Bell Bottom Blues, Derek and the Dominos (1970)

OK, Eric Clapton, just how many groups was it necessary to play in? No wonder he was a wreck - coping with the dynamics of the six groups with which he was associated between 1963 and 1971 in itself could have fueled his excesses of substance abuse. With everything in a rock musician's life heightened, often to negative effect in someone not well balanced, that was way too much testosterone immersion in too compressed a period of time.

Formed in 1970, disbanded in 1971, Derek and the Dominos followed the Yardbirds, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith and Delaney & Bonnie and Friends as Clapton's last 'supergroup.' With Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon, refugees from the disbanded Delaney & Bonnie, Clapton, seeking a certain anonymity and desiring to recede into the background - impossible for someone of his achievements, who was being touted as God at that point - gave birth to what I believe to be my favorite song of his from that era, Bell Bottom Blues.

A YouTube commenter writes, "Clapton is such a gifted communicator of all of our fears and hopes," and I think that about sums up the power of this song. From Eric's voice and Fender Stratocaster, the naked anguish just pours. I'm sure some will argue, but it is far and away a superior song to the interminable Layla.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I'd gladly do it because
I don't want to fade away.
Give me one more day, please.
I don't want to fade away.
In your heart I want to stay.

Man, those were some distraught lyrics. At the time of its release, I knew nothing about Clapton's chaotic, messy life. I didn't know he was lusting after Pattie Boyd Harrison, George's wife, to such a degree he was driving himself mad. I didn't know he had a world-class drug habit and addiction to alcohol. I didn't know how temperamental, hyper-critical of himself and others, and insecure he was until I recently read his autobiography, Clapton. Under the circumstances, it's a wonder he was able to produce the kind of music he did, and frankly, that he's still with us today, happy and healthy.