#285: Derek and the Dominoes - Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (1970)

Emily: When I queued up this album today, my first thought was, "Hey, isn't Layla by Eric Clapton? What's it doing on this album? Is this a weird cover thing? Hmm..." Clearly I was uninformed, because a few bluesy rock songs in, I looked up the album on Wikipedia and found out that Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs "is often regarded as Eric Clapton's greatest musical achievement." You learn something new every day. Even if I hadn't looked it up, though, I would've figured out it was Clapton far before Layla actually started playing. This album is filled with the classic sounds of Clapton's blues guitar (plus Duane Allman) and emotional lyrics of love both desired and lost. I wasn't totally off base with the cover idea, though. Although Layla and most of the rest of the double album is original, there are also covers of blues standards as well as a Jimi Hendrix song. Just goes to show how even the most influential artists and albums are always harkening back to what came before. Now, the next great blues album should have its own cover of Layla.
Favorite Tracks: Layla; Why Does Love Got to be So Sad; Have You Ever Loved a Woman

Zack: I’m not entirely sure why, but I thought we had listened to Cream a lot more recently than we actually had. No matter, because it is always a good time to listen to Layla. For a lot of people, Derek and the Dominos is Clapton’s crowning achievement. Surprisingly, I haven’t put that much time into this question. Gun to my head, I’d say: 

1) Disraeli Gears
2) Layla
3) 461 Ocean Boulevard
4) Five Live Yardbirds
5) Unplugged

6) August, solely because of my affinity for Miss You
7) Fresh Cream
8) Blues Breakers
9) Blind Faith
10) Ridin’ with the King

I’d need to put more thought into it, though, especially reevaluating my take on some of his solo stuff. Regardless, of that and even if you take the possibility of a priming effect into account, I’ve got Layla at 2 and have a hard time justifying it any lower than 4, at worst. In such a long and storied career, it really stands out. Part of that has to be just the emotion that bleeds through, specifically the parts where Clapton is singing about lusting for his best friend (George Harrison)’s wife. It’s really a message we can all relate to. (aside: Seriously, where does Pattie Boyd rank on the list of all-time muses? I’m not qualified to figure that one out, so someone get on it.) The other part is the obvious chemistry between Clapton and Duane Allman. You could just feel two kindred guitar spirits challenging each other but also feeding off each other spectacularly well. It doesn’t hurt that – I’m trying not to break out into another spontaneous list but it’s hard – those have got to be two of the top 10 guitarists of all time. Anyway, Layla is incredible, even beyond the title track that is such a classic rock staple. Even though it’s a double album and does occasionally feature like 3 minute blues intros into songs, it never really feels like it’s lagging anywhere. And it’s got some of the most impressive solos you’ll hear anywhere.

Favorite Tracks: Layla (duh); Key to the Highway; Little Wing  

#220: Cream - Disraeli Gears (1967)

Zack: Behold: The first Clapton-related album I ever listened to. And it is indeed a marvel. For those of you curious about the exact path I took into Clapton fan-dom, I started, as I think many must do, by hearing Sunshine of Your Love. That is one killer of a song. So I tracked down the album it originated from and gave that a listen. I guess I was probably 16 or 17 at the time. Mind, meet blown. So then I went through Fresh Cream and Wheels of Fire (I skipped over Goodbye. Not sure why. It’s not particularly great, but Badge is a good song). From there I just grabbed whatever Clapton solo stuff my Dad had – August and Journeyman were the two that stuck out – and checked that out. They’re both kind of hit or miss, but Miss You (off August) remains one of my all-time favorite Clapton jams, no matter what Rolling Stone says. I located Riding with the King and Unplugged to vary it up as well. Both are awesome. I never made it to Derek and the Dominoes, other than Layla of course, or Bluesbreakers, but both are represented on the list and I eagerly await the opportunity. But to return to what launched my exploration, Disraeli Gears just has a bit of something for everyone. It’s kind of psychedelic, but there’s a real hard rock vibe as well. Of course there’s Clapton’s signature bluesy guitar and Ginger Baker’s jazz drums. All of these different components meld together perfectly to create a spinning sea of virtuoso musicianship. Besides for being my first Clapton exposure, it remains to this day my favorite example of his work.

Favorite Tracks: Sunshine of Your Love; Tales of Brave Ulysses; SWLABR

Emily: Unlike Zack, I know next to nothing about Cream. I first heard Sunshine of Your Love on Guitar Hero back in the day, and that song is fucking awesome. Also really easy to play on Guitar Hero. I don't know much beyond that. Oh, also that Eric Clapton is in the band. Yeah, I don't know all that much. I'm glad I got a bit more exposure to Cream by listening to this album in its entirety. You can clearly hear the late-'60s influence swirling around through a blend of blues guitar with psychedelic ambiance. Sunshine of Your Love still embodies this best with one of the best basslines and guitar riffs in all of rock music. So whether you're a Clapton expert like Zack or just a former Guitar Hero player like me, Disraeli Gears is a classic album worth listening to.

Favorite Tracks: Sunshine of Your Love; Strange Brew; Tales of Brave Ulysses

#96: Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Boulevard (1974)

Emily: With a mix of covers, new arrangements, and original songs, Eric Clapton shows off a range of bluesy goodness on 461 Ocean Boulevard. Although critical reception for the album is mixed and its merits have been debated over time, it is Clapton through and through, and I enjoyed it upon my first listen. Original, blues-infused tracks like Let It Grow show creativity, while unique covers (Bob Marley, anyone?) show depth and diversity. On every track, however, Clapton puts his guitar-playing prowess at the forefront. Whether it’s rock, blues, or a combination of the two, a Clapton guitar solo is always a classic.

Favorite Tracks: Let It Grow; I Shot the Sherriff; Motherless Children

Zack: The task of deciding which albums to include so as to adequately represent the musical achievements of Eric P. Clapton is one that I certainly do not envy. He is a certified guitar god, a multi-genre genius, and a virtuoso of his craft. He churns out must-have albums like it’s his job (which I guess it sort of is). An album would have to be a perfect microcosm of his works to make the cut. It would have to blend blues and hard rock together into that signature Clapton sound. It would have to feature at least one of his more famous singles: Cocaine or maybe, hmmm, I don’t know, I Shot the Sheriff possibly. It would have to ooze “Slowhand” from every pore. Enter 461 Ocean Boulevard, which is practically just a long list of check marks for what a Clapton album should be. Sure, it may not be as dynamic as some of his other works, but that just helps to show off the bluesier side of his guitar even more. From start to finish, this album was a pure example of Clapton’s brilliance and a great first step for anyone looking to explore Slowhand’s vast discography.

Favorite Tracks: Let it Grow; I Shot the Sheriff; I Can’t Hold Out