"Have You Ever Loved a Woman" is a blues song written by

Billy Myles William Myles Nobles (August 29, 1924 – October 9, 2005), known as Billy Myles, was an American R&B songwriter and singer active in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for writing "Tonight, Tonight" recorded by The Mello-Kings, "(You Were Ma ...

and first recorded by American blues artist

Freddie King Freddie King (September 3, 1934December 28, 1976) was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and B.B. King, none of whom were blood related). Mos ...

in 1960. The song is performed as a slow

12-bar blues The 12-bar blues (or blues changes) is one of the most prominent chord progressions in popular music. The blues progression has a distinctive form in lyrics, phrase, chord structure, and duration. In its basic form, it is predominantly based ...

with King's vocal and guitar accompanied by a small combo of pianist

Sonny Thompson Sonny Thompson (probably August 23, 1916 – August 11, 1989), born Alfonso Thompson or Hezzie Tompson, was an American R&B bandleader and pianist, popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Biography There is some uncertainty over Thompson's origins, as ...

, bassist Bill Willis, and drummer Phillip Paul. When the song was released as a single by

Federal Records Federal Records was an American record label founded in 1950 as a subsidiary of Syd Nathan's King Records and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was run by famed record producer Ralph Bass and was mainly devoted to Rhythm & Blues releases. The compa ...

in 1961, only the B-side, "

You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling "You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling", or "Love with a Feeling" as it was originally titled, is a blues song first recorded by Tampa Red in 1938. Numerous blues artists have interpreted and recorded the song, making it a blues standard. Whe ...

", reached the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The song was included on King's first album, ''

Freddy King Sings ''Freddy King Sings'' is an album by blues singer and guitarist Freddie King. Released in 1961, it was King's first album and includes four singles that appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine's R&B and Pop charts. In 2008, ''Freddy King Sings'' was ...

'', also issued by Federal in 1961.

Eric Clapton renditions

"Have You Ever Loved a Woman" later became a part of English guitarist-singer Eric Clapton's repertoire, with several recorded versions. The first was a live rendition in 1965 while he was a member of

John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are an English blues rock band led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall. While never producing a hit of their own, the band has been influential as an incubator for British rock and blues ...

(''Primal Solos'', released 1977); then a studio version with

Derek and the Dominos Derek and the Dominos was an English–American blues rock band formed in the spring of 1970 by guitarist and singer Eric Clapton, keyboardist and singer Bobby Whitlock, bassist Carl Radle and drummer Jim Gordon. All four members had previous ...

(''

Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs ''Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs'' is the only studio album by the English–American rock band Derek and the Dominos, released in November 1970 as a double album. It is best known for its title track, "Layla", and is often regarded as Eric ...

'', 1970); and later live recordings on '' In Concert'' (1970, released 1973); ''

E. C. Was Here ''E. C. Was Here'' is a 1975 album by Eric Clapton. It was recorded live in 1974 and 1975 at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York, Long Beach Arena, the Hammersmith Odeon, and the Providence Civic Center by Record Plant Remote during Clapto ...

'' (1975), '' Just One Night'' (as a medley with " Ramblin' on My Mind", 1980), '' 24 Nights'' (1991), '' Live in Hyde Park'' (1997), '' One More Car, One More Rider'' (2002), and '' Crossroads Guitar Festival 2004''.

References

{{authority control 1961 songs 1961 singles Freddie King songs Blues songs Derek and the Dominos songs Eric Clapton songs Federal Records singles Songs written by Billy Myles