26-Year-Old Eric Clapton Is Magic In ’71 “It’s Too Late” Performance

Just One Time

Performing on the Johnny Cash Show back in ’71 is a fresh, young and talented Eric Clapton along with buddies and bandmates Dave Mason, Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon, and Carl Radle play for the first time on television. Singing hit “It’s Too Late” from famous album Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, the sole successful record of Derek and the Dominos, these young men stun the audience and Cash himself.

Interesting Fact: Clapton asked the 15-year-old Neal Schon to join the band as a guitarist, but Schon turned him down, joining Santana instead. Schon formed Journey in 1973.

Considering this was the band’s first and only TV performance throughout the year- long duration of the band, this special footage is definitely near and dear to our hearts as Clapton bears all in front of the world with this timeless, hopeless blues classic. The only downside to this particular video is the lack of presence of the great Duane Allman, but Eric and the rest of the Dominos really bring the blues in this clip.

Serenading the audience with a story about regret and remorse and as one of the first, or possibly the first ever TV performance of the one and only Eric Clapton, we trust that you value the special quality of the video as a rarity to thoroughly treasure. Enjoy!

+ It’s Too Late Lyrics +

It’s too late, she’s gone
It’s too late, my baby’s gone
Wish I had told her she was my only one
It’s too late, she’s gone

It’s a woman that cries
So I guess I’ve gotta hide my eyes
Guess, I will miss her more than anyone
It’s too late, she’s gone

She’s gone, yes she’s gone
She’s gone, my baby’s gone
She’s gone, yes she’s gone
Where can my baby be?

And I wonder does she know
When she left me, it hurt me so
I need your love babe, please don’t make me wait
Tell me it’s not too late

She’s gone, yes she’s gone
She’s gone, my baby’s gone
She’s gone, oh yes she’s gone
Where can my baby be?

And I wonder does she know
When she left me, it hurt me so
I need your love babe, please don’t make me wait
Tell me it’s not too late