There's just something about that ripping riff that signals the beginning of an Eric Clapton classic. I always loved songs that began with amazing guitar riffs and Derek and the Domino's "Layla" doesn't disappoint. In fact, there are few other songs that I would put into the same category as "Layla" in terms of great opening lines. If you've never heard of this song, then 1) You've been living under a rock; and 2) Check it out down below!
Furthermore, this song begins with a pair of guitars - one playing the famous introduction and the other playing a melodic line of power chord slides - that usher in a groovy beat that even the most funk-oriented R&B songs couldn't help but jive along with. When the song transitions into the first verse, the melody switches from a major to a minor key with several distorted minor chords lying seemingly harmlessly under the words of Eric Clapton, only to wake up and discover they should've been playing in a major key the whole time as the chords switch to a "happier" sounding key.
This might not be one of the best classic rock songs of all time by any means, but for those who, like myself, turns up the volume a little bit louder every time I hear one of these power ballads, "Layla" stands out among the greatest. Peaking at Number 10 in the US Billboard Hot 100 (and Number 1 in the Puerto Rican Singles Chart for anyone who cares), "Layla" was inspired by a love story that originated in 7th-century Arabia and later formed the basis of The Story of Layla and Majnun by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. The book moved Clapton profoundly, and he decided to write a song about a beautiful girl he was in love with - Pattie Boyd - who he ended up marrying. A happy ending to a truly inspiring tale of love, loss, heartbreak, and satisfaction.
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