LITTLE WING (1970) by Derek and the Dominos live

I saw Derek and the Dominos live at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington DC on 21 October 1970, when I lived in the USA for a few years with my parents. I saw lots of great concerts around that time, including Hendrix, Stones, Ten Years After etc, but this was the loudest of any of those concerts. One of the tracks which made an impression on me was Eric's version of 'Little Wing', only a month after Jimi had died. This live version of Little Wing was recorded on 23 October 1970 in New York, two days after I saw them.

Derek and the Dominos were a blues-rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, who had all played with Clapton in Delaney, Bonnie & Friends.

The band released only one studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, which featured prominent contributions from guest guitarist Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers Band. The album went on to receive critical acclaim, but initially faltered in sales and in radio airplay. Although released in 1970 it was not until March 1972 that the album's single "Layla" (a tale of unrequited love inspired by Clapton's relationship with his friend George Harrison's then wife, Pattie Boyd Harrison) would make the top ten in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Allman died in a motorbike accident on 29 October 1971. Radle died in 1980 of complications from a kidney infection associated with alcohol and drug use. Jim Gordon, who was an undiagnosed schizophrenic, killed his mother in 1983 during a psychotic episode. He was sentenced to jail in 1984, where he remains today. (Much of the above was sourced from Wikipedia).

There is no film of this version of the song, nor much at all of the band. I have therefore tried to put together the best slideshow I can of the band doing this song. Comments are welcome.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• derek
• and
• the
• dominos
• hendrix
• little
• wing
• carl
• radle
• bobby
• whitlock
• eric
• clapton
• jim
• gordon

[originalchowdahead]

Wilson to correct your description above, Jim Gordon developed schizophrenia in his adult life. He began to hear his mother's voice (among others). Although he did attack his mother with a hammer, he killed his mother by stabbing her. Although an insanity defense was entered, it was thrown out and he was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. He was not institutionalized.

[wilsonmcphert]

@originalchowdahead

Thanks. Now updated. 

[obscurebandfan]

Anyone know what amps Eric and Duane are using here?

[wilsonmcphert]

@obscurebandfan

Duane was on the studio version, but not this live one. I note Eric appears to be using a couple of Fender Twin Reverbs in the Dominos' image 4.32 although he also probably used others for larger gigs.

[bluzpowered]

Eric's version of Little Wing is the best, no doubt. Jimi & SRV would agree, RIP. Humble Eric would not.

[TheFishMiester]

The Vocals are just awesome, it's like they were reading each others minds !

And musically perfect !

[timeno62]

bobby whitlock didn't just play keyboards in this band he sang the hell out of the songs! underated.

[CoastGuardIDC]

It would have sounded so much better with Duane.....but, hey, can't have everything....

[bruncen]

clapton at his peak

[CoastGuardIDC]

@originalchowdahead ...hope that bastard stays locked up.....let him hear voices while imprisoned....

[PenjiProductions]

Fabulous!!!!

[shutterbugblues]

@MultiShades I don't think Clapton was competing, at least not at this point anymore. Eric and Jimi were really good friends, and by the time Eric was in the Dominos he'd had already grown tired of his "guitar god" image and was trying to shed it. This cover was more like an ode or tribute to Jimi's great song.

[MultiShades]

Why ? Did Clapton have to do this? He was doing just fine before Hendrix came around --This was at a time when guitarest tried so hard to be on top ..we all lost alot in these days and many more days

[wingseclipsed]

I think the best power trios in the 1960s-70s have to be the Hendrix Experience, Cream, and Rory Gallagher's band. After those are Robin Trower's band, ELP,