Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (CD - Polydor, 1970) *****
Genre: Blues
Places I remember: This is a remixed CD version bought in 1990 from Marbecks Records in Queen St., Auckland - at the time the best record shop in New Zealand.
Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Have You Ever Loved a Woman is amazingly emotional for Eric. He pours his heart and soul out in this song with passionate vocals and heart wrenching guitar. This slow blues is a standout on a classic collection of songs.
Gear costume: Extremely high quality here - Key to the Highway is a guitar feast/fest/master class from Duane Allman and Eric; the version of Hendrix' Little Wing is innovation on a stick and all that leads to Layla as the climax.
Active compensatory factors: Wow - Eric Clapton is in peak form here in a way that he could never reach again.
His work in Cream, Yardbirds, Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith all seemed to be a precursor to this outpouring of raw lust, emotion, depression and elation.
The back story of his ultimately doomed love of Pattie Harrison (Pattie Boyd that was) is well known, but listening to this group of brilliant songs in 2016 is as refreshingly relevant as it was in 1970.
A remarkable achievement! Whether he could have done it without being fired up by Pattie AND Duane Allman is a moot point. Clapton and Allman are just on fire together.
Bit of a mystery as to why he hasn't thought to do co-lead guitars with a master musician in a studio setting since this. Maybe he realised he'd never top it.
This is the first bone fide Wozza classic in the countdown so far.
Where do they all belong? Next stop for Eric was his solo career - paradoxically a retreat of sorts away from groups to having assorted guests join in the fun.
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