, as the story behind "Layla" and Clapton’s personal life has become part of rock mythology. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros 1. **Emotional Depth**: The album’s lyrics and music convey profound emotional intensity, offering a raw and honest exploration of love and heartache. 2. **Guitar Work**: The collaboration between Clapton and Allman resulted in some of the most memorable and influential guitar performances in rock history. 3. **Songwriting**: The songs are well-crafted, blending blues, rock, and gospel influences seamlessly. Tracks like "Layla," "Bell Bottom Blues," and "Keep on Growing" are standout examples of exceptional songwriting. 4. **Musical Synergy**: The band’s chemistry is palpable, with each member contributing to a cohesive and dynamic sound. 5. **Iconic Tracks**: Several tracks from the album, especially "Layla," have achieved iconic status and continue to be celebrated for their artistry and impact. #### Cons 1. **Production Quality**: The production, while generally effective, has been critiqued for its muddiness and lack of clarity in some tracks. 2. **Overwhelming Density**: The dense layering of instruments can sometimes overwhelm the listener, making it difficult to appreciate the individual contributions of each musician. 3. **Inconsistency**: While most tracks are strong, a few like "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and "It’s Too Late" are considered filler and do not match the high standard set by the rest of the album. 4. **Emotional Uniformity**: The album’s focus on heartbreak and longing, while powerful, can also feel emotionally one-dimensional to some listeners. ### Conclusion *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* by Derek and the Dominos is a landmark album in rock history, celebrated for its emotional depth, innovative guitar work, and enduring influence. Despite some production flaws and occasional inconsistency, the album’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. It remains a testament to the power of music to convey complex emotions and tell deeply personal stories. Whether for its lyrical poignancy, musical virtuosity, or historical significance, *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs* continues to resonate with listeners and inspire musicians across generations.
This album is excellent. It is certainly among Eric Clapton's best work out of his entire long career. There's a mix of originals and covers and a mix of tight songs and longer jams. The guitar work is superb, with both Clapton and Duane Allman. My favorite part of the album might be the vocal harmonies of Clapton and Bobby Whitlock. It's a shame we never got a second album.
Claptons a wank but of course this was great and he’s kind of forgiven - just ask me in person
Can't stand his politics,, but you can't argue with his guitar playing
For me this is one of the best blues rock albums. So much emotion in each song, both through the vocals and instrumental soloing. Clapton at his best, this album is much more than just LAYYYYYLAAAAA
i get really torn about this album. if you can separate the art from the artist, this is a really great 12/14ths of an album (i am not a fan of 'i am yours' and 'thorn tree in the garden' at all). that being said, eric clapton is a big ol' pile o' shit (and he continually loves to announce this to the world) and this album's origins are so bizarre (falling in love with george harrison's wife and writing an album about how much you love her, and then subsequently marrying her yourself). patti boyd was not the only thing eric clapton lifted from george harrison, as a very good portion of this album sounds like a hypothetical 'all things must pass 2' all that said, i still think it's a pretty great album, and even though i am (un)officially part of the Eric Clapton Resistance Force, this one still holds up - i mean 'bell bottom blues' is such a great, emotional track that i can forgive its weird origins.
Great
One of the classic LPs, Duane’s guitar evokes joy and longing. Clapton passionately captures love’s stormy journey. Clapton’s and Whitlock’s songwriting is soulful and heartfelt.
Fucking awesome
Blues magic. Great playing. It does include that famous (overplayed !) song, but the rest are stone-cold classics.
You ever want to go back to the first time you heard a particular album or song? Well I want to go back to this morning when I first heard Bell Bottom Blues. I mean that shit just hit me instantly. I love this album, I’m adding it to the rotation.
🎸✨
Still a great album, though maybe more blues than rock now. But amazing musicianship and lyrics.
Seeing that today's album was Derek and and Dominos made me regret rating any other album 5 stars - this is the only ☆☆☆☆☆ album here, layla and other assorted love songs is as good as it gets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great 70’s rock record
Well sung, cool drums and world percussion, but this gets a five cause of the allman leads. And the part in layla where they’re like: ‘hoo hoo hoo!’ They dont overdo it but when the lead guitars duel/ intertwine its pretty fucking amazing
One of the best albums ever recorded.
Great blues rock, especially the guitar from Clapton. Some great covers in here including Little Wing by Hendrix.
Much better than I anticipated
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out 💙
The first
Blues, rock, Clapton... ¡Vinilo!
Un 5.
fantastic
Amazing except for the last song
One of the best!
This album is really good. Very bluesy and Eric Clapton just shredding the guitar in each song. 2 minute guitar solo, yes please. Very emotional and raw, will listen to again.
Can I give this six stars?
5/5 easy. I dont even need to listen to the rest becaue this is a perfect blues album
Clapton is not God. Duane Allman is God. Get it right you limey blokes.
Hard af. Saved
Great musicians, great album. Favorites: Bell Bottom Blues, Anyday, title track. To me, Bobby Whitlock's background vocals are a highlight.
This was awesome, Clapton is a bellend but this is a fantastic album
Blues rock band with Clapton!? What’s not to love. Super good album. Varies from very slow and Calming to really rocked out. Especially love Key To The Highway and the Little Wind cover.
How did I make it to 38 years old without realizing Eric Clapton is in Derek and the Dominoes or ever checking out Eric Clapton’s music. The musicality of this record is off the charts - a new fav!
Caught me by surprise great album. Layla fantastic song, enjoyed their little wing, bell bottom blues, honestly all the songs were enjoyable. Clayton’s guitar skills are impeccable.
vrlo nice, nekoliko lajkanih
One of my favorite classic rock albums. Eric Clapton + Duane Allman = pure gold! Duane died the next year so they never got to collaborate again, but we can dream of how amazing it would have been...
I really dislike Eric Clapton, always have. Never thought he was that great of a guitarist, and the quality of his work plummeted after he quit taking drugs (in the late 70’s or early 80’s?). Then of late he’s been misogynistic and anti-vaxx, further cementing my poor opinion of him. However, this is a fabulous album from start to finish — a great selection of original songs and blues covers, tight playing and good singing. We played all 4 sides of this quite a bit in high school while playing cards. Duane Allman plays a lot of guitar on this (any slide work, e.g.), proving why he was such a sought after session player. DA Anthology, both volumes 1 and 2 are well worth a listen. A solid 5 for me, despite EC.
Magisterial 70s guitar rock. Incendiary leads from Clapton and Allman, and some of Clapton's most soulful vocals to boot. On top of all that, the title track provided Scorsese with the all-time greatest needle drop in his entire filmography.
Layla alone gets it a 4. This would probably be a 4.5.
A real milestone and an album of the century.
Outstanding album!!! Exquisite and the journey pays off nears the end with the insanely addictive Layla.
Great album, classic.
Solid album. Probably my favorite Clapton after his Blues Breakers stuff. Duane is absolutely brilliant on this. Such a massive talent. I would've preferred a few less tracks and it be a single album. Definitely a classic and worthy of being on this list.
At first I thought this was just some cover band doing Eric Clapton songs. Turns out it is Eric Clapton. This is an entirely fake band created to hide the fact that the title track, Layla, is about Clapton's infatuation with George Harrison's wife. These songs are still played in blues bars across the country every night. This album really is a hidden gem.
Un disco con música muy amena, lo disfrute bastante. Difícilmente se pueden encontrar discos con guitarras como en este.
A classic! Great guitar by Clapton and Duane Allman!
Layla and Bell Bottom Blues are so good and theres solid songs inbetween
One of the best Al albums of all time
One of my favorite albums since it came out.
EC's finest perhaps!
I got the clap now too Ok what is the deal with the song “Little Wing???” Jimi Hendrix recorded a version of it with the same lyrics and a similar structure. The difference between the two in other ways is extremely jarring. The Tidal blurb for this album refers to Little Wing as a standard, as well. Overall pretty cool album, I thought it was interesting that Duane Allman played on this record too Also every track on this album is a thousand years long
Album 290 of 1001 Derek & The Dominos - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Bell Bottom Blues This is a great album. Kept looking for something specific to rate it lower, but it is just a great album.
Hearing Duane Allman and Eric Clapton together is incredible with every listen. Have always loved this album
Excellent musicianship. Every song is like a little opus on the guitar This will definitely make it into my regular rotation.
Much better than I expected
Guitar play is amazing. Didn’t realize one of the Allman brothers played with Clapton on this album. Great songs.
Phenomenal. All those idiots who wrote bad reviews about it are fools. You listen to Clapton play precisely so you can hear him noodle around on the guitar for 3 minutes a song because he is one of the greatest to ever do it. The fact that you believe this isn't how blues "should be" is moronic because have you ever considered that maybe blues could be more than just what you have in your tiny little box or the fact that Eric Clapton transcends blues? Anywho, the album is incredible, best we've had so far, Layla remains one of the greatest songs ever written, and Bobby Whitlock's vocals add so much depth to this album when paired with Clapton and the guitars. So choice.
Love the blues influence coming through-the emotion in the lyrics & guitar are great. Anyday and Bell Bottom Blues are fantastic. Clapton is one of the greats-enjoyed listening to this album more now than I did originally a few decades ago. Fantastic
Good old music
This is a classic. Great to hear it start to finish. Love Clapton.
I loved this album but a few special notes. I heard 5 songs I did not know and I loved all of them. I heard a lot of Allman brothers on the track “Why does love got to be so sad?”. Had to check and see if I bumped something and switched albums 😳 This was my least favorite version of “Little wing” ever.
Brilliant! Eric Clapton epic.
The popularity of Layla overshadows the rest of this stellar album, which is a shame. Great blues rock!
I’ve always loved bellbottoms blues!
I never really got the Guitar God label put on Eric Clapton until hearing this album. Definitely better than the Cream and solo album I previously rated. This one will stay in rotation.
Svo gott stöff. Ég hef sagt það áður og þetta staðfestir það bara, þetta er mitt sound og það sem ég hlusta mest á. Úrvalsplata.
I mean... It's classis Clapton. He's a dick, but his music was phenomenal
Eric Clapton’s best record he ever recorded. Everything else pales in comparison to this album.
Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad 🤌🤌🤌 Bell Bottom Blues 🤌🤌🤌 Layla 🤌🤌🤌 Anyday 🤌🤌🤌 Sej fyr, ham Eric Clapton. Han må have så meget respekt for de primært sorte musikere han tydeligvis tager så meget inspiration fra. Nu tager jeg en stor slurk vand og læser https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Clapton#Political_opinions
I'm definitely not a big fan of 70's sound, but this one i loved instantly.
Awesome Clapton
VERY MUCH ENJOYED
Clapton is a creep but I can't not sing along.
I LOVE ERIC CLAPTON!
Love this one. clapton is a bad man who i used to love dearly.
Oh man THIS is my kind of album. The bluesy rock style is revealing itself to be one of my favorite genres, and this album hits it perfectly.
i have this one .... you can hear the heartbreak in his voice
Best songs: Layla; BBB This is an all time album. A true blues experiment. The guitars by Clapton and Allman are next to none. Truly special.
Clapton !
absolutely amazing. guitar 10/10.
Great guitar paired with great vocals. Really great music.
Heavy on the guitars, but sounds great together, I enjoyed my time, didn't skip a song.
Superb
Love letter album for the 70s. Such a great one with lots of hits! Incrediblw musicians in this band with a lot of talent. I wish this band could've released more but alas. Still a wonderful album and one I love to put on every now and then! 9 out of 10
First big surprise! Really enjoyed this.
This is a great album. I don't know if it is officially a blues album. If not, you can hear the blues' influence come through loud and clear.
10/10
I hesitate to go five stars unless it's right on the edge of life-changing, but this is one of the first albums that I remember beginning to understand Clapton's commitment to the blues; it doesn't hurt that I have been and will always be a huge Allman Brothers fan, and Duane Allman's work on this album is so cool to hear. "Key to the Highway"...need I say more?
Incredible!
Clapton is an A-hole but this album is great. 5 stars.
Fuck you Eric Clapton 💞
I'm gonna give this a five just cause "Bell Bottom Blues" is that incredible
A pure classic
This is a brilliant album, which makes it all the more tragic that he has become an ogre. Why is an Englishman raising money for a U.S. presidential candidate, one who has to look to the left to see Donald Trump?
Layla and Bell Bottom Blues. Great songs by a great group.
The Eric Clapton band album has good guitar playing on it. Favorite track: Anyday
While my newfound realization that Eric Clapton might be a hopeless asshole complicates my listening experience, this album is excellent and it's too bad they only made one, because I don't know that I've heard Clapton play or sing better than on these songs. And damned if I didn't know Duane Allman was in this band and that I've been hearing him on the familiar tracks all this time. So, it's squarely in 5 territory, and I'm not sure why I'm hedging that, other than it did feel long. But at the same time, it was all really good.
I haven't heard this in years; listening to it today was like catching up with an old friend. I'm no Clapton fan, but I do love this album. The interplay between his and Duane's guitars never fails to thrill. When one guy goes weedly-weedly, the other is right there with a melancholic counterpoint. I also love the interplay between Eric's and Bobby's vocals. (Bobby Whitlock is the secret ingredient on this album.) Special shout-out to Eric's pinch-harmonics on Bell Bottom Blues, and that coda to the title track is just pure gold. Key to the Highway could be excised, and Tell the Truth and Have You Ever Loved a Woman overstay their welcome a bit, but other than that, this album is lightning-in-a-bottle magic for me. But also, Eric Clapton is a bell-end.
La mejor manera de decir que querés a alguien, con el rigor del arte y la desesperación del corazón.
Stone Cold Classic.
I so wanted to love this album because of Layla. Little did I know it would be the greatest Blues album I’ve ever heard.
love this! The title track is the best! Also, Little Wing; reminds me of Hendrix. What would make this album better ix more Clapton, less everyone else!
Just a great album. Clapton found his voice and musicianship is superb.
Yes! I grew up on this album. Love love love it.
Bloody brilliant. Maybe the best discovery since starting this project.
I can listen to this in the background all day :)
Light five half nostalgia
Classic
Before today, the only Derek & the Dominos song I was familiar with was the epic, Layla, so this will be an interesting listen today. An interesting story about the theme of this record. It is mostly a series of love songs, as the title states, which are written for George Harrison's then wife, Patti Boyd, who Clapton eventually manages to marry. Duane Allman's spectacular slide guitar playing techniques, and Clapton's canoodling guitar solos mesh together beautifully on this album. Each and every song had at least one guitar solo thrown in. Without the solos, this album could have been done in like 40 minutes instead of the 1 hour, 16 minute runtime that this ended up being, but there is a lot of creativity to all those solos. The cover of the song Little Wing is good, but not as good as Jimi Hendrix's original. The first song on the album, I Looked Away, starts with a real country blues sounding riff to start off the record, and they kept the hits coming throughout. Although the runtime is long with this album, it doesn't feel it. Overall, a really good blues rock record. Maybe a bit too much showboating from Clapton, but who cares, it's great! Will definately listen again. I'm impressed there was a song that topped Layla for me! Favorite songs: Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?, Have You Ever Loved a Woman?, Key to the Highway, Layla, Bell Bottom Blues, It's Too Late, Keep On Growing, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, I Looked Away Least favorite songs: Thorn Tree in the Garden 5/5
Canciones gigantes, temazo tras temazo. Rock psicodélico y de grandes desarrollos. Clapton en todo su esplendor. Muy bueno.
This was really good, I enjoyed this alot
solid solid licks on this one...the only one. I mean with only one studio album this is definitely a gold standard.
Love this
Classic legendary rock, capped off with Layla.
What a excellent discovery! Loved it...
Songs I grew up with that I didn't know were all from one album
“Just when I think you couldn’t possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this, and totally redeem yourself!” – Harry Dunne
Classic already heard it a million times
The song writing on this album is just so good. Add the blues guitar shredding and you’ve got a fantastic album. Easy 5
This one is awesome and belongs on the list. It is a masterpiece that provides Clapton with a perfect showcase for his tremendous talents. Clapton was not in a great space, but that inspires incredible (and incredibly personal) music. The rest of the "group" is also up to the task - especially Bobby Whitlock. There may be some filler (the issue with most double albums), but the highlights give it the five stars.
I hadn’t listened to this all the way through for a long time. Was thinking I’d probably give it a 4. After listening again today, that would have been absolutely wrong. Definitely a 5. My favorite is the cover of Little Wing. Hard to imagine that this was panned when it came out.
If you like rock and blues influenced guitar playing, I have the album for you. Here two of the GOATs united for one glorious celebration of the instruments and the songs are not bad either. Favorites: bell bottom Blues, keep on growing, why does love got to be so sad, and of course Layla. Clapton’s second best work (after Blind Faith).
Been probably my fave album all time for a while. Love when Clapton gets into bluesier side. Also finally starts embracing himself as a vocalist here.
This was even better than I remember it being.
I wasn't really awake when I put this album on this morning before hopping in the shower. As the hot water hit me and I started to finally wake up, I thought, "Dang. That sounds like Clapton. I thought it was Derek somebody..." Look, I said I wasn't awake yet. Yeah, it's Clapton. It's Clapton trying to be less of a cult icon which means it's largely missing the ego and it's just a guy wailing on his guitar like his life depends on it. He's clearly just enjoying making really good music and it's tasty as hell. Later in his career, as a solo artist, Clapton would become pretty cringey but here, at this point in the game, he's just fantastic. Maybe the top of his game. There's a reason he's a legend. And this album is a big part of it. On top of ALL that, I just enjoyed the hell out of it. No reservations. Full marks.
Yeah, I mean, it's a banger. Even the Little Wing cover manages to justify its existence
This, objectively, a great album by a talented group of musicians. It’s also worthy of the list given they were one-and-done. Still, my gut tells me it’s still a 4. That might be because Clapton’s style is so familiar at this point that it’s hard to give this the appreciation that a fresh set of ears might have. Also, he kinda turned in to a crazy old man and I can’t get that part out of my head. Still, the album. The album is a 5.
my man was down bad lmao whole album is just Eric Clapton wanting to fuck George Harrison’s wife still, despite the subject matter, this is a shockingly beautiful album actually, I guess it isn’t too surprising Clapton is Clapton; he’s a complete asshole irl, but he’s a damn talented one 10/10
So many of these are great and were totally new to me! Particularly enjoyed Tell The Truth as a new-to-me tune.
baita som
One of the truly great albums
Almost perfect
itse asiassa aika vitun hyvä albumi... lyriikka... muistuttaa dustyä... tulee miinuspisteitä.. mutta melkeimpätukkoo jokainen biisinnyrikkä aivan vitun hyvä. tiiät että se espoon blues (meni konkkaan btw) ottaa sieluun mukavasti paras biisi noh tietenkin mainstream paskavittu layla mutta onhan se aika kova
cool
5/5. A great collection of songs that I can choose from any and be satisfied. Just great songwriting and musicianship.
Clapton is only good when someone else writes his songs. Consider this his all-time masterpiece.
Just good old school rock, the only problem I found is the duration of the album it is just too long, however it never gets boring
6/3 down goes the dominos
awesome
How've I only listened to the title track for going on 15 years and am just now listening through in its entirety? Clapton's masterpiece - he works best in this ensemble format (which, holy shit, this is the same band that recorded "All Things Must Past"?!?) Perfect coked-out, bluesy, romantic anguish. Fav Tracks: Keep On Growing, I Am Yours, Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?, Little Wing, Layla (obv), Thorn Tree in the Garden, Nobody Knows You
Great blues album, enjoyed this quite a bit.
And then it all goes downhill from here
love it..
Un classiqe et un de mes albums preferées 5
Awesome album. I love seeing the evolution of Clapton career. Layla is such a fantastic song
Eric Clapton that’s it
I liked it right from the beginning. Didn't realize it was Clapton until Layla started and i read the Wikipedia entry.
Very “The Band” and “Beatles” esque.
Muito bom! Álbum repleto de bons solos de guitarra e com tons de serestas em algumas faixas. Só depois descobri que Eric Clapton havia fundado a banda. Tudo a ver o lance das incríveis guitarras em quase todas as canções.
Blues, rock, Clapton... ¡Vinilo!
Великолепно
An all time classic, would give a 4.5 if possible. It does lag a bit 2/3 in but there's nothing higher than the highs.
Big fat Blues jam. Loved it all, especially Key to the Highway. Great omen to get this album right before baby Layla is due to enter the world.
Brilliant
Ah look, this is an absolute classic album for so many reasons. Can I deduct a star because Eric Clapton? Nah. Are there better tracks than Layla on this? Yup.
Bruh
Fantastic Clapton work
Excellent album.
Classic, and quite bold considerings it's largely a love album to George Harrison's then-wife...
Great album some classic blues covers and originals
De Clapton no conocía más que ya su onda de adulto contemporáneo, con el Unplugged y el disco con B.B. King. Lamento que haya sido así porque disfruté muchísimo este disco que nunca había oído. En mi perspectiva es un perfecto disco de Rock de los setenta: con un toquecito de Folk y Psicodelia, mucho de Blues y algo de Hard Rock, muy buena batería y bajo, arreglos vocales rasposos y por supuesto guitarras… muchas guitarras. Incluso para lo largo que es, y considerando que las canciones más blueseras de pronto se parecen entre sí, me gustó todo y me alegra agregarlo a mi librería.
Masterpiece! Great Melodies. A shame I didn’t know it.
It was nice...I was tempted to give it 4 stars, but its about as good if not better than Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I would like to find a source for reading about the history of the albums meaking.
One of the best albums ever recorded. A masterpiece.
An incredible blues rock album with Clapton at his best
love it
Un 5.
Absolute classic
Layla is just sensational. It's like 2 different songs and each are better than the rest of the album, and the rest of the album is good.
With this album Eric Clapton found his way back to the blues after the long psychedelic jams of Cream and Blind Faith and his therapeutic stint with Delaney and Bonnie. Layla and other assorted lovesongs was recorded in Miami Criteria Studios with producer Tom Dowd at the helm. The band was formed with Bobby Whitlock on keys, Carl Raddle on bass and Jim Gordon on drums. Clapton had met Whitlock on George Harrisson's All things must pass sessions. After seeing the Allman Brothers Band live, Clapton invited Duane Allman for the sessions as well. Together they created a new standard for modern blues guitar with this album. Fueled by enormous amounts of alcohol, drugs and despair about his love for Harrison's wife Patti Boyd they burned though a set of origials and blues classics with an intensity Clapton never reached again. Impossible to call for the highlights because they all are, with Nobody knows you when you're down and out being my absolute favorite. On release the album stayed a bit unnoticed (Who is this Derek?) but steadily gained its praise and acclaim.
Love this one, sounds a bit cluttered at times but still a classic
I'll be returning to this album a lot. I've heard the songs on it, but not the full album. It was really good
Really good all around mich better than I remember as a kid. Probably can enjoy and understand better the music
Give me a Jimi Hendrix album!! It's ok but not enough soul. The instrumental are pure and strong I never heard of this group but it was a good listen.
Really enjoyed this! Will be listening again! Eric Clapton is an asshole, but his music is incredible! If you know the story for the title track... Poor Geege. Anyway, this is groovy and rocky and very high quality throughout. Only thing that puts me off is the constant noodling. Some songs would benefit greatly from being shorter.
One of the greatest rock songs of all time and some other stuff too. Title was spot on
6.5/10 I Looked Away 7/10 Bell Bottom Blues 8/10 Keep On Growing 6/10 Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 6/10 I Am Yours 5.5/10 Anyday 6/10 Key to the Highway 6.5/10 classic blues sound Tell the Truth 4/10 sounds average but goes on too long Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? 5.5/10 Have You Ever Loved a Woman 7/10 another good blues song Little Wing 6.5/10 pretty good It's Too Late 5/10 didnt really stand out much Layla 8.8/10 one of the greats. Thorn Tree in the Garden 5/10 ok i guess
Super enjoyable
edpectacular sobretodo layla
siento que es un álbum muy rutero yankee, también podría ser un clásico que una madre pone de fondo para hacer cosas en la casa. es agradable de escuchar pero siento que se disfruta mejor estando ocupado
4 stars.
Clapton’s guitar playing on this is absurdly good. My only complaint is it’s too long, this wasn’t interesting enough to be a double album. Fantastic though, somewhere between a 4 and 5 but I’m rounding down
Like me some Eric Clapton
These: Ohne "Layla" würde das Album hier vermutlich nicht auftauchen. Das Ganze ist für mich eher eine Jam-Platte, was dem Supergroup-Charakter auch gerecht wird. Ein wenig vermisse ich schon die Riff- und vor allem Song-orientieren Sachen von Cream (von denen ich hier auch noch 3 Platten in dieser Liste erwarte). Außerdem kann man infrage stellen, ob man das jetzt unbedingt auf Doppel-LP-Länge ausdehnen musste. Man merkt den Herren aber den Spaß an der Sache an, rein musikalisch ist das wirklich ein Hörgenuss, wirklich schlechte Songs lassen sich hier auch nicht finden und gerade die Interpretation von bekannten Blues/R&B-Klassikern gelingt ihnen hier sehr gut. Ich würde sogar soweit gehen, dass mir deren Version von "Little Wing" deutlich besser gefällt als das Jimi Hendrix-Original. Und mit "Bell Bottom Blues", "Anyday" und "Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?" haben sie auch ein paar catchige Ohrwürmer auf die LP geschmuggelt. Und was braucht man zu "Layla" noch sagen: ein zeitloser Klassiker, ein Riff für die Ewigkeit, die Hintergrundgeschichte macht den Song noch spannender und dann noch das wunderschöne Piano-Outro, was länger dauert als der Song an sich. Ja, für die Dinner-Party ist die Unplugged-Version schon besser geeignet, aber dieses Feuer und diese Energie gibt es eben nur hier.
Zwischendurch gefühlt die QotSA der 70er. Ich finde die erste Hälfte deutlich stärker, aber am Ende reicht es mir für schwache 4 Sterne.
Man merkt, dass das hier eigentlich nur ein Spaßprojekt von Musikern war die einfach nochmal kleine Clubs spielen wollten und bisschen jammen und zocken. Da das aber alles hervorragende Musiker sind ist das Zuhören wirklich ein Genuss. Daneben springt noch ein Hit wie Layla raus dessen Outro ich ja fast schöner finde als das ikonische Riff. Starke 4.
I wish this wasn't so long. When it was good, it was phenomenal. The guitar work alone is divine for my ears. I really enjoyed the first three songs the most. They felt like the perfect welcome to the world of rock. Favorite Tracks: I Looked Away Bell Bottom Blues Keep On Growing Little Wing
Layla, You've Got Me On My Knees 1001 Albums Generator 319 (8/3/2026) Balls to the wall, fun as hell blues rock that's much more rock than blues (just how I like it). And then that piano line in Layla starts playing. How can a man not feel a wave of emotion when that hits? Putting the title track that late into an album this long is a bold move, but it hits as the climax of the album. Duane Allman's contributions on this album are unbelievable. I also really love the cover of Jimi's Little Wing. It's a good album, even if there are a couple of songs I could do without. 4/5. Favs: Bell Bottom Blues Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? Layla Least Fav: Key To The Highway
J'ai adoré, surtout la reprise de Little Wing et Layla. Un peu long dans l'ensemble ça aurait pu faire 20 minutes de moins mais ça reste un pur plaisir. Les guitares sont juste divines (logique)
Good
This rocks but it's sooooo long! 3.5
Grupo formado por Eric Clapton, entretenido, blues rock bueno.
This was - by some distance - my favourite of the various Clapton-related records on here. It was fun! And that's something that he so often doesn't bother with, in the pursuit of showing everyone what a good guitarist he is. It starts particularly strongly, and although it does flag, the rush of Layla brings you back up to speed nicely. Maybe Layla, by the way, is the greatest example of what's wrong with Clapton, because his solo version of it is remorselessly boring and pleased with itself, and it's only with the Dominos that he can let it rip.
Clapton is at his best when playing traditional blues. Not everything hit its mark but it’s still a good album.
I so didn't want to like this album, Clapton being the douchebag that he has become, but there were too many songs I remember that blew me away 35+ years ago when I first heard Key To the Highway, for example. I love this album. No apologies for that.
Layla bangs, and some of the guitar playing was great in other songs too. Probably close to a 3/5 but I am going to go 3.75/5 for seeing people complaining in the reviews about some "anti-vax" bullshi
Little wing adaption and Layla are bangers.
Clapton is the least interesting thing anojt this album. What a band. Thw drums are beautiful, and the bass right there with th. Pity the drummer went mad. Pity the whole band were likely a drug fueled mess and it didnt go past 1 album. They would have been phenomenal live. Keyboardist apparently said they could play completely off their heads and still be the best band on the planet. Overall i think the album suffers from different writers and is. Little uneven as a result. All amazing players but it doesnt quite hang together. A second or third album would have just gotten better and better.
Fav: Bell Bottom Blues, Layla L: Why Does Love Got to be so Sad 4 I liked most of it and loved some of it. Have you ever loved a woman is really funny considering how Eric Clapton’s life turned out.
This was a great listen while driving home along the Bear River. Great sound, great songwriting. Favs: Bell Bottom Blues, Layla Leasts: none 3.5/5
The music is great. Layla is obviously a masterpiece, and the rest of the assorted tunes are strong, too.
I would have thought this was a five star album as I thought I listened to it before but I probably just skimmed through. There are two very good songs on here that I have listened to a lot and a fair amount of alright tracks. I wasn't the biggest fan of the blues tracks as I wouldn't say this is a blues album and the genres are a little over the place. Still, its an essential listen and ends with Layla.
Lots of awesome stuff packed in here.
Did it have some outstanding moments that redefined blues rock? Yes. Absolutely. Did it also have a lot of just good blues that wasn’t particularly groundbreaking for the era. Also yes. But this groups filler could easily best any other contemporary’s magnum opus. Highlights are Bell Bottom Blues, Layla and Why Does Love Feel So Sad?.
Looking at the scathing reviews, I thought I'd be walking into a collection of mediocre fluff, but in reality a good amount of these tunes are very solid. I guess that comes with the general disdain people have for Eric Clapton as a person, and so they feel the need to virtue signal because god forbid they ever appreciate music made by /ICKY WEIRODS/!!!
Eric Clapton bad, some of these songs good 3 1/2
It might be long, but it makes up for it in having a kick-ass band. There's Layla obviously, but peep Keep On Growing, Little Wing, Any Day and Bell Bottom Blues as well. Thanks Duane (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)
Enjoyed it.
buenas liras
Clapton is a dickhead, but there are some classics on here.
I regret to inform you that, despite Clapton being a huge piece of shit, this absolutely rips. The secret sauce is Duane Allman's slide guitar. One star off because the last track is aaaaaaaaaasssss.
A bit of a wank guitar fest in places but that’s kind of the point.
Good classic Rock/ Blues sound. A solid 4 for me - very enjoyable!
I wish this had a different title. Layla itself is one of those overplayed, overexposed, overrated songs that's more iconic than it actually is 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥. I don't think I'd ever even listened to the whole track as I had no idea it was still playing after the strange breakdown halfway through where it essentially becomes a different song and peters out anticlimactically. There are a number of great blues rock numbers here that I could listen to all day, worth far more than just being 'other assorted love songs', and you end up waiting for Layla, as if it's somehow the main event or centrepiece. But it's stuck right at the end, after most of the fun has already been had. This trick works with Good Vibrations, Bohemian Rhapsody and A Day In The Life, but somehow it falls flat here. I feel like Layla needs to sit first on this album, and then let the superior deep cuts take over. Come for Layla, stay for Keep On Growing, Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, and Little Wing. And finally, no decent review of this double album would be complete without the old adage, '𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘗.'
Great guitar work. Also a lot of passion behind the vocals.
2026.07.08.
Classic for a reason.
very good album! big fan of the blend of rock, soul and gospel, sound-wise. Layla was definitely a highlight because i got excited when i recognized the intro for it. not a 5-star solely because it's not exactly my taste, but still incredibly good.
I really like some of the songs, others fall off a bit, overall a nice sound that's up my alley, plus I love duane allman in anything
Blues-rock marathon with some pretty great jams but a tad overlong. If you're only gonna listen to one Clapton album in your life, make it this one.
Bello
Layla is a certified banger. I was also happy to find Have you Ever Lover A Woman with its bluesy solos, pretty good stuff. The downsides are that it's a bit long with some songs feeling like they're dragging and the Little Wing cover just no doing it for me, just gave me blueballs to go listen to the real deal.
bangers
The absolute yearning manifesto. Too bad Eric Clapton abused the very same woman he is talking about. The musics are really good.
Guitar blues rock at it's finest.
70er, für einmal gut! interessante versionen von songs, die weltruhm erlangten.
Ein gemütliches Album mit dem Hit Layla. Gefällt. Wusste nicht, dass Eric Clapton mitspielt, aber man hört es gut.
bangers! i love layla, but i hate it too.
Honestly so fucking good. I think Clapton is a wanker, now and then, but it's just pure blues rock badassery. Even if someone is writing songs about his friend's wife, the passion bleeds through.
A very nice album overall. There were some surprisingly pleasant tracks, (and some less memorable ones). Overall, an above average album.
I loved it! Another album I was aware of but never listened to straight through. It was definitely longer than absolutely necessary but I enjoyed it all. I especially loved to tell the truth and why does love got to be so sad? They sounded like songs that should be more ubiquitous i was surprised I hadn't heard them before!
Long but I really enjoyed the listen and Layla is obv goated 4.5
Dirty Blues Clapton is my favorite Clapton, and there's a lot of that here -- plus, of course, "Layla." There's a corny, "soft balladeer" motif that pokes thru here, hinting at some of the cringiest impulses of 70s rock, and after "Layla" the high more are strong but not amazing, so I can't quite feel all in on this as much as I can appreciate it's strength as an album.
I got pretty into this in high school, then lost track of it for 25 years. This ripped.
Layla is like one of the most songs ever made some other good hits but a lot of the stuff sounds the same
As an avid Beatles fan, I first became aware of Eric Clapton because of his guitar solo contribution to While My Guitar Gently Weeps from the White Album, and because of the infamous love triangle between him, George Harrison and Patti Boyd; who proved to be a muse for some of the greatest love songs that the two songwriters ever created; including Layla. Layla is the only track I was familiar with before today, so I was a bit surprised at how heavily rooted the rest of the album is in blues rock, rather than the straight-ahead rock found in Layla. The blues medium really showcases Clapton's improvisation prowess. And while I appreciate and enjoyed this on the album, I found myself about halfway through the album wanting to listen to something else. I feel like 2-3 of these songs on a playlist would be awesome, but an entire album gets a bit too homogeneous for me. And so I find it interesting that Layla, the clear runaway hit from this album is also the one song that sounds nothing like the rest.
Good Blues Rock and excellent work from Clapton. Hard to deny the quality even if the record can drag a bit. Nice Little Wing cover amongst the strongest part of the album, the back leg. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Layla, Bell Bottom Blues
I really liked this a lot. Most of the songs had me rockin and I had to look at what it was, then I remembered I was still listening to this. The super deluxe was like 30 songs, not sure if the original was as well. Obviously Layla is the standout here, but plenty of others were very good as well. Docked 1 star for Clapton being a dick
I'd strongly recommend listening to this album by borrowing it from your local library.
Fun, if a bit dad-rock. But I think it's unfair to judge something uncool just because an older generation got really into it. Even in my youth I've always been a middle aged man on the inside, and this kind of blues guitar rock really makes me want to move. The only song that really stood out to me was Layla (mostly for the incredibly catchy riff), but overall it's nice to get an album where it sounds like the musicians are just having a great time playing. If I could be as expressive on a guitar as Clapton I'd probably never put it down. Shame about the racism though
la seconda metà di layla è il mio impero romano
Bell’album, soprattutto alcuni pezzi e anche i blues lunghissimi non mi sono dispiaciuti
Fantastic guitar work, some very catchy songs. Drags a little towards the end.
prima goed eigenlijk 3.5
I'd never listened to this one before. Layla's like the 5th best song on the album.
Great album plus it has Duane Allman playing slide & lead on most of the songs!
LAYYLAA you got me on my knees
“Never rat on your friends and keep your mouth shut”
Det her var jo en kulere Clapton enn jeg ante fantes. En hyggelig overraskelse som jeg har hørt gjennom 3-4 ganger i dag.
super high highs, rest is very solid
Interesante, divertido, dinámico
I really enjoyed this. Clapton and Allman really went all out. Great rock album, fantastic guitars, expressive lyricism.
Album #104, Derek and the Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs ⭐⭐⭐⭐ First time listening to this gem, despite it always hovering around my radar. Eric Clapton has never really interested me. I feel like I know more about his racist views in the 70s than I do about his music. I do, however, love Cream and know their discography very well. Everything after that though is pretty blank for me. So, bar Layla, this was all new to me, and what a fantastic record this is. It’s much more of an ensemble record than a showcase for Clapton’s guitar playing. The whole band are shining on these tracks. It’s got a great jam feel to it. It’s bright, soaring, and the songs take really interesting turns for the most part. The twin guitar playing between Clapton and Duane Allman will keep me coming back to this. It’s so interesting and well balanced. And the vocals are so good. I never knew Clapton could sing this well. Amazing vocal performances across the whole thing. The only negative for me is very subjective. I love blues music, but I like some styles more than others. I’ve never been that big into that Chicago-style strict 12-bar blues sound as much as I am into Delta blues. This album has loads of that Chicago blues style on it. The songs are long and they just don’t always hold my interest, despite being technically great. The original tracks like Anyday and Tell the Truth are much more engaging to me. So yeah, a super strong four stars and one that I’ll definitely return to time and time again.
Wow. This was excellent. Did not expect it to be. Truly separated art from the artist.
A rock n rolling groovy time.