Ripley is a village in Surrey, England, lying on the main road from London to Portsmouth. The village includes a coaching inn, the Talbot Inn, which dates back to 1453. The village church of St Mary Magdalen has a fine Norman chancel and is a Grade II* listed building. Eric Clapton was born there. He’s perfectly placed, therefore, to interpret the music of Chicago and the Mississippi Delta. When not content ripping off the music of black Americans, Clapton will happily steal the gorgeous piano riff from Layla (which is still an energetic, cinematic track) from his band mate’s girlfriend, Rita Coolidge.