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TOP 1200 CHOICE TRACKS

#497 LAYLA Derek & The Dominos
From the renowned riff at the dramatic opening, "Layla" keeps listeners in awe of its immense power. It was inspired by the tricky situation Eric Clapton found himself in at the time he penned the love ode. George Harrison was his best friend. The former Beatle was married to Patti Boyd. Clapton found himself falling in love with her. This forbidden love triangle spawned 1 of rock's greatest epics; its title being Boyd's nickname. 
Jim Gordon created the track's majestic coda. Clapton and Gordon were both members of the supergroup Derek and The Dominos. The band formed in 1970 and the song is the title track on their debut album 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs'. Duanne Allman is featured in this phase of the group's line-up. 
The track was edited for single release in 1971 but, surprisingly, the disc failed to chart high. The original full-length album version was issued in 1972 and this time cracked the US and British Top 10. Clapton released a live acoustic version of the classic track in 1992 which peaked at #12 in America. 
The following year saw Derek & The Dominos commence work on their sophomore LP. This album was to never reach completion. The band split up. Clapton began 2 years of reclusion, plagued by heroin addiction. Before the end of 1971, Allman died in a motorcycle accident. Those unfinished 2nd album tracks saw the light of day as part of Clapton CD anthologies.
Clapton got his "Layla" in the end. Boyd divorced Harrison in 1974. Clapton married his paramour in 1979. Their marriage lasted 9 years. He returned to music 2 years after the demise of Derek & The Dominos and has enjoyed a lucrative solo career ever since. He is 1 of the most respected rock guitarists of all-time. 

This is a list made up of the songs I enjoy the most, ranked in order of preference: the higher we go, the more I cherish them. Some were released as singles, others as album tracks. Some are obscure; others were worldwide hits or have universal appeal. They aren't always the most famous or popular, but simply a personal choice. I have excluded songs from the last few years in order to get a better idea of a song's lasting impression. I hope you find some new tracks to love, or re-discover some past favourites.
2 new songs are added each day (every 12 hours)  with a mid-week bonus every Wednesday.