Eric Clapton » Tracks » Layla

Eric Clapton – Layla (6:26)

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About This Track

Layla is the title track on the Derek And The Dominos album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs, released in December 1970. It is considered one of rock music’s definitive love songs, featuring an unmistakable guitar figure, played by Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, as lead-in. Its famously contrasting movements were composed separately by Clapton and Jim Gordon.

Inspired by Clapton’s then-unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend and fellow musician George Harrison, “Layla” was unsuccessful on its initial release. The song has since experienced great critical and popular acclaim. It is often hailed as being among the greatest rock songs of all time. Two versions have achieved chart success, first in 1972 and again twenty years later. In 2004, it was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs opened to lackluster sales (the album never reached the charts in Britain) as with Clapton unmentioned except on the back it appeared to be a double album from an unknown band. In addition the song’s length proved prohibitive for radio airplay; as a result an edited version of the song, trimmed to 2:43, was released as a single in March 1971 by Atco (U.S.). It peaked at only #51 on the Billboard Hot 100.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the iconic guitar riff from Layla featured on a series of British TV adverts for Vauxhall cars. It also featured prominently in the 1990 film Goodfellas.
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  • oldiesfanjohn

    the coda's jazzed up a bit,it's cool!

    14 days ago

  • AvianCrowd0

    Not my favorite track of LAYLA, it doesn't even sound like Clapton.

    last month

  • veyita_88

    Damn i do have an ex with this name.

    last month

  • shirlinfl

    LAYla!!! OLDIE BUT GOODIE!!

    last month

  • klpra

    Clapton did so many different versions of this song at concerts over the years. All were great IMO. No wonder he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 3 times!

    last month

  • Lowbacca

    Some women are worth a bent knee, but most are just a lot of noise. [2]

    last month

  • happytami

    like a fool, I fell in love with you. you turned my whole world upside down ...

    March 2012

  • MartinCQuet

    I knew a girl named Lola...she had me on my knees. The lyrics to this song are closer to events than the song by The Kinks, "Lola". Some women are worth a bent knee, but most are just a lot of noise.

    March 2012

  • indianbadger

    The Acoustic version is better.

    March 2012

  • freddy38765

    This isn"t Eric Clapton.

    March 2012

  • ZeppelinHero123

    I'm starting to learn the Acoustic version

    March 2012

  • dP_thomy

    one of the best songs ever written

    March 2012

  • BikerWriter

    This live version is the absolute worst version in the world. I have banned it from my library here. The only good version is the original studio version. (1LightComing@blogspot.com)

    March 2012

  • gotgore101

    Wow, a terrific song!!!

    February 2012

  • tian2992

    Acoustic IS best

    January 2012

  • r-iman

    love this song

    January 2012

  • zoborey

    unplugged one is something else, clapton is god

    January 2012

  • jlafitte

    Too much of a "Golden Oldie" for me. Sorry

    January 2012

  • gotgore101

    This song makes me want to dance all night long.

    January 2012

  • barbara_t

    nieopisane uwielbienie

    January 2012
See all 760 shouts

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