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"Layla" Book Tells The Story of a Great Recording

Posted: Jan 17, 2007 I have always had a thing for keeping lists. Lists of my all-time favorite movies, records, books. For as long as I can remember there have been two records that have battled it out for the number one position on the Buffalo list, The Allman Brothers Band’s Fillmore East and Layla and Other Assorted love Songs by Derek and The Dominos. I have owned both on vinyl LP (many times), 8-track tape, reel to reel, cassette, quadraphonic 8-track, CD, mini-disc and MP3.

When I heard about Jan Reid’s book on the making of Layla, I made a bee-line to Amazon and ordered it. When it came in the mail, I was a bit disappointed that it did not contain any pictures whatsoever. Text only. But once I dove into this small format, 160 page, hardcover book, I couldn’t put it down. I read over half of it one night and the remainder the next day.

The great part is how Reid tells all of the stories surrounding the making of the album. There is Allman Brothers history, Eric Clapton history, Delaney and Bonnie and Friends stories, Bobby Whitlock stories, Tom Dowd stories -- all quite interesting.

Bobby Whitlock is the principal source of stories for the book and serves the author well, relating that he comes from a long line of, as he says, "river rats, whores and moonshiners." As keyboardist, second lead singer and songwriter on the Layla album, no one is better equipped to tell the stories.

There isn’t really a whole lot here about the actual recording of this timeless record, but more about the people involved in the creation. Stories of the tortured souls who produced this great album, many of whom had their lives cut short by accident or substance abuse, while those who live on bear deep scars for life from the experience.

The stories surrounding Layla have circulated for years, but only with Reid’s book do they all come together. The chance meeting of Duane Allman and Eric Clapton; Eric’s love affair with George Harrison’s wife Patti; the story of “Thorn Tree in The Garden” and Bobby Whitlock’s pet dog; the turbulent days with Delaney and Bonnie that acted as a catalyst for the formation of the Dominos; Tom Dowd’s mathematical approach to music...so many great stories.

This one is a must read for Allman fans, Delaney and Bonnie lovers, Clapton fanatics or just anyone interested in learning more about one of, if not the greatest records of all time.

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern. - Buffalo

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