11LAYLA DEREK AND THE DOMINOS

The sound of unrequited love and an amp on 10

(1970)

In 1967, Clapton fell in love with a woman he couldn’t have, George Harrison’s wife Patti Boyd, and a guitar he couldn’t use – ‘Brownie’, a 1956 Strat whose sound didn’t work with Cream or Blind Faith. On Layla, he poured out his emotions for the former through the latter. Plugging Brownie into a Fender Champ gave the tone for Layla’s screaming ostinato. The Strat’s comparative lack of sustain made Clapton a busier player, ably demonstrated by the fleet hammer-ons in this opening lick. Don’t try to pick all the notes – it’s harder and it won’t sound as good.