Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos

A trip with my brother to a 2008 EC concert led to a reacquaintance with the "Layla", and especially "Fillmore" CD's by the Dominoes. This in turn led me to this book. I don't doubt that there are minor errors in a book of this type. In spite of that, I found it extremely interesting and a valuable tool in helping to understand why the music of that era was so incredibly good. It also was a great, concise guide to available recordings that feature these performers - for example, the epic Hip-O-Select "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" box set. In addition, this book has led me on a quest for recordings featuring the now unmistakeable talents of Jim Gordon. I highly recommend this book as a starting point for expanding your appreciation of music.

This is a great book that weaves together the personal tales of each of the Dominoes' members as they lead up to the collaboration that proved to be so historically important. Juicy, funny stories of each of these characters (like Gregg Allman's "foot shootin' party) make you want to read many passages out loud to anyone with a similar interest. Quite excellent.

This book is a great read and a must for all Clapton or 70's rock lovers.

I am an avid Clapton fan but I learned many new and interesteing things about the man and his music in this book. I would recommend it highly to Clapton fans.

Eric Clapton/Derek and the Dominos Layla record is overlaid with so many layers of mythology no one mayever know the entire story. Until Clapton and Ms. Boyd/Harrison/Clapton write their books this is probably the best narrative we will have. Reid relies heavily on Bobby Whitlock's recollections. As with any storyteller who is involved in a story, the narrative is shaped by their recollection and how they want to appear in the story. Yet the story is extremely valuable for showing the path each of the other members of the band took on their journey to Criteria Studios in the Fall of 1970. Of special interest to me was some of the story about Duane Allman's father that I had not known and the stories about Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Of interest is the way he speaks extensively about the relationship between Eric and Delaney, but he avoids mention of Bonnie as much as possible. In addition he-like everyone else has been unable or unwilling to untangle the reasons the friendship came apart. The book is great on the interpersonal angles, but weak on any kind of analysis of the recordings themselves and the process. This is an especially tragic omission since Tom Dowd has passed and can no longer fill in the details. In addition, the aborted sessions for the second record are given a quick brush and put away. I recommend the book as a great read. I wish Whitlock would write his book