This is the full 7:10 version in all its glory. A year earlier, Atco had released a 2:43 version that edited out the extended instrumental at the end. On the same label number, that release peaked at #51 on the Bilozoard Hot 100. This 1972 release with the full version, on the same catalog number, put the song in the Top 10. Just goes to show you that radio was ready for really long songs by 1972... I still don't understand why Atlantic didn't follow through and release "Stairway To Heaven" as a retail single; that song is only about 40 seconds longer than the full "Layla." Note: This beautiful copy comes in a vintage Atco Records factory sleeve. The labels have particularly nice typesetting, and this variant uses an ampersand (&) in the band name rather than "And" as most pressings did. This may be the nicest copy of "Layla" I've yet offered in store since opening in 2001! The A label has a tiny touch of tape residue staining (see scan), but the labels are otherwise pristine Mint. The vinyl (styrene) looks absolutely untouched, and the audio is pristine Mint from start to finish... a real rarity with this release!
