Layla - Derek & the Dominos (1972) 2/24/23

It was probably one of the worst-kept secrets in rock and roll history: Eric Clapton was hopelessly in love with Pattie Boyd--the wife of his best friend, George Harrison.

Everyone knew about it--especially after Eric, fronting the group Derek & the Dominoes, made his feelings perfectly clear with "Layla," today's "Great Song of 1972."

George was certainly aware of it, but apparently, didn't care. The only person really bothered by it...was Pattie Boyd.

In a 2008 interview, Pattie said, ""I wasn't so happy when Eric wrote 'Layla,' while I was still married to George. I felt I was being exposed. I was amazed and thrilled at the song - it was so passionate and devastatingly dramatic - but I wanted to hang on to my marriage. Eric made this public declaration of love. I resisted his attentions for a long time - I didn't want to leave my husband."

Eventually, though, Eric wore her down. She moved in with him in 1974, and married him in 1979.

To show he was a good sport, George remained friends with them both, and he--along with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr--played at their wedding!

Although "Layla" was written FOR Pattie, it was based on a 12th Century book by Persian poet Nizami about a man in love with an unobtainable woman.

(Trivia: Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers played steel guitar on the track. Jim Gordon played the piano section.)

The song was a bust when it was first released in 1971 (#51 on the Hot 100), but when it was re-released in 1972, it became at Top10 hit in several countries, including Canada (#9) and the US (#10).

Skip to 1992.

Eric recorded an acoustic version of "Layla" for his "Unplugged" album, and the single became a HUGE hit all over the world!

In Canada, it reached #1 on their Top 40, and #4 on their Adult Contemporary Chart.

In the US, where Billboard Magazine had expanded and diversified their charts for specific radio formats, "Layla" was a hit on FIVE Charts: #12 (Hot 100 and Top Radio Songs) #9 ("Mainstream Rock) ,#8 (Adult Contemporary) #4 (Mainstream Top 40)

Epilogue: Eric and Pattie divorced in 1979 and moved on, but "Layla" remains a "Great Song," rockin' from the'70s and smoldering from the '90s!

Original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TngViNw2pOo

Unplugged version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEcUc0NdM1A