Derek and the Dominos: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|British–AmericanEnglish–American blues-rock band}}

'''Derek and the Dominos''' was a short-livedan English–American [[blues rock]] band formed in the spring of 1970 by singer-guitarist and singer [[Eric Clapton]], keyboardist and -singer [[Bobby Whitlock]], bassist [[Carl Radle]] and drummer [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]]. All four members had previously played together in [[Delaney & Bonnie and Friends]], during and after Clapton's brief tenure with [[Blind Faith]]. [[Dave Mason]] supplied additional lead guitar on early studio sessions and played at their first live gig. Another participant at their first session as a band was [[George Harrison]], the recording for whose album ''[[All Things Must Pass]]'' marked the formation of Derek and the Dominos.

The band released's only one studio albumrelease, ''[[Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs]]'', was produced by [[Tom Dowd]], which also featured extensive contributions on lead and [[slide guitar]] from [[Duane Allman]]. A [[double album]], ''Layla'' did not immediately enjoy strong sales or receive widespread radio airplay, but went on to earn critical acclaim. Although released in 1970 it was not until March 1972 that the album's single "[[Layla]]" (a tale of [[unrequited love]] inspired by Clapton's infatuation with his friend George Harrison's wife, [[Pattie Boyd]]) made the top ten in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The album is often considered to be the defining achievement of Clapton's career.<ref name="SuperSeventies">{{Cite web|url=http://www.superseventies.com/spderekdominoes.html|title=Derek and the Dominos – Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs|website=Superseventies.com|access-date=23 August 2021}}</ref>

Towards the end of the sessions for the basic tracks on ''All Things Must Pass'',<ref name="Whitlock p 82" /> [[Dave Mason]] – another former guitarist with Delaney & Bonnie<ref>Reid, p. 47.</ref> – joined the Dominos at Clapton's home.<ref>Shapiro, pp. 115, 116.</ref> With the lineup expanded to a five-piece band, Derek and the Dominos gave their debut live performance on 14 June 1970.<ref name="Shapiro p 115">Shapiro, p. 115.</ref> The event was a charity concert in aid of the [[Benjamin Spock|Dr Spock]] Civil Liberties Legal Defence Fund, held at London's [[Lyceum Theatre (London)|Lyceum Theatre]].<ref name="Shapiro/Mojo">{{cite magazine|author=Shapiro, Harry|title=The Prince of Love ... Or How the Recording of 'Layla', Clapton's Ode to Forbidden Love, Made Victims of Derek and the Dominos|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|date=January 2001}} Available at [http://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/the-prince-of-love-or-how-the-recording-of-layla-claptons-ode-to-forbidden-love-made-victims-of-derek-and-the-dominos Rock's Backpages] (subscription required).</ref>

The group had been billed as "Eric Clapton and Friends", but a discussion ensued backstage just before their appearance, with Harrison<ref>Clayson, p. 290.</ref> and pianist [[Tony Ashton]] among those involved, in an effort to find a proper band name.<ref name="Shapiro p 115" /> Clapton recalls that Ashton suggested "Del and the Dominos",<ref>Clapton, p. 133.</ref> having taken to calling the guitarist "Derek" or "Del" since the Delaney & Bonnie tour the previous year.<ref name="DeRiso/SN" /> Whitlock maintains that "the Dynamics" was the name chosen and that Ashton, following his opening set with [[Ashton, Gardner and Dyke]], mispronounced it when introducing the band.<ref name="Shapiro/Mojo" /> Writing in 2013, Clapton and Whitlock biographer Marc Roberty quoted [[Jeff Dexter (DJ)|Jeff Dexter]], the [[Master of ceremonies|compere]] at the Lyceum show, who recalled that "Derek and the Dominos" had already been decided on before they went on stage. According to Dexter, Clapton was immediately taken with the name, but Whitlock, Radle and Gordon – all Americans – were concerned that they might be mistaken for a [[doo-wop]] act.<ref name="DeRiso/SN">{{cite web|last=DeRiso|first=Nick|url=http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/06/16/books-eric-clapton-day-by-day-the-early-years-1963-1982-by-marc-roberty-2013/ |title=Books: ''Eric Clapton, Day by Day: The Early Years, 1963–1982'', by Marc Roberty (2013)|website=Something New!|date=16 June 2013|access-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>

{{quote box|quote= Everybody knew [about Clapton's infatuation with Pattie Boyd]. George didn't give a shit – but Eric didn't know that.<ref name="Harris/Mojo p 72" />|source= – Bobby Whitlock, on the obsession that drove Clapton's creativity in Derek and the Dominos |width=20%25em|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}

The reception afforded the band from critics and fans was mixed.<ref>Reid, pp. 104–05.</ref><ref>Shapiro, pp. 115–16.</ref> Together with the unfavourable reviews for Clapton's eponymous solo album, particularly in Britain, this reaction was reflective of a widespread reluctance to view Clapton as a singer and frontman, rather than as the virtuoso guitarist synonymous with his role in bands such as [[Cream (band)|Cream]] and [[theThe Yardbirds]].<ref>Sandford, pp. 112, 114, 116.</ref> In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton wrote that his main recollection of the Lyceum show was consulting [[New Orleans]]–born musician [[Dr. John]], a self-styled practitioner of [[Louisiana Voodoo|voodoo]],<ref>''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', p. 276.</ref> and receiving a package made of straw that would serve as a means of winning Boyd's affection.<ref>Clapton, pp. 133–34.</ref>

Whitlock recalled of their drug consumption during the tour: "We didn't have little bits of anything. There were no grams around, let's just put it like that. Tom couldn't believe it, the way we had these big bags laying out everywhere. I'm almost ashamed to tell it, but it's the truth. It was scary, what we were doing, but we were just young and dumb and didn't know. [[Cocaine]] and [[heroin]], that's all and [[Johnnie Walker|Johnny Walker]]."<ref>''[[The Layla Sessions]]'' liner notes, page 12.</ref> [[Elton John]], who opened for them, said that despite the reports of drugs and booze, "They were phenomenal. From the side of the stage, I took mental notes of their performance ... it was their keyboard player Bobby Whitlock that I watched like a hawk ... You watched and you learned, from people that had more experience than you."<ref>{{cite book |last1=John |first1=Elton |title=Me: Elton John the Official Autobiography |date=2019 |publisher=Pan Macmillan |isbn=978-1-50-985331-1 |page=86}}</ref> In 1973, a live double album, titled ''[[In Concert (Derek and the Dominos album)|In Concert]]'', was released, culled from the band's October 1970 shows at the [[Fillmore East]] in [[New York City]]. Six of the recordings from that album were digitally remastered, remixed and expanded with additional material from the same shows to become ''[[Live at the Fillmore (Derek and the Dominos)|Live at the Fillmore]]'', released in 1994.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r195524|tab=review|label=Album review|first=William|last=Ruhlmann|access-date=17 August 2018}}</ref>

"Layla" was included on ''[[The History of Eric Clapton]]'' in 1972, and Atlantic issued the song as a single in July that year.<ref name="Shapiro p 123" /> It became a hit, reaching number 10 in America and number 7 in Britain.<ref>Sandford, p. 119.</ref> The success of the title track in 1972 led to a reappraisal of ''Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs''. It has since received widespread critical acclaim and has been ranked among the best albums of all time by [[VH1]] (at number 89).<ref>{{cite web|title=VH1's List of Greatest Albums| url=http://www.dailycelebrations.com/vh1_albums.htm|website=Dailycelebrations.com|access-date=2006-10-06}}</ref> and ''Rolling Stone'' (number 115).<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938178/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409210802/https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938178/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time |access-date=15 September 2018|url-status=dead |archive-date=9 April 2006 }}</ref> ''Layla'' is considered one of Clapton's most outstanding achievements.<ref name="SuperSeventies" />

In February 1971, Radle and Gordon participated in sessions, produced by Spector and Harrison, for a [[Try Some, Buy Some#Planned Ronnie Spector solo album|planned solo album]] by [[Ronnie Spector]].<ref>Madinger & Easter, p. 434.</ref> Later that year, the Dominos disbanded acrimoniously in London, just before they could complete their second LP. In a subsequent interview with music critic [[Robert Palmer (American writer)|Robert Palmer]], Clapton said the second album "broke down halfway through because of the paranoia and tension. And the band just dissolved."<ref name="Santoro p 69" /> After the dissolution, Clapton turned away from touring and recording to nurse an intense heroin addiction.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Eric Clapton on Addiction, Cream, the Future of the Guitar |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-clapton-talks-addiction-creams-brilliance-the-future-of-the-guitar-127052/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=4 December 2017 |access-date=15 September 2018}}</ref><ref>Harris, p. 74.</ref> This three-year career hiatus was interrupted only by his participation in Harrison's [[Concert for Bangladesh]] shows in August 1971, along with a large cast of musicians, including Leon Russell, Keltner and Radle;<ref>Clayson, pp. 309–310, 313.</ref> a guest appearance at Russell's December 1971 show at London's [[Rainbow Theatre]];<ref>Shapiro, pp. 123–24.</ref> and his own [[Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert|Rainbow Concert]], in January 1973. The latter event was organised by [[Pete Townshend]] of [[theThe Who]] to help Clapton kick his drug habit and build momentum for his return.<ref name="New RS Encyclo p 183">''The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'', p. 183.</ref><ref>Shapiro, pp. 126–27.</ref> Whitlock signed with the US record label [[ABC-Dunhill]], for which he recorded the albums ''[[Bobby Whitlock (album)|Bobby Whitlock]]'' and ''[[Raw Velvet]]''. Both albums were released in 1972 and included contributions from all the Dominos (recorded in early 1971), along with Harrison, the Bramletts, Keltner, and the former Delaney & Bonnie horn section.

Following Clapton's return as a solo artist in 1974, he and Radle worked together until 1979, when Clapton abruptly dismissed him from his band. Radle died in June 1980 of complications from a kidney infection<ref>Shapiro, p. 152.</ref> associated with alcohol and drug use.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/carl-radle-mn0000792981/biography|title=Carl Radle &#124; Biography & History|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=23 August 2021}}</ref> Whitlock and Clapton did not work together again until 2000, when they performed on [[Jools Holland]]'s BBC show ''[[Later... with Jools Holland]]''. In 1983, Gordon, who had undiagnosed [[schizophrenia]] at the time, killed his mother with a hammer during a psychotic episode. He was confined to a mental institution in 1984,<ref>Sandford, p. 120.</ref> whereuntil hehis remainsdeath todayin 2023.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/16/jim-gordon-session-drummer-on-dozens-of-hits-such-as-layla-dies-aged-77 | title=Jim Gordon, session drummer on dozens of hits such as Layla, dies aged 77 | newspaper=The Guardian | date=16 March 2023 | last1=Beaumont-Thomas | first1=Ben }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2003">Romanowski, Patricia (2003). ''Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll'' Rolling Stone Press, {{ISBN|0-671-43457-8}}</ref> Recordings from the 1971 sessions for the band's cancelled second album were included on Clapton's four-CD/cassette box set ''[[Crossroads (box set)|Crossroads]]'', released in 1988.<ref name="Santoro p 69" />

* [[Bobby Whitlock]] – keyboardsvocals, vocalskeyboards (1970–1971)

* [[Carl Radle]] – bass guitar (1970–1971; died 1980)

* [[Jim Gordon (musician)|Jim Gordon]] – drums, percussion (1970–1971; died 2023)

*[[Duane Allman]] – guitar (1970; died 1971)

*"[[Bell Bottom Blues (Derek and the Dominos song)|Bell Bottom Blues]]" / "Keep on Growing" (1971) [[''Billboard'' Hot 100]] # 91<ref name="Whitburn">{{cite book| last = Whitburn| first = Joel| title = The Comparison Book Billboard/Cash Box/Record World 1954-1982| publisher = Sheridan Books| year = 2015| isbn = 978-0-89820-213-7|page=142}}</ref>

# "[[Matchbox (song)|Matchbox]]" ([[Carl Perkins]] cover played with [[Johnny Cash|Cash]] and PerkinsClapton)