The news that Bobby Whitlock, Derek and the Dominos co-Founder and session player for George Harrison and others, had passed away at age 77 spurred me to jump on a borrowed laptop on vacation.
Thanks Alan, great writeup. Bobby did have a reputation for being prickly, but I he was open with me as well when I interviewed him a few years ago, and told essentially the same story about Key to the Highway: "We has a standing rule that if anybody started playing that the tape machines would be running at all times. That was my idea as well. Tom was in the bathroom when we started to play it and the tape was not running when we started. Tom came running out of the bathroom still pulling up his pants shouting, "Push up the faders!" "Push up the faders!" That's why it fades into the track."
While I have no doubt Bobby said it, it is a bit unfortunate that he perpetuates an inaccurate image of blues musicians ("hitting a Robert Johnson lick, then Elmore James... like two 70-something old blues guys from the fields of Mississippi running it down.”) RJ was 27 when he died, EJ was 45, and while both were born in the Delta RJ spent a lot of his life in Memphis, EJ got to Chicago as soon as he could, and neither spent time in the fields once they were adults and could get gigs. The image of blues artists as 70-something guys comes from the fact that many blues artists were "rediscovered" (of course they never thought of themselves as lost!) during the 1960s blues revival, so all the hippies "discovered" them when they were old. But most of the blues artists were in their 20s when they were first recorded and had their most active careers.
Hmmm … Bobby got more reflective after mucho ABB fans including yours truly called BS on his “recollections.” He rather quickly took the offensive posts down and changed his tune. Having said that, Layla And Assorted Love Songs to me is the greatest rock album of all time. Bobby’s contributions speak for themselves. His singing, playing and songwriting are exquisite, but no greater nor less than any of the particulars involved. My condolences to his wife and family. It should be duly noted that my favorite live album of all time, ABB LAFE came out shortly after that. The fact that both share a certain player certainly isn’t lost on me. RIP Bobby Whitlock.
Because of the YouTube algorithm I ended up subscribing to Bobby Whitlock’s channel and watched him tell dozens of stories. He had so many great ones. Glad he got inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame before he passed and sorry to see him go.
Wow Alan- amazing stuff here! I’m reading this on public transit into work and wishing my ride were longer so I could read it again s-l-o-w-l-y and absorb more. Thanks for all the knowledge and history you share with us- great writing!
In 1972, I was given the “Bobby Whitlock” album by DJ/Promoter Barry Richards. I listened to it every evening & came to appreciate his voice & keyboard skills. I could never understand why it was not released. About fifteen years ago, my son recorded the vinyl & placed it onto a CD, so I could listen when I drove. I burned a 2nd CD of his album. I was in Austin for training around 2014 & visited the bar where he & his wife performed. They were out of town, so I left the CD with a manager, along with a note of appreciation. Through the years, I learned that Paula (photo in the album & the person addressed in “Song to Paula” had been his GF when he assisted Mr. Clapton in England. I have read that Paula OD’d & was Patti Boyd’s sister.
I also learned by reading on the internet that the songs from this album (as a demo) were a lawyer’s nightmare because the artists who contributed were not all permitted, under their contracts. I tracked the existence of this album from 1972 through 2014 & it was never issued until after 2014.
Great tribute Alan! I know many (including me) took comments from Bobby Whitlock as dismissive to Duane but after watching this video, he's very complimentary to Duane. What strikes me in this video is D&TD took time off waiting for Duane to come back into the studio. Maybe the songs were written but Duane provided that spark that they needed.
Bobby used to be active on Facebook in the early days and he definitely got happier and more reflective with his relationship with his wife Coco. He made that abundantly clear with his own posts.
Thanks for this look into the Layla recordings! I remember seeing the band, minus Duane, on Johnny Cash's TV show. I believe they played "It's too late" and then Carl Perkins came out and played "Matchbox" with them. My memory may be wrong on that but I recall being very excited to see them. I had been listening to the album almost nonstop on a bootleg 8-track!
"Most of the Allman Brothers Band were in the studio that night - except Jaimoe, who found the whole thing kind of boring and retreated to the ABB’s Winebago to smoke weed and listen to some jazz, just another reason he is the coolest person in the world." Hahaha, that's amazing — and totally checks out.
Thanks Alan, great writeup. Bobby did have a reputation for being prickly, but I he was open with me as well when I interviewed him a few years ago, and told essentially the same story about Key to the Highway: "We has a standing rule that if anybody started playing that the tape machines would be running at all times. That was my idea as well. Tom was in the bathroom when we started to play it and the tape was not running when we started. Tom came running out of the bathroom still pulling up his pants shouting, "Push up the faders!" "Push up the faders!" That's why it fades into the track."
While I have no doubt Bobby said it, it is a bit unfortunate that he perpetuates an inaccurate image of blues musicians ("hitting a Robert Johnson lick, then Elmore James... like two 70-something old blues guys from the fields of Mississippi running it down.”) RJ was 27 when he died, EJ was 45, and while both were born in the Delta RJ spent a lot of his life in Memphis, EJ got to Chicago as soon as he could, and neither spent time in the fields once they were adults and could get gigs. The image of blues artists as 70-something guys comes from the fact that many blues artists were "rediscovered" (of course they never thought of themselves as lost!) during the 1960s blues revival, so all the hippies "discovered" them when they were old. But most of the blues artists were in their 20s when they were first recorded and had their most active careers.
As I said, I am sure Bobby said it!
Hope you enjoy the rum and the beach!
Brennan
Brennan - well said!
Excellent! Thanks for taking a short break from your vacation to share your knowledge.
Bobby Whitlock will hopefully get more credit for his contributions to the Layla album.
Hmmm … Bobby got more reflective after mucho ABB fans including yours truly called BS on his “recollections.” He rather quickly took the offensive posts down and changed his tune. Having said that, Layla And Assorted Love Songs to me is the greatest rock album of all time. Bobby’s contributions speak for themselves. His singing, playing and songwriting are exquisite, but no greater nor less than any of the particulars involved. My condolences to his wife and family. It should be duly noted that my favorite live album of all time, ABB LAFE came out shortly after that. The fact that both share a certain player certainly isn’t lost on me. RIP Bobby Whitlock.
Because of the YouTube algorithm I ended up subscribing to Bobby Whitlock’s channel and watched him tell dozens of stories. He had so many great ones. Glad he got inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame before he passed and sorry to see him go.
Rest in peace Bobby 🕊️ Thanks for all the good notes! Bell Bottom Blues… my fave! Keeping your family in my prayers.🙏🏽
Wow Alan- amazing stuff here! I’m reading this on public transit into work and wishing my ride were longer so I could read it again s-l-o-w-l-y and absorb more. Thanks for all the knowledge and history you share with us- great writing!
You’re welcome Peggy. And thank you!
In 1972, I was given the “Bobby Whitlock” album by DJ/Promoter Barry Richards. I listened to it every evening & came to appreciate his voice & keyboard skills. I could never understand why it was not released. About fifteen years ago, my son recorded the vinyl & placed it onto a CD, so I could listen when I drove. I burned a 2nd CD of his album. I was in Austin for training around 2014 & visited the bar where he & his wife performed. They were out of town, so I left the CD with a manager, along with a note of appreciation. Through the years, I learned that Paula (photo in the album & the person addressed in “Song to Paula” had been his GF when he assisted Mr. Clapton in England. I have read that Paula OD’d & was Patti Boyd’s sister.
I also learned by reading on the internet that the songs from this album (as a demo) were a lawyer’s nightmare because the artists who contributed were not all permitted, under their contracts. I tracked the existence of this album from 1972 through 2014 & it was never issued until after 2014.
More to follow

Keep it coming.
Rest in peace Bobby 🕊️ Thanks for all the good notes! Bell Bottom Blues… my fave! Keeping your family in my prayers.🙏🏽
Great tribute Alan! I know many (including me) took comments from Bobby Whitlock as dismissive to Duane but after watching this video, he's very complimentary to Duane. What strikes me in this video is D&TD took time off waiting for Duane to come back into the studio. Maybe the songs were written but Duane provided that spark that they needed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keL9EuTPSM0
Yeah. I think that negativity was a specific time of his life and he got over it.
Bobby used to be active on Facebook in the early days and he definitely got happier and more reflective with his relationship with his wife Coco. He made that abundantly clear with his own posts.
Thanks for this Alan.
That was a great read! Thank you Alan!
That bit about the Layla coda is incredible!
Right?
Thanks for this look into the Layla recordings! I remember seeing the band, minus Duane, on Johnny Cash's TV show. I believe they played "It's too late" and then Carl Perkins came out and played "Matchbox" with them. My memory may be wrong on that but I recall being very excited to see them. I had been listening to the album almost nonstop on a bootleg 8-track!
"Most of the Allman Brothers Band were in the studio that night - except Jaimoe, who found the whole thing kind of boring and retreated to the ABB’s Winebago to smoke weed and listen to some jazz, just another reason he is the coolest person in the world." Hahaha, that's amazing — and totally checks out.
Yep. I call that Reason 1,286 Jaimoe is the coolest man alive.
Thanks Alan. What a great read. I didn’t think much of what Bobby said previously about Duane, but this cleared it up for me.