Tell the Truth (song)
Encyclopedia
"Tell the Truth" is the eighth song from the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
by Derek and the Dominos
. The song is composed primarily by keyboardist Bobby Whitlock
, with guitarist Eric Clapton
adding the last verse.
As admirers of Sam and Dave, Clapton and Whitlock styled the song as a “call and response” with the pair singing alternating verses. "Tell the Truth" was recorded on June 14, 1970 as the first original song of the Dominos. The band's then line-up featured Dave Mason
as co-lead guitarist, and debuted the song in concert for days later at the Lyceum Ballroom. Joining Whitlock, Clapton, Mason, drummer Jim Gordon
, and bassist Carl Radle
was Beatle George Harrison
on guitar. This song is featured on Eric Clapton's four-CD compilation Crossroads and is played at a faster tempo than the version that would be on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
With Wall of Sound
producer Phil Spector
at the console "Tell the Truth” was recorded as a single at Apple Records, with “Roll It Over” as the B side.
In August 1970, this song was re-recorded in the studio in Miami with Tom Dowd
as producer. Dowd and the members of the band struggled with the song until Duane Allman
was added to the group after Clapton and members of Derek and the Dominos met Duane Allman in a concert. Immediately after the concert, Duane Allman joined the band in the studio and, soon after, recorded “Tell the Truth”. With Allman’s slide guitar providing a counterpoint to the melody played by Whitlock and Clapton, Dowd and the band were finally satisfied with the song. Soon after, Clapton called Robert Stigwood
, record executive of RSO, and told him not to release the original version of “Tell the Truth” as a single. In the USA, Atco Records pressed the 45 and released it but the record was immediately withdrawn. That single is now a sought after collectors item. The two versions of "Tell the Truth" were later released on History of Eric Clapton
(1972).
, Crossroads Guitar Festival
and Live From Madison Square Garden
. The song has been sometimes played with and sometimes without the slide part added by Allman. At the Crossroads Festival of 2007, Derek Trucks
played the Allman licks. In the Live from Madison Square Garden concert of 2008, with Steve Winwood
, there is no slide guitar but Clapton plays a longer solo than what was originally recorded in the studio.
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is a blues-rock album by Derek and the Dominos, released in November 1970, best known for its eponymous title track, "Layla"...
by Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos
Derek and the Dominos were a blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton with keyboardist Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon, who had all played with Clapton in Delaney, Bonnie & Friends...
. The song is composed primarily by keyboardist Bobby Whitlock
Bobby Whitlock
Robert Stanley 'Bobby' Whitlock is a songwriter and performer, best known as a member of Derek and the Dominos.- Biography :...
, with guitarist Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
adding the last verse.
History
Just twenty-two at the time, Whitlock wrote the song during the early summer of 1970, while living temporarily with Clapton:As admirers of Sam and Dave, Clapton and Whitlock styled the song as a “call and response” with the pair singing alternating verses. "Tell the Truth" was recorded on June 14, 1970 as the first original song of the Dominos. The band's then line-up featured Dave Mason
Dave Mason
David Thomas "Dave" Mason is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic...
as co-lead guitarist, and debuted the song in concert for days later at the Lyceum Ballroom. Joining Whitlock, Clapton, Mason, drummer Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon (musician)
James Beck "Jim" Gordon is an American recording artist, musician and songwriter. The Grammy Award winner was one of the most requested session drummers in the late 1960s and 1970s, recording albums with many well-known musicians of the time, and was the drummer in the blues-rock supergroup Derek...
, and bassist Carl Radle
Carl Radle
Carl Dean Radle was a bass guitarist who toured and recorded with many of the most influential recording artists of the late 1960s and 1970s...
was Beatle George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
on guitar. This song is featured on Eric Clapton's four-CD compilation Crossroads and is played at a faster tempo than the version that would be on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.
With Wall of Sound
Wall of Sound
The Wall of Sound is a music production technique for pop and rock music recordings developed by record producer Phil Spector at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, California, during the early 1960s...
producer Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
at the console "Tell the Truth” was recorded as a single at Apple Records, with “Roll It Over” as the B side.
In August 1970, this song was re-recorded in the studio in Miami with Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd was an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Dowd worked on a virtual "who's who" of recordings that encompassed blues, jazz, pop, rock and soul records.- Early years :Born in Manhattan, Dowd grew...
as producer. Dowd and the members of the band struggled with the song until Duane Allman
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
was added to the group after Clapton and members of Derek and the Dominos met Duane Allman in a concert. Immediately after the concert, Duane Allman joined the band in the studio and, soon after, recorded “Tell the Truth”. With Allman’s slide guitar providing a counterpoint to the melody played by Whitlock and Clapton, Dowd and the band were finally satisfied with the song. Soon after, Clapton called Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood
Robert Stigwood is an impresario and entertainment entrepreneur who relocated to England in 1954...
, record executive of RSO, and told him not to release the original version of “Tell the Truth” as a single. In the USA, Atco Records pressed the 45 and released it but the record was immediately withdrawn. That single is now a sought after collectors item. The two versions of "Tell the Truth" were later released on History of Eric Clapton
The History of Eric Clapton
The History of Eric Clapton is a compilation double LP, released in 1972 by Polydor Records in the United Kingdom, and Atco Records in the United States. It features Eric Clapton performing in various bands between 1964 and 1970, including The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos...
(1972).
Live performances
“Tell the Truth” has been frequently played at Eric Clapton’s subsequent concerts. Live versions of the song have been included on several of Clapton’s albums as well including the deluxe release of 461 Ocean Boulevard461 Ocean Boulevard
461 Ocean Boulevard is the second studio album by blues-rock musician Eric Clapton, released in July 1974 on the RSO label after the success of "I Shot the Sheriff"....
, Crossroads Guitar Festival
Crossroads Guitar Festival
The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007 and 2010. The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of...
and Live From Madison Square Garden
Live from Madison Square Garden (Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood album)
Live from Madison Square Garden is a 2 CD/2 DVD live album by Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood which was released on May 19, 2009 by Reprise Records...
. The song has been sometimes played with and sometimes without the slide part added by Allman. At the Crossroads Festival of 2007, Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks
Derek Trucks is a Grammy Award-winning, American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. He founded The Derek Trucks Band and worked as a session musician when he was still in his early teens. Throughout those teenage years, he toured with The Allman Brothers Band primarily as a slide...
played the Allman licks. In the Live from Madison Square Garden concert of 2008, with Steve Winwood
Steve Winwood
Stephen Lawrence "Steve" Winwood is an English international recording artist whose career spans nearly 50 years. He is a songwriter and a musician whose genres include soul music , R&B, rock, blues-rock, pop-rock, and jazz...
, there is no slide guitar but Clapton plays a longer solo than what was originally recorded in the studio.