Have You Ever Loved a Woman should not be confused with Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?.
| Have You Ever Loved a Woman | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Freddie King |
| B-Side: | You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling |
| Recorded: | August 26, 1960 |
| Genre: | Blues |
| Length: | 3:07 |
| Label: | Federal |
"Have You Ever Loved a Woman" is a blues song written by Billy Myles and first recorded by American blues artist Freddie King in 1960. The song is performed as a slow 12-bar blues with King's vocal and guitar accompanied by a small combo of pianist Sonny Thompson, bassist Bill Willis, and drummer Phillip Paul.[1]
When the song was released as a single by Federal Records in 1961, only the B-side, "You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling", reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The song was included on King's first album, Freddy King Sings, also issued by Federal in 1961.[3]
"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 (Primal Solos, released 1977); then a studio version with Derek and the Dominos (Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, 1970); and later live recordings on In Concert (1970, released 1973); E. C. Was Here (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.[4]