"Lay Down Sally" | ||||
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SinglebyEric Clapton | ||||
from the album Slowhand | ||||
B-side | "Cocaine" | |||
Released | November 1977 | |||
Recorded | Olympic StudiosinBarnes, London[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Label | RSO | |||
Songwriter(s) | Eric Clapton · Marcy Levy · George Terry | |||
Producer(s) | Glyn Johns | |||
Eric Clapton singles chronology | ||||
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Official audio | ||||
"Lay Down Sally"onYouTube | ||||
"Lay Down Sally" is a song performed by Eric Clapton, and written by Clapton, Marcy Levy, and George Terry. It appeared on his November 1977 album Slowhand, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"Lay Down Sally" is a country blues song performed in the style of J. J. Cale. Clapton also attributed other members of his band – Carl Radle of Oklahoma, George Terry, Jamie Oldaker and others – as influencing the song.[4] Clapton explained, "It's as close as I can get, being English, but the band being a Tulsa band, they play like that naturally. You couldn't get them to do an English rock sound, no way. Their idea of a driving beat isn't being loud or anything. It's subtle."
Billboard magazine described Clapton's vocal as "low key but earthy" and also praised Marcy Levy's backing vocals.[5] Cash Box praised Clapton's "guitar finesse."[6]
The single was a crossover country music hit, reaching No. 26 in April 1978, Clapton's best showing on the Hot Country Songs chart. "Lay Down Sally" was a significant part of the soundtrack of the 2013 film August: Osage County, in which the song was played as the intro music and twice more later in the film.[7]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
All-time charts[edit]
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Canada (Music Canada)[29] | Gold | 75,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[16] | Gold | |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[25] | Gold | 10,000* |
United States (RIAA)[30] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
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Extended plays |
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Singles |
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Other songs |
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Related articles |
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