Derek & the Dominoes "Layla" [1970]

Begin charting the rapid downfall of rock music here: this double-album load of pretense and heroin-soaked bleating conned people into thinking it was a labor of unrequited love of Eric Clapton for his best friend George Harrison's wife. Skip over how dickheaded this conceit is and hear the music on its merits, or lack thereof: big-time rockers exercising their creative control even when they aren't being the least bit creative. Sluggish blues covers serve as filler to grandiose time-wasters of guitar wankery and comatose repetition. I can only guess how bad it smelled in that recording studio during the "Layla" sessions, but by listening to the songs I think I have a pretty good idea.