Derek & The Dominos – Complete Sessions

Another album celebrating its 55th Anniversary this month is Derek & The Dominos, and their classic ‘Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs’ LP. I have made no secret of how much I love this album and I posted what I would have considered a good deluxe version of the album here (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/derek-the-dominos/) as well as an attempt at what their second LP could have sounded like (https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/derek-the-dominos-cant-sleep-at-night-unreleased-2nd-album/).

I have also made my feelings known about how artists and (more likely) their respective record companies should really be the last people to actually curate box sets for their marquee artists. That is because they do seem intent just to peddle the same old tracks over multiple formats in the hope that fans will once again put they hands in their pockets, especially with the prospect of at least some new material they have not heard before (at least legitimately). 

The ‘Layla’ album being a case in point. Even though it was not a massive seller on its original release, the album has pretty much never been out of print, no doubt aided by the enduing popularity of the title song. I remember buying the first CD reissue back in the late 80s and it sounded terrible. It was like someone at the record company decided that it needed to come out on that format, but did so with the first tape that they could find. It sounded muddy, there was a load of hiss and it was released as a double CD even though the songs would easily fit onto one disc. 

When 1990 and the 20th anniversary of its original released rolled around, a three disc set came out where the album was completely remastered and remixed from the session master tapes. Compared to the previous effort, it sounded was amazing. Hidden depths were found, but it did change some of the original production decisions. For example, the producers of the reissue moved the bass guitar from the left hand side of the mix (a standard thing to do at that time) and put it in the centre. The set also included numerous jams, sessions outtakes and could be considered the first deluxe edition of any album. That 1990 mix has also been ‘forgotten’ about and apart from a reissue of this set in Japan in 2009, that edition has been superseded by the 40th Anniversary set that came out in 2011, which was actually the 41st anniversary. Oh well.

That 40th Anniversary Edition did give the buyer a 5.1 surround mix of the record, which was great. It also included the soundtrack to the bands appearance the Johnny Cash show, but not the visuals. This is a shame as this was their only TV appearance anywhere. There were tracks from the aborted second album sessions, only one of which had not been released before. There was also a vinyl pressing as well as a two discs of the band In Concert LP with some bonus material that had also been released before. This was also a shame as this could have been an opportunity to release the whole concert, not just edited highlights. It was nice to have the second album sessions included but, this was meant to be a celebration of ‘Layla’. There was some recordings from those sessions that have seen the light of day illegitimately so why could these have not been included, or some material that was on the 1990 box set which would have be nice for anyone who missed out on that set back in the day. 

There was the 50th Anniversary set, but in my opinion, this was the worst kind of cash grab possible. There was less material on here than on the 1990 set and 40th anniversary edition. None of it was previously unreleased and the only selling point I could see was that it came as a four LP set so vinyl lovers could get songs that had otherwise been available on CD only. 

So what I am looking to present here is the most comprehensive box set that I could put together with the material at hand. Well, there are three versions of the ‘Layla’ album. The original 1970s mix along with the remixes from 1990 and 2011. Then we come to some discs of outtakes from the Layla Sessions. These includes all nearly of the bonus material from the 1990 set as well as some other material that has come to light thanks to bootleggers. Disc 4 includes the bands first, withdrawn single which was the fast version of ‘Tell The Truth’ backed by ‘Roll It Over’. The UK single edit of ‘Layla’ also has a home here. There are also two discs of jams which shows the band, plus guests stitching their musical muscles. 

We then move on to two discs of sessions that were completed for the second album that was never finished. Judging by what was recorded, there wasn’t any real hope of salvaging an LP from these sessions unless more work was carried out as only a handful of the tracks could be considered finished masters. What were have are a few jams, instrumentals and contributions from Jim Gordon, which I am surprised have not seen the light legitimately before. I have also included the mono promo single mix of the withdrawn single ‘Tell The Truth’ backed with ‘Roll It Over’. 

This is not where the story of Derek & the Dominos stops though. Clapton brought the band together during the sessions for George Harrison’s album, ‘All Things Must Pass’. Now, there are only a couple of songs where the entire band appears but I thought that if Eric Clapton and one other Domino was on a song, it should be included and so we get two discs of sessions where the band, or at least some guested on other people records. These also include Dr John’s ‘The Sun, Moon & Herbs’ two from Leon Russell (‘Leon Russell’ and ‘Leon Russell & the Shelter People’) as well as P.P. Arnold’s ‘The Turning Tide’. Dominos keyboard player Bobby Whitlock also released his first two solo albums in the early 70s, both of which contained contributions from his fellow band members so all of these were included.

I also decided to include a version of Eric Clapton solo album on this box set as well. That was because even though the Dominos were not a thing at this time, all of the members were on this record as they were all members of the Delaney & Bonnie band. Now, in 2021, there was a reissue of Clapton’s debut album with three different mixes on it as well as singles, alternative versions and session outtakes. However there was one version of the album that did not appear here and that was the Mono mix that was sent out to DJ’s. That has never been reissued anywhere as far as I can tell so I thought it would be a nice inclusion. There is also a disc of alternative mixes, most of which have never been released as well. Once again, these are the sort of thing that should have been included on the 2021 box set, but the record company decided to fleece the fans instead of giving them a substandard reissue. 

Finally, we have four discs of live performances, Two of these are the complete concerts from the Filmore East that were recorded on the bands US tour. The band sound great and this was when live albums gave you something more than just a reproduction of what was on the record. It also includes the rare live single version of ‘Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?’ and the complete Johnny Cash Show. This was the only place I had room to include the band rehearsing ‘Mean Old World’, an outtake from the first album sessions and the stereo single mix of ‘Tell The Truth’.

To round out the set, there are two Blu-ray discs. The first is the ‘Layla’ album in a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. This was included in the 2011 box set on DVD so it would be nice to have it on the higher resolution format. This also includes ‘Mean Old World’, just as the 2011 disc. The second Blu-ray is all of the recordings that have been made available from the 1969 Delaney & Bonnie and Friends tour which Eric Clapton was on. Included in the band were Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock and Carl Radle so we have the complete Dominos line up on all of these live performances. 

Would this box set ever see the light of day? Not bloody likely especially as it contains the majority of the ‘All Things Must Pass’ album. Is this really the complete sessions? I suspect there is something that I have missed or is still lurking in an archive somewhere that has yet to see the light of day. What all this music shows is how much material these guys played on in a very short space of time and how much of a crying shame it is that inter-band tensions, drug use and/or personal problems lead to their break up. One of the great all time lost bands. 

There are a number of songs that have been included on this set, but the involvement of Clapton and at least one other Dominos cannot be determined. These include the tracks on the deluxe edition of the Buddy Guy & Junior Wells LP, ‘Play The Blues’. I did include ‘Only You Know & I Know’ by Dave Mason because the rhythm section is definitely Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, but Clapton’s involvement has yet to be confirmed even though the lead guitar does sound like him. The same with Doris Troy’s ‘So Far’ which did include Whitlock and Gordon, and Clapton is said to have taken part in these sessions as they were produced by George Harrison. Jim Gordon and Carl Radle were also members of Joe Cocker’s ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’ tour, recordings of which take up Disc 20 of this set. 

Disc 1 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (Original 1970 Mix)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 2 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1990 Remix)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 3 – Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (2011 Remaster)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden

Disc 4 – 1st Album Sessions

1. I Looked Away (Alt Version)
2. Bell Bottom Blues (Instrumental Mix)
3. Keep On Growing (Basic Track)
4. Nobody Knows You when You’;re Down & Out (Instrumental Mix)
5. Anyway (Alt. Version)
6. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (Alt. Take 1)
7. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? (Alt. Version 1)
8. It’s Too Late (Alt. Master)
9. Layla (Alt Vocal/Guitar Overdub)
10. Mean Old World (Band Version)
11. Tender Love (Incomplete Master)
12. Have You Ever Loved A Woman? (Alt. Version 2)
13. Why Does Love Got To be So Dad? (Alt. Take 2)
14. Mean Old World (Duet Version)
15. Layla (1972 UK Single Edit)
16. Tell The Truth (Single Version 2011 Master)
17. Roll It Over (2011 Master)

Disc 5 – 1st Album Sessions Jams I

1. (When Things go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too
2. Jam I
3. Jam II
4. Jam III
5. Jam IV
6. Jam V

Disc 6 – 1st Album Session Jams II

1. Tell The Truth (Jam #1)
2. Jam VI
3. Jam VII
4. Jam VIII
5. Jam IX
6. Tell The Truth (Jam #2)

Disc 7 – Second Album Sessions I

1. Evil (Abrupt Ending Mix)
2. I’ve Been All Day
3. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Crossroad Mix)
4. It’s Hard To Find A Friend
5. Son Of Apache
6. Jim’s Song
7. Chocolate
8. One More Chance
9. Sick At Heart
10. ‘Till I See You Again
11. Is My Love
12. High
13. Mean Old Frisco
14. Snake Lake Blues (Major Key)
15. Devil’s Road
16. Got To get Better In A Little While (2011 Single Version)
17. It’s Hard To Find A Friend Session #1

Disc 8 – Second Album Sessions II

1. Evil (Fade Out Mix)
2. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Alt. Slower Version)
3. Instrumental #1
4. It’s Hard To Find A Friends Session #2
5. Mean Old Frisco (Instrumental)
6. One More Chance (Instrumental)
7. Snake Lake Blues (Minor Key)
8. Moody Jam
9. Instrumental #2
10. Evil (Instrumental)
11. Got To Get Better in A Little While (Jam)
12. Snake Lake Blues (Major Key/Count In)
13. Tell The Truth (Mono Promo Single Mix)
14. Roll It Over (Mono Promo Single Mix)

Disc 9 – Sessions I

1. My Sweet Lord – George Harrison
2. Let It Down – George Harrison
3. Hear Me Lord – George Harrison
4. Run Of The Mill – George Harrison
5. Isn’t It A Pity (Version 2) – George Harrison
6. Awaiting On You All – George Harrison
7. I Dig Love – George Harrison
8. Art Of Dying – George Harrison
9. What Is Life – George Harrison
10. Beware Of Darkness – George Harrison
11. All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
12. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 14) – George Harrison
13. I’d Have You Anytime (Take 5) – George Harrison
14. Wah-Wah (Take 1) – George Harrison
15. What Is Life (Take 1) – George Harrison
16. Beware Of Darkness (Take 8) – George Harrison
17. Hear Me Lord (Take 5) – George Harrison
18. Isn’t It A Pity (Take 27) – George Harrison

Disc 10 – Sessions II

1. Thanks For The Pepperoni – George Harrison
2. Out Of The Blue – George Harrison
3. What Is Life (Backing Track) – George Harrison
4. Plug Me In – George Harrison
5. Run Of The Mill (Take 36) – George Harrison
6. Where There’s A Will – Bobby Whitlock
7. Song For Paula – Bobby Whitlock
8. A Game Called Life – Bobby Whitlock
9. Country Life – Bobby Whitlock
10. A Day Without Jesus – Bobby Whitlock
11. Back In My Life Again – Bobby Whitlock
12. The Scenery Has Slowly Changed – Bobby Whitlock
13. The Dreams Of A Hobo – Bobby Whitlock
14. Back Home In England – Bobby Whitlock
15. I’d Rather Live The Straight Life – Bobby Whitlock
16. Hello L.A., Bye Bye Birmingham – Bobby Whitlock

Disc 11 – Session III

1. Only You Know & I Know – Dave Mason
2. Right Now – Billy Preston
3. Use What You Got – Billy Preston
4. Encouraging Words – Billy Preston
5. A Man Of Many Words – Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
6. Jammin’ With Eric – Leon Russell
7. Alcatraz – Leon Russell
8. Beware of Darkness – Leon Russell
9. The New Sweat Home Chicago – Leon Russell
10. Prince Of Peace – Leon Russell
11. Medicated Goo – P.P. Arnold
12. Brand New Day – P.P. Arnold
13. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – P.P. Arnold
14. Teasin’ – King Curtis
15. Black John The Conqueror – Dr.John
16. Where Ya At Mule – Dr.John
17. Familiar Reality (Opening) – Dr.John
18. Familiar Reality (Reprise) – Dr.John

Disc 12 – Eric Clapton 1st Solo Album I

1. Slunky (Mono Mix)
2. Bad Boy (Mono Mix)
3. Lonesome & A Long Way From Home (Mono Mix)
4. After Midnight (Mono Mix)
5. Easy Now (Mono Mix)
6. Blues Power (Mono Mix)
7. Bottle Of Red Wine (Mono Mix)
8. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Mono Mix)
9. Told You For The Last Time (Mono Mix)
10. Don;t Know Why (Mono Mix)
11. Let It Rain (Mono Mix)
12. Coming Home – Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
13. Groupie (Superstar) – Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
14. I Don’t Know Why (Olympic Studios Version)
15. I’ve Told You For The Last Time (Olympic Studios Version)
16. She Rides (Let It Rain – Original Version)

Disc 13 – Eric Clapton 1st Solo Album II

1. Bad Boy (Alternate Mix #1 with Different Vocal Take 1)
2. Lonesome And A Long Way From Home (Alternate Mix #1)
3. After Midnight (Alternate Mix #1)
4. Easy Now (Alternate Mix #1)
5. Blues Power (Alternate Mix)
6. Bottle Of Red Wine (Alternate Mix with Additional Guitar)
7. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Alternate Mix #1)
8. Told You For The Last Time (Alternate Mix)
9. Don’t Know Why (Alternate Mix)
10. Bad Boy (Alternate Mix #2 with Different Vocal Take 2)
11. Lonesome And A Long Way From Home (Alternate Mix #2)
12. After Midnight (Alternate Mix #2)
13. Lovin’ You Lovin’ Me (Alternate Mix #2)
14. Where There’s A Will There’s A Way (1st Solo Album 1st Session)
15. Comin’ Home – Delany & Bonnie (Alternative Version)
16. Blues In “A”

Disc 14 – Derek & the Dominos Live 

1. Got To Get Back In A Little While
2. Key To The Highway
3. Tell The Truth
4. Why Does Love For To Be So Sad?
5. Blues Power
6. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?

Disc 15 – Derek & the Dominos Live

1. Presence Of The Lord
2. Little Wing
3. Let It Rain
4. Crossroads
5. Bottle Of Red Wine
6. Mean Old World (Studio Rehearsal)
7. Tell The Truth (Stereo Single Mix)
8. Roll It Over (Stereo Single Mix)

Disc 16 – Derek & the Dominos Live 

1. Got To Get Better In A Little While
2. Tell The Truth
3. Nobody Knows When You’re Down & Out
4. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
5. Presence Of The Lord
6. Blues Power
7. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
8. Key To The Highway

Disc 17 – Derek & the Dominos Live

1. Bottle Of Red Wine
2. Roll It Over
3. Let It Rain
4. Little Wing
5. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? (Live Single Edit)
6. It’s Too Late (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
7. Matchbox (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
8. Got To Get Better In A Little While (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)
9. Blues Power (Live on The Johnny Cash Show)

Disc 18 – Layla 5.1 Surround Sound (Blu-ray)

1. I Looked Away
2. Bell Bottom Blues
3. Keep On Growing
4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down & Out
5. I Am Yours
6. Anyway
7. Key To The Highway
8. Tell The Truth
9. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman?
11. Little Wing
12. It’s Too Late
13. Layla
14. Thorn Tree In A Garden
15. Mean Old World

Disc 19 – Delaney & Bonnie and Friends Live (Blu-ray)

Part A – Royal Albert Hall, London 1st December 1969 

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Opening Jam
3. Gimme Some Lovin’
4. Band Introductions
5. Only You Know & I Know
6. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
7. Get Ourselves Together
8. I Don’t Know Why
9. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
10. That’s What My Man Is For
11. Pour Your Love On Me/Just Plain Beautiful
12. Everybody Loves A Winner
13. Things Get better
14. Coming Home
15. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
16. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny
17. My Baby Specialises

Part B – Colston Hall, Bristol 2nd December 1969

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Opening Jam
3. Gimme Some Loving
4. Things Get Better
5. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
6. I Don’t Know Why
7. Pour Your Love On Me/Just Plain Beautiful
8. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
9. Coming Home
10. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny
11. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
12. Crowd/Announcement

Part C – Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 7th December 1969 (1st Show)

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Gimme Some Lovin’
3. Introduction
4. Things Get Better
5. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
6. I Don’t Know Why
7. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
8. That’s What My Man Is For
9. I Don’t Want To Discuss It
10. Coming Home

Part D – Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 7th December 1969 (2nd Show)

1. Intro/Tuning
2. Gimme Some Lovin’
3. Pigmy
4. Introductions
5. Things Get Better
6. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
7. Only You Know & I Know
8. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
9. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
10. I Don’t Know Why
11. That;’s What My Man Is For
12. Coming Home
13. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny

Part E – Falcon Theatre, Copenhagen 10th December 1969

1. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
2. I Don’t Know Why
3. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
4. Special Life
5. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
6. That’s What My Man Is For
7. Coming Home
8. Tutti Frutti/The Girl Can’t Help It/Long Tall Sally/Jenny Jenny

Part F – Falcon Theatre, Copenhagen 12th December 1969

1. Poor Elijah/Tribute To Robert Johnson
2. I Don’t Know Why
3. Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way
4. Special Life
5. I Don’t Want To Discuss it
6. That’s What My Man Is For
7. Coming Home

Disc 20 – Mad Dogs & Englishmen: The Complete Fillmore East Concerts (Blu-ray)

Friday March 27, 1970, early show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. Let’s Go Get Stoned
3. Sticks & Stones
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me a River
6. Superstar
7. Delta Lady
8. Something
9. Feelin’ Alright
10. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
11. Space Captain
12. The Letter
13. Girl from The North Country

Friday March 27, 1970, late show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. Let’s Go Get Stoned
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me A River
6. Superstar
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Something
9. Sticks & Stones
10. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
11. Space Captain
12. Hummingbird 
13. Dixie Lullaby
14. Delta Lady
15. The Letter
16. With A Little Help From My Friends

Saturday March 28, 1970, early show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. Sticks & Stones
4. Bird On A Wire
5. Cry Me A River
6. Superstar
7. Feelin’ Alright
8. Something
9. Space Captain
10. Let It Be
11. Delta Lady
12. The Letter
13. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
14. Give Peace A Chance

Saturday March 28, 1970, late show:

1. Honky Tonk Women
2. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
3. The Weight
4. Cry Me A River
5. Further On Up The Road
6. Darling Be Home Soon
7. Space Captain
8. Superstar
9. Delta Lady
10. Let’s Go Get Stoned
11. Sticks & Stones
12. Let It Be
13. Feelin’ Alright
14. Something
15. The Letter
16. Give Peace A Chance
17. Blues Medley (I’ll Drown In My Own Tears/When Something Is Wrong with My Baby/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
18. With A Little Help From My Friends

The artwork is taken from the bootleg album, ‘The Last Sessions’ but i have just changed the title. 

With thanks to Andrew Wild and his book, ‘Sessions – Eric Clapton’ for filling in the blanks.