“Little Wing” by Derek and the Dominos

Derek and the Dominos put their own spin on "Little Wing" on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, released in November 1970, and it doubles as a tribute to the man who wrote it: Jimi Hendrix, who had cut the song with the Experience for Axis: Bold as Love. Hendrix's words sketch an idealized, almost angelic figure, and the Dominos treat them with reverence while turning up the heat.

Eric Clapton and Duane Allman trade guitars, Bobby Whitlock plays organ and shares the vocals with Clapton, and Carl Radle and Jim Gordon lay down bass and drums. The band produced it themselves. The song has since become a standard, taken up by musicians in every style imaginable, but few versions carry this much firepower.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.