Every artist who performs live wants a challenge of some kind. It’s simple to spend the better part of an hour performing on a record and hitting the kinds of wild runs that people anticipate from you. But where does that leave you to develop as a musician? How can you do something that no one else has anticipated? Legends typically need another musician to help them come out of their shells. Eric Clapton believed Allman had to join his band permanently after witnessing their strong chemistry.
Any guitarist would say yes to being in a band led by someone like Eric Clapton. It’s easy to overlook his offensive outbursts. Playing second fiddle to someone who has earned the title of “guitar god” is an incredible opportunity. It allows one to gain insight into the techniques of one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
However, when it came to discussing a potential joining of Derek and the Dominoes with Allman, Clapton’s record wasn’t exactly stellar. With Cream, he had already revolutionized rock music. However, the band’s inability to stay together hindered their potential. Blind Faith’s single album further cast Clapton in the shadow of a guitar virtuoso. He would never play with a full band again.
Clapton needed to strike out on his own if he was going to be recognized for something other than just his guitar playing. “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” marked his first attempt at a genuine passion project. Even though Clapton’s name appears almost entirely on the album, Allman outperforms him on a few tracks. He adds a sense of beauty behind Clapton’s ruthless lead vocals on songs such as the album’s title track.
Though it may have been a fleeting desire, Clapton felt that working with Allman was too good to refuse. He told Guitarist, “I wanted to steal him, even though I knew sooner or later he was going back to The Allmans”! I made an effort, and he did show up for a few gigs as well. However, he was forced to inform them, almost in a feminine manner, that he was married to the band and could not stay with them. I was genuinely devastated.
Even though Allman passed away far too soon following a horrific motorcycle accident, Clapton was more equipped to succeed on his own. This advantage helped Clapton thrive during his solo career. He approaches his sound entirely differently on albums like “461 Ocean Boulevard.” On this album, he trades in the raucous lead lines of his early career for the crisp tones of a Fender Stratocaster.
However, he might also owe Allman some of the emotion in his works. Some of Allman’s later records, such as “Cocaine,” feature melodic phrasing that is reminiscent of his work on the “Live at Fillmore East” recordings. In these performances, he treated lead guitar phrases almost like a second vocal line in the band alongside Dickey Betts.
The aftermath of the record meant losing yet another musical soulmate. Even though “Layla” was all about Clapton’s longing for someone he couldn’t have. Though it wasn’t his decision, Eric Clapton most likely would have given a lot to collaborate with Allman once more.
