October 21, 2022     —–     Chart #166

Hello Music Friends,

Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. How about a solid blues number from slow hand himself from 1970? I think that’s a great wat to enter this weekend. “Bell Bottom Blues” is a song written by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock, and performed by Derek and the Dominos. It deals with Clapton’s unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, the wife of his friend George Harrison, and appears on the 1970 double album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Issued as a single, backed with “Keep on Growing”, the song reached number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. A re-release backed with “Little Wing” peaked at number 78 on the same chart.

“Bell Bottom Blues” was recorded before Duane Allman joined the recording sessions for the Layla album, so Clapton is the only guitarist on the song. Clapton compensates for this by playing multiple guitar parts, including a sensitive, George Harrison-style guitar solo and chime-like harmonics. The other musicians on the recording are Bobby Whitlock on Hammond organ, Carl Radle on bass and percussion, and Jim Gordon on drums, including tabla and backwards snare. Whitlock also sings occasional harmony vocals.

Of course as we all know, bell-bottoms are a style of trousers that were popular in the 60’s and 70’s. According to Clapton, the song was written for Pattie Boyd after she asked him to get her a pair of bell-bottom blue jeans from the United States. Clapton wrote the song for her, along with many others on the album such as “I Looked Away” and “Layla”. The lyrics describe a lovers’ quarrel.

Live in 2000 with Bobby Whitlock:  https://youtu.be/fZNL0wvIj78

If you have never seen the sisters who go by the name “Larkin Poe”, You’re welcome:  https://youtu.be/rYd7Z0dYNe0

A great song from a great era. Enjoy it and jam out!

Keep rockin my friends,

Stan Bradshaw