Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd
Clapton! Layla! Here are several different versions of Layla, acoustic and electric, from the original in 1970 to 2011. I like listening to the same song by the same artist over time or by different artists. Maybe I’ve got too much time on my hands. Anyway, give a listen to some of these when you get a chance. Also there is info about Layla, lyrics and two interviews at the bottom.
1970 Electric – The original w/Derek and the Dominos for comparison (no video)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WUdlaLWSVM&hd=1[/youtube]
1985 Electric – Live in Hartford. Fast, Clapton looks zonked, but good, unusual solo
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCNARZ38mgo[/youtube]
1985 Electric – Live at Live Aid. Clapton looks a bit better rested – very energetic, solos hark back to his psychedelic days
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQIqTFKM7Ws[/youtube]
1986 Electric – Live Birmingham, England, July 1986. With Phil Collins. Fast, energetic and Clapton plays wonderful long solos
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkBG5UVJ_Y&hd=1[/youtube]
1988 – Electric – Live from Tokyo. Great, long solos starting in a lower register than usual.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI3XaB64fys&feature=related&hd=1[/youtube]
1988-89? Acoustic – w/Chuck Leavell on keyboards – My second favorite acoustic version
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVIgvGP96-0;hd=1[/youtube]
1996 Acoustic – Live in Hyde Park. Laid back – some of the best vocals – good solos.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7J8SqZMD0g&hd=1[/youtube]
1999 Electric – Live in Madison Square Garden. Not as frenetic as earlier versions. All over my favorite electric version
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA&hd=1[/youtube]
2008 electric – interesting to hear how his electric concept has matured – One of my favorites
YouTube – Eric Clapton Layla 2008 High Quality Live TV Recording
2011 – Acoustic – Royal Albert Hall May 5, 2011. Among the best solos – very different vocals – recording ain’t so great, though. I think– this is my favorite acoustic but it’s hard to beat the 1988-89.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ4hx8NVaJ0&hd=1[/youtube]
More Information
Info about the song, lyrics and two interviews. THE Eric Clapton Layla site
Lots of information, videos, pictures, of Clapton, including a big section on Layla unplugged.
Lyrics
Layla
by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon
What’ll you do when you get lonely
And nobody’s waiting by your side?
You’ve been running and hiding much too long.
You know it’s just your foolish pride.
Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.
Layla, darling won’t you ease my worried mind.
I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you,
Turned my whole world upside down.
Chorus
Let’s make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane.
Please don’t say we’ll never find a way
And tell me all my love’s in vain.
Chorus
Chorus
