Friday, February 10, 2012

Pattie Boyd inspired a lot of great songs.


Patricia Boyd (born 17 March 1944) is an English model and photographer, and the former wife of both George Harrison and Eric Clapton. She was the inspiration for many songs written by both musicians.

Harrison's "Something", "I Need You", "For You Blue" and "Isn't It a Pity".

On September 7, 1976, Clapton wrote "Wonderful Tonight" for Pattie Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party.

Of "Wonderful Tonight," Boyd would say: "For years it tore at me. To have inspired Eric, and George before him, to write such music was so flattering. 'Wonderful Tonight' was the most poignant reminder of all that was good in our relationship, and when things went wrong it was torture to hear it."



Duane Allman came up with the famous guitar riff and played lead with Clapton. The riff was based on one Albert King played on his song "As The Years Go Passing By," but at a faster speed.



Duane Allman played guitar on this track. Clapton invited him to play after seeing him perform with the Allman Brothers. Clapton called Allman the "catalyst" for the album.



Clapton's marriage was in bad shape at the time. This is a positive song affirming his love, but many of the songs Clapton wrote on the album, including "Just Like A Prisoner" and "She's Waiting (For Another Lover)," express his doubts about his marriage.




Frank Sinatra said the song "Something" "The greatest love song ever written." He often performed it in the '70s, at one point wrongly attributing it to Lennon and McCartney rather than Harrison.





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