Bell Bottom Blues

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic "Bell Bottom Blues" by Derek & The Dominos, a track from the Crossroads compilation, and the Zoo Freaks are surely grooving to its soulful vibes. This song, from the 1970 album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, was penned by Eric Clapton and Bobby Whitlock, inspired by Clapton's unrequited love for Pattie Boyd, then-wife of his friend George Harrison. According to Clapton, the song’s title came from Boyd asking him to pick up a pair of bell-bottom jeans from the U.S., a detail that sparked the song’s emotional core. Whitlock shared in a 2011 interview that he helped write the final verse, though a clerical error initially credited Clapton alone; by 2015, both were officially recognized as co-writers, as confirmed by the BMI website. The track, recorded before Duane Allman joined the sessions, features Clapton overdubbing multiple guitar parts, including a George Harrison-style solo, to compensate for the absence of another guitarist.

Another juicy tidbit comes from Bobby Whitlock’s recounting of the song’s origins during the band’s time in France. He described Clapton meeting a "Persian princess" who wore bell bottoms and was smitten with him, even wearing a slide gifted by Duane Allman around her neck. Though their week-long romance fizzled, it fueled the song’s creation, with Clapton starting it in France and finishing it in England at his Hurtwood Edge home. Fans on Reddit have praised its raw emotion, with one user noting its surprising absence from classic rock tracklists despite its catchy melancholy. Pattie Boyd herself, in a 2020 X post, called it one of her favorite tracks from the album, reflecting on its release 50 years ago. The song’s cover art ties to a French connection too: the album’s painting was by Frandsen De Schonberg, whose son Emile hosted the band during their European stint.

Derek & The Dominos formed in spring 1970, a blues-rock outfit born from the musical chemistry of Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals), Bobby Whitlock (keyboards, vocals), Carl Radle (bass), and Jim Gordon (drums). The group’s roots trace back to their time as part of Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, a soul revue where they honed their skills alongside Clapton’s brief stint with Blind Faith. Drawn to the anonymity of Delaney & Bonnie’s low-key vibe compared to the frenzy surrounding his earlier bands like Cream and The Yardbirds, Clapton found a creative haven. Their first recording session, for George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, sparked the band’s formation, with Dave Mason briefly contributing guitar. A happy accident named them: a club announcer misheard Clapton’s suggestion of “Eric and the Dynamos,” introducing them as “Derek and the Dominos,” and the name stuck, as noted in a 2025 X post.

Clapton’s journey to Derek & The Dominos began in Ripley, Surrey, where he was born in 1945. A shy kid with a knack for art, he picked up the guitar at 13, diving into blues records by Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. By 17, he was gigging with local bands, joining The Yardbirds in 1963, where his blistering solos earned him the nickname “Slowhand.” Stints with John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Cream followed, cementing his status as a guitar god, though he shunned fame’s spotlight. After Blind Faith’s brief run, his time with Delaney & Bonnie offered a grounded escape, setting the stage for Derek & The Dominos. The band dissolved after one album, with Clapton retreating into addiction, but their legacy endures through tracks like “Bell Bottom Blues.”

For more on Derek & The Dominos, check out their official site at derekandthedominos.net, though it’s more of an archival hub. Eric Clapton, the band’s frontman, stays active online: follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Bobby Whitlock also engages fans via his Facebook page. Fan communities thrive too—join the Eric Clapton Fan Club on Facebook or visit WheresEric.com, a dedicated fan site with tour updates and memorabilia. The Zoo Crew and Zoo Freaks can keep the vibes flowing by exploring these corners of the band’s legacy.