And You Need A Helping Hand Trivia Quiz

Answer: Yardbirds

When Clapton left Kingston College of Art, mostly because he was more interested in music than art, he was just seventeen years old. He began playing in local clubs around Surrey, and soon joined his first band, a group called the Roosters. Shortly after, however, he was asked to join the Yardbirds, and stayed with them for about 18 months. The Yardbirds began as a blues band, but, over time, expanded their sound to pop, psychedelic rock, and hard rock.

"I Wish You Would" (1964) was the Yardbirds' first released single, although it was originally recorded in 1955 by Billy Boy Arnold. It did not chart in either the UK or US. Band member Paul Samwell-Smith said the song was recorded in order to establish the group's stage sound, but he realized that it was not a good idea to record such a song like "I Wish You Would" in a studio. It was re-released with Clapton playing guitar in 1981 on "London 1963 - The First Recordings!"

Answer: Yardbirds

Because the Yardbirds were attempting to present themselves as a blues band, much of their early music was borrowed from older recognizable blues songs. "Good Morning, School Girl" was first released in 1937 by John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, and became a Number nine on "Billboard Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records" chart in 1950, when it was released as "Little School Girl" by Smokey Hogg.

"Good Morning, School Girl" was the first Yardbirds song to register on the "UK Single's Chart", making it to Number 44 when released in 1964; it was not released in the United States. Clapton later described the effort as "pretty lame", in spite of the fact that it "sounded much better" than previous attempts.

Answer: Blind Faith

"Presence of the Lord" (1969) made the list, not because it was one of Blind Faith's biggest hits, but because it is said to have been the first song for which Clapton completely wrote all the lyrics. Steve Winwood sang the song, which is apparently what Clapton wanted to have happen, as he wrote it in a higher key than he himself could sing; Clapton believed that Winwood was the better vocalist.

Clapton said that it was a song of gratitude to God for whatever happened in his life. He was happy about the formation of the new band, Blind Faith, and their first (and only) album was gaining popularity in the UK and the US. But that happy feeling was short-lived.

Answer: Blind Faith

So very shortly after Cream broke up, Clapton began hanging out with Steve Winwood, who was still under contract with his old band, Traffic's, record company. When Ginger Baker began to show up at the pair's jam sessions, talk began about forming another band - just nine weeks after the band Cream had announced its end. Clapton had his doubts, but finally agreed.

"Can't Find My Way Home" (1969) was written by Steve Winwood, and was on the group's only album, "Blind Faith". For some reason he has been reluctant to say what the song is really about, but theories abound; is it about war, drugs, or the meaning of life? No one knows for sure.

Blind Faith went on tour before the album was released, and were well received. The problem was that the band only had the songs on the one album - six altogether - and fans liked hearing the songs that band members had released with their old bands. It didn't work for any of them, and the group was disbanded within about seven months.

Answer: Derek and the Dominoes

Early in 1970, Clapton was forming a new band that was originally called Eric Clapton and Friends, and, due to an error, went from being called Del and the Dynamos to Derek and the Dominoes! It consisted of people with whom he had played before, and Clapton hoped to be more a member of the group than the star. He hoped that the song itself would become more important than a long guitar solo.

He was also deeply in love with Patti Boyd, who, at the time, was the wife of his friend, George Harrison. The only album released by Derek and the Dominoes, "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" (1970), is filled with songs about unrequited love.

"Bell Bottom Blues" (1970), written with band member Bobby Whitlock, is one of those songs. Apparently, Boyd wasn't interested in Clapton at the time, but as he was her husband's friend, she thought he could pick up a pair of bell-bottom jeans for her while he was touring in the United States. The song was actually more about his desire to be with her than it was about the jeans - "If I could choose a place to die, It would be in your arms".

Answer: Derek and the Dominoes

One of Clapton's friends evidently knew about his feelings for Patti Boyd, and shared with him another story about unrequited love, "The Story of Layla and Majnun", which had been written in the twelfth century. The song, "Layla" (1970), written with band member Jim Gordon, was intended to be a ballad, that is, until the band found a guest member.

Clapton met Duane Allman at an Allman Brothers concert in August of 1970, and they became fast friends. Allman wrote the famous riff heard throughout "Layla", which transformed it into a rock song. The two, both on lead guitar, with Allman also on slide guitar, alternated between solos during the first movement of the song.

Even though "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs", a double album, was released in 1970, "Layla" was not released as a single until 1972, when it charted in the top ten across the world; a year before, however, Derek and the Dominoes had disbanded, and its members had gone their separate ways. Nevertheless, since its release "Layla" has been found on many of the "best ever lists". The song made news once again in 1992, when Clapton recorded another version on his "Unplugged" album. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1993.

Answer: Cream

After Clapton left the Yardbirds, he joined the BluesBreakers, and stayed with them for a little more than a year. It was during this time that he began to receive more recognition, as one of his fans famously sprayed "Clapton is God" on the wall of a subway in London. His next band, Cream, has become more iconic over the years; in fact, some have called it the first supergroup.

"Sunshine of Your Love" was released on the group's second album, "Disraeli Gears" (1967), and charted at number five on the US "Billboard Hot 100" list in 1968. Written by Peter Brown, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton, in 2004 it was ranked 65th on the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list that was published by "Rolling Stone" magazine. The song's best stand-out feature is probably the bass riff played throughout.

Answer: Cream

"White Room" is found on Cream's "Wheels of Fire" album that was released in 1968. The lyrics were written by Peter Brown, who collaborated with Cream on other songs as well; the music was written first by Jack Bruce, then Brown worked to find lyrics to go with it. The song was not about being institutionalized, as some believe. It was about Brown's relationship. The white room was a place in his apartment.

By the time "Wheels of Fire" was released, the members of Cream were just about ready to part ways. Baker and Bruce had resumed old hostilities, and the group announced they would break up after their tour of the United States. Their last album, "Goodbye" (1970), was released after the group had already disbanded.

Answer: Cream

"I Feel Free" is the first song on the "Fresh Cream" (1966) album that was released in the United States. In the UK it was first released as a single that debuted about the same time as the album. Described as a blues rock/psychedelic pop song, "I Feel Free" spent twelve weeks on the "UK Singles Chart", peaking at number eleven.

There is an interesting Cream video that features the song, "I Feel Free". It shows Clapton, Bruce, and Baker in a park - swinging on a swing set and running around. They are wearing what appear to be monk robes. Perhaps they were feeling free from the recent break up of their old bands? Most sites say the song, written by Peter Brown and Jack Bruce, is at least partly about a romantically-involved couple.

Answer: Yardbirds

The release of this song would correspond with Clapton leaving the Yardbirds, as it was an obvious departure from his goal to play blues music, in spite of the fact that it charted at Number one in both the UK (NME) and Canada (RPM). Clapton suggested that his replacement should be Jimmy Page. Page, however, declined the invitation, and Jeff Beck took his place; Page did eventually join the Yardbirds.

It's really difficult to see any trace of Clapton in "For Your Love", and it has been written that he really played in very little of the song. It was during this phase of his career, however, that he received the iconic nickname, Slowhand. His band mate, Chris Dreja, said that during a concert if Clapton broke a guitar string, he would restring his guitar on stage instead of having a roadie do it. The audience would accompany this ritual with a slow hand clap - kind of a take on his last name - and a new nickname was born!