Earworm Tuesday– Layla

I got an email the other day from a friend who suggested that I listen to “the best version of Layla ever.” Now, my kids (adult kids, mind you) will tell you that there were many times when they were younger, that I ran around the house singing the words to Layla (most of the time loudly and off-key).  This song, in my humble opinion, is, perhaps, one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time. So, naturally, I was interested in my friend’s opinion.

Originally released in 1970 by the cover group Derek and the Dominos, Layla did not chart much initial commercial success.  It was re-released in 1972 and I will confess that this is probably the version I first heard.  The younger generation knows of the song Layla from the 1992 Eric Clapton MTV unplugged concert. This version of the song is shorter than the original by almost 3 minutes because it doesn’t include much of Bobby Whitlock’s keyboarding and Duane Allman’s fabulous slide guitar instrumental riffs that really made Layla a rockin’ two part song.

Most people know by now that Layla is a song encouraging a woman to leave her man.  The reality is the song is about Eric Clapton imploring Pattie Boyd to leave her husband, George Harrison.  That said, it is the music, not the words, that makes this call to immorality such a great song.

As for the best version of Layla?  To me, the best version is the original on the album.  Clapton has performed several versions of the song including the acoustic version and a really good 8 minute live version of the song (this was the one recommended to me).  But it is the original version from the album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs that sticks in my head as being the one. With no visuals – just music – here’s to an earworm named Layla: