All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs

by Kenneth Womack, Jason Kruppa

“Womack and Kruppa present a thorough history of Harrison and Clapton’s songmaking and recording sessions.” — Booklist

Renowned Beatles expert Ken Womack and music historian Jason Kruppa explore Harrison and Clapton's musical and personal collaboration, friendship, and rivalry

George Harrison and Eric Clapton embarked upon a singular personal and creative friendship that impacted rock’s unfolding future in resounding and far-reaching ways.  All Things Must Pass Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs  traces the emergence of their relationship from 1968 though the early 1970s and the making of their career-defining albums, both released in November 1970.   Authors Womack and Kruppa devote close attention to the climax of Harrison and Clapton’s shared musicianship—the creation of All Things Must Pass , Harrison’s powerful emancipatory statement in the wake of the Beatles, and  Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs , Clapton’s impassioned reimagining of his art via Derek and the Dominos—two records that advanced rock ’n’ roll from a windswept 1960s idealism into the wild and expansive new reality of the 1970s.  All Things Must Pass Away  reveals the foundations of Harrison and Clapton’s friendship, focusing on the ways their encouragement and support of each other drove them to produce works that would cast long shadows over the evolving world of rock music.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Audiobook

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 20, 2021

About the author

Kenneth Womack is a world-renowned authority on the Beatles and their enduring cultural influence. His latest book project involves a two-volume, full-length biography devoted to famed Beatles producer Sir George Martin.

Womack's Beatles-related books include Long and Winding Roads: The Evolving Artistry of the Beatles (2007), The Cambridge Companion to the Beatles (2009), and The Beatles Encyclopedia: Everything Fab Four (2014).

Womack is also the author of four novels, including John Doe No. 2 and the Dreamland Motel (2010), The Restaurant at the End of the World (2012), Playing the Angel (2013), and I Am Lemonade Lucy! (2019).

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good picture of the friendship and detailed dissection of each song on All Things Must Pass and Layla, which I enjoyed listening to while reading.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

More cowbell, or more Clapton?🤔🎸Though this book leans towards Harrison, it addresses gaps not captured by other Clapton readings. You can begin to piece together why these two went on to become such friends- in Harrison's case, he couldn't self-realize the same reasons someone like Clapton would want to "chameleon" him, because George was too humble. Eric was all too eager to try and become Harrison...and the story unfolds...

I especially loved the perspectives contained here from the viewpoints of Patti Boyd about Harrison throughout- had not realized how young these two were when they first met/dated...they had a chaperone on their first dinner date! (Kind of totes adorbs)

…later on in their marriage, you realize why she hung onto George for so long, part loyalty and part morphing so much into him over the years...she gave him the benefit of the doubt and even developed her own code linguo referring to “which mood” he was in (hands in bag = spiritual mode)…that she often used with couple friends to give them "head's up" about his state. You wonder why she bothers, but truly, she was (and remains always) a doll, who wanted love and to love more than anything.

…Also loved how she is the one who reveals that Harrion's songs were truly written as notes to himself vs preaching to others…many often mistook this as narcissism or attitude on his side- reading the story behind “deep blue” after his mother dies…and how so many other specific songs encapsulated his grief, memories, and hurts, truly open your eyes to this as well whether you give a shit about the Beatles as a band or not (I could care less as a non-conformist, but care more after this book).

As a self proclaimed Clapton fan myself, it was nice in a way to dissect and understand a close friend and source of inspiration for him- he seemed to have good taste between Harrison and Boyd, in terms of "choosing" to pair with those who he had a good deal to learn from- whether it be a moral compass, musical riffs, or life lessons.

You kind of wonder what Harrison got from Clapton quite often. Maybe, vicarious living on the other side- a little less meek, a lot more ego...venturing into trying to enjoy the massive fame that came both of their respective ways, and yet- they both seemed to have been tortured ultimately by this.

[Matthew M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and entertainingly delivered. The intersectional history of two rock monarchs will always be interesting, but Womack and Kruppa made it FASCINATING. I wanted the history to keep going, but all stories must pass. At least the epilogue neatly wrapped up the major milestones from 1971 through 2002.

The Phil Collins prank though... holy sassafrass. Brilliant.

[Mickey McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about the collaborations and friendship between these two icons, particularly Harrison's work on ALL THINGS MUST PASS and Clapton's work on LAYLA. Well researched and a great quick read.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf @ chapter 4.

This book is highly detailed, and it's clear the authors have knowledge and passion over the subject they're talking about. However, in order to enjoy this book the reader also must already have this passion too. It does not draw you in and get you excited about the artists, rather it assumes you're already excited and goes off that.

[Uli Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bio focusing on the music with loads of background information.

[Aaron Badgley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed book about the recording of two landmark albums and the people behind them.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This writer, unlike so many others who write about rock and roll, puts the music at the centre of his work. I like a book that takes me back to the albums and makes me listen to them more carefully. The level of detail on how All Things Must Pass and the Derek and Dominos album were recorded made for an enormously satisfying read. Though I have read two of his other books and know him to be a thoughtful writer about music, I did wonder if this would lean into the tabloid elements in this story. He covered the relevant aspects but always brought the focus back to the music. Top read. Looking forward to his next one!

[Kelly Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for fans of Clapton and Harrison. Also a fascinating and detailed depiction of the making of “All Things Must Pass” - produced by Phil Spector utilizing his trademark Wall of Sound - and “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” - much more of a jam-fest for Clapton and friends. Guaranteed to send you off to listen to both LPs.

[Jim Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is incredibly well researched and well written! Too many biographies go over the same stuff and their is no focus on the music. This book hits all the right notes . Apols but that is an intentional pun. If you are interested in the music of Clapton and Harrison their relationship and music you will enjoy this for sure !

My thanks and appreciation to the authors !

Jim

[Karen Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

I'll read anything Harrison related and this was a great history of the making of ATMP and Clapton's works, mostly Layla. I was really pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book and how fast I read it. Easy, flowing reading...I was really sorry when I finished it. Not too technical and insights into the Harrison/Clapton/Boyd relationships are interesting. Worth your time and money!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew a few of the stories, but it was an interesting look at their complicated friendship and individual stories by someone who's written many books on the Beatles. I wish there were a bit more interviews, not just things that have been in the press for ages, but it's still so compelling.

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Warning! An unusually long review for me.)

I give this book 4 stars based on what it is, rather than what I expected or might have wanted. The bulk of the book has a rather narrow but detailed view into the recording sessions for Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" LP (on which Clapton played, along with a who's who of rock and roll royalty), and Clapton's brief time in Derek and the Dominoes, and the production of the "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" album.

The good and the bad, depending on your interest level...

The details behind Harrison's and Clapton's songs breathes new life into music I thought I knew. Who knew, for example, that Jeep (from the instrumental "I Remember Jeep") was Clapton's Weimaraner? Or that the infamous riff from "Layla" came from Albert King's song, "As the Years Go Passing By", and that it was suggested by Duane Allman? It should go without saying that readers will inevitably have to pause often to listen to the songs as they're discussed.

This isn't for the casual fan. There's an excruciating amount of detail, about instrumentation, arrangements, recording techniques, concert sets, etc. For someone with no musical background, other than loving it, a lot of this was over my head, and I ended up doing some skimming. If you want to read in detail about Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, this is a great place to start. Or if you care which studios were used for which albums, or about guitars, amps, etc... Not for me, but others might appreciate this level of detail.

You will learn a good bit about other musicians in Clapton and Harrison's orbit: Leon Russell; Delaney and Bonnie; the other Beatles, of course; Allman; Peter Frampton; Phil Collins; Baker and Bruce; Hendrix; etc., etc., etc. A veritable pantheon.

There is biographical info, of course, but it serves more to give context to the book's focus, rather than as an end in itself. And any book on Harrison and Clapton would be woefully incomplete without some details of The Triangle with their mutual muse, Pattie Boyd. They are here, as well as other, adequate, mention of other significant relationships. But Womack and Kruppa manage to give us (mostly) only the background necessary to explain the songs or, for example, to help the reader know the frame of mind each artist may have been in at a given time. This book strives to be all about the music.

"All Things Must Pass Away" is also about the friendship, but I didn't feel as if I got a very clear look at that, frankly. Their friendships with other musicians filled at least as many pages, if not more. Sadly, the authors were unable to make the brotherhood between Clapton and Harrison come alive for me. In fact, the rushed epilogue (which was an entirely too brief overview of all the years between the Japanese tour in 1991 and Harrison's death in 2001), indicated that the two men did not even see each other in the two years preceding Harrison's demise.

A frivolous complaint - I was disappointed in the choice of photographs. Very few showed the two men together. The first in the section is actually of Sir Frank Crisp, and FIVE PAGES are devoted to photocopies of a typed letter from Spector to Harrison with his thoughts on each song's recording on the triple album set. Surely anything of particular interest could have been included in the text, and those photo pages could have been put to better use.

[Matt Kimsal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book and had no preconceived expectations about its content. I presumed from the title that the scope of the book would span their entire careers. Rather, this book focuses on a very narrow period of time (approx 1968-70) during which time the two musicians formed their close bond both personally and professionally.

Having not previously read biographies on either Clapton or Harrison, I can say that I learned a fair amount with this book. (I'm a very big Beatles fan, but haven't read much about their solo careers. And I haven't read anything on Clapton.) Nothing earth shattering, but Womack and Kruppa generally stay away from the tired, cliche Beatles stories. I primarily gained new insight on various recording sessions.

And though I wouldn't say that it'a a very moving book, it occurs to me that the beauty of this book lies within the level of information dedicated to the recording sessions: it's a well-researched, nuanced look at one aspect of George's and Eric's careers. Though I haven't read any other of Womack's books, I know that he's now a well-regarded author in the Beatles genre. I can say that I very much liked Jason Kruppa's short-lived podcast on George Martin. Their combined experience lends credit to the book.

This book is definitely for devoted Beatles (and Clapton) fans who are looking for more info on this fairly specific topic area.

[Yimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I began reading this book, I wasn't sure why it needed to exist. There are multiple books written about each man, with nearly all of those going into their friendship with each other. As I began to dive in, it was clear that there was not only a justification in it's publication, but a reason for any Clapton and/or Harrison fan to read it--even if they've read a biography/autobiography written about those two.

This book provides greater detail about the making of All Things Must Pass than any book I've personally read about Harrison, and I would go out on a limb to suggest that it has more information than any I haven't read. If you want greater detail about All Things Must Pass or Layla (and other assorted love songs) than you'll get in a biography, this is where you'll find it. It didn't provide too much additional information--if any--about their friendship, the Fleetwood Mac situation with Pattie, and certainly less about the lives of George Harrison or Eric Clapton than the well written biographies about those men.

I gave this book 4 stars from musicians bias. If you're a musician and interested in the music of either men, you'll be delighted numerous times reading this book. There was very good reason for me to read this book; I am glad I gave it the time of day and not making the blind assumption that it is the spark notes of two separate biographies.

[Gary Anderson]

Not quite a dual biography, All Things Must Pass Away focuses on the situations when George Harrison and Eric Clapton worked and played together. Much of the book focuses on Harrison's All Things Must Pass recording sessions. Although the Phil Spector-produced triple album has sketchy records of who played on what tracks, the musicians included Clapton, Ringo Starr, Peter Frampton, Dave Mason, Gary Wright, Phil Collins, and many others in fairly informal sessions at Harrison's home and other studios. As that album was being was recorded, Clapton was simultaneously working on Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs with Derek and the Dominos, and those sessions are also thoroughly chronicled here. The love triangle between Harrison, Clapton, and Patti Boyd is part of the story too, but it isn't discussed in depth, nor are the post-All Things Must Pass collaborations between Harrison and Clapton. This is definitely a worthwhile read, but the book could have easily been twice as long.

[Sam Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenneth Womack's All Things Must Pass Away offers a thorough exploration of George Harrison's post-Beatles journey, particularly focusing on the creation of his seminal album All Things Must Pass. Womack and his co-author Jason Kruppa provide a narrative that delves into Harrison's growth as a musician and songwriter, once he stepped out from the Lennon-McCartney shadow.

While the book excels in its meticulous research and insightful commentary on Harrison's creative process. The pace is uneven at times, making certain sections feel bloated compared to the engaging deep dives into Harrison's personal and spiritual evolution.

The books touches on Eric Clapton's development as a guitarist and songwriter, but in much less depth. However, there is a very engaging chapter on the making of his masterpiece Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.

For fans of The Beatles and Harrison's solo work, this book is a respectable addition. However, it doesn't fully capture the emotional resonance of Harrison's music, leaving it a good but not great read.

[Ray Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Things Must Pass Away: Harrison, Clapton, and Other Assorted Love Songs by Kenneth Womack is a double biography of George Harrison and Eric Clapton. The book begins with the early lives of each and picks up speed with their meeting as young artists making the scene. I had been aware they were friends and have heard the rumors that Clapton, not Harrison, played many of the best lead guitar solos on many of the Beatles most beloved tracks. I had no idea how deep the connection went.

Clapton and Harrison were like brothers and Clapton did record with the Beatles. I had no idea that Harrison also played on the Derek and the Dominos records and was there and played on Blind Faith and other famous recordings. Womack tells the story masterfully and really gets into the details of the music they shared as well as their personal lives. If you are a fan of either, whether you’ve read other biographies or not, this is a new perspective full of deep insight. I really enjoyed reading this one and recommend it!

[Tom Schulte · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating story of the two friends and guitarists. The focus is on the start of their careers through the first Harrison solo album and Derek and the Dominos. Harrison comes across as earnestly spiritual and Clapton as fickle and talented. I didn't know the "Eric is God" thing started so early. Rather as an afterword, the long, convoluted, and messy details of the "My Sweet Lord" lawsuit are explored. Speaking of messes, while Clapton would quickly drop bands and associations, the sad, sniping decay of The Beatles is recounted here, too.

[Andy Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from some speculative amateur Freudian analysis cropping up in the epilogue this was a great portrait of the Clapton/Harrison relationship and a detailed account of the simultaneous recordings of the All Things Must Pass and Derek and the Dominoes records. In this book, as in his excellent book about the Beatles’ Abbey Road album, Solid State, Womack balances biographical and anecdotal stories with richly detailed technical and musical information about the musicians, instruments and recordings. For me, those are the kinds of details that I crave in a music bio and this one delivered the goods and then some!!

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fresh perspectives

I wasn’t too sure about this book initially, as I have read several books on the history of the Beatles, and this seemed to be going in the same direction… but, alas, it shifted gears and moved on to new-to-me content. I hadn’t been aware of George Harrison’s friendship with Eric Clapton, and I enjoyed learning more about his musical career as well. All Things Must Pass was the first album I ever bought, so lots of nostalgia here for me. Lots on the hare krisha scene and Ravi Shankar. A good listen.

[Allan Heron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book hangs off the long friendship of Harrison and Clapton, it's main focus is around the intermingled events surrounding the recording of each man's masterpiece; George's All Things Must Pass and Eric's Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.

That main text is preceded by a summary of each man's life to that point, focusing on common connections, and concludes with a brief overview of what followed concluding with Eric's overseeing of his friend's memorial concert.

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the friendship and musical collaboration between George Harrison is the central theme of this book, but Duane Allman. Bob Dylan, The Band, Delaney & Bonney, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Spector, a raft of studio musicians. and the other three Beatles also figure prominently in the story. I found the detailed descriptions of the recording sessions bogged down a bit at times but the knowledge of how the records were made makes me want to hear them all again.

[Cat]

Oddest friendship I can ever remember reading about as a kid. Fans of either or both men, will likely enjoy this book. Also will appeal to those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's. What's not to love about Harrison or Clapton's music?! Both men are (or were in the case of Harrison) giants in the music world back then; Immense talent! The book is well worth a read!
I received a Kindle arc from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.

[Angelo C Bonanno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some nice information, nice read

While most of these things have been covered prior, some extra detail is here. The writers do not bore you and keep you wanting to read more. I enjoyed this book. Two of Past up to Modern day guitarists that touched so many, we will not see this again. The history of two true friends is a plus too!

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the connections between the songs on All Things Much Pass and Derek & the Dominoes albums, including the relationships between all the musicians on both. I found myself stopping throughout the book to listen to songs being referenced. Hard to not mention the friendship between Harrison and Clapton.

[Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fascinating double biography of Clapton and Harrison (you could argue it's a triple biography if you count Pattie Boyd) primarily covers the period between 1969 and 1971. The author has an impressive depth of knowledge about the two musicians and the rock 'n' roll scene of that era. I was captivated by how he organically intertwined the stories, it almost felt like (good) fiction. This approach to biography - focusing on interconnected lives to highlight the intricate web of human experiences and relationships - is a true winner in this case.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for Harrison and Clapton fans. I thought I knew a lot about their stellar careers, but this book opened my eyes to so many things. The author really did his homework! Very much appreciated by this Harrison fan!

[Vincent Cervoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

worth the read

If you are a Clapton or Harrison fan, while you’ll already know a lot of what you’ll read, there is some new information that is enlightening. Also, the intertwining and parallels are well portrayed.

[Joe B · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent biography of Eric Clapton and George Harrison and the making of the iconic albums “All things must pass away” by Harrison and “Layla” by Clapton. The detail provided by the author on both of their lives is astounding. An excellent story every rock and roll fan should read.