Reception In a review upon the album's release, Rolling Stone writer Ed Leimacher called "Bell Bottom Blues" (as well as "Have You Ever Loved a Woman") filler. Cash Box described the song as "a progressive ballad that should see powerful top forty reception" and as being "instrumentally enticing and surprisingly melodic." Billboard chose the song as a "recommended" choice upon its release as a single. A retrospective of the album in Rolling Stone praised the song as an epic that "feels as if it's going to shatter from the heat of its romantic agony". AllMusic critic Bill Janovitz admires both Clapton's guitar playing and his anguished vocal performance. In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, J. D. Considine cites the track as an example of how Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is "about the transformation of the blues, a process Clapton and his band mates manage through a variety of means", adding that the song "distills the pop-blues approach of Blind Faith and Cream into a memorable chorus and exquisite metaphor". Adaptations Cher recorded "Bell Bottom Blues" on her 1975 album, Stars. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs covered the song on their 2009 album, Under the Covers, Vol. 2. Bruce Springsteen borrowed the line "I don't wanna fade away" from "Bell Bottom Blues", for his 1980 song "Fade Away". Lady Gaga referenced the title in her song "Dope", where she sings "I'm sorry and I love you, sing with me, 'Bell Bottom Blue'." References 1971 songs Atco Records singles Derek and the Dominos songs Eric Clapton songs Matthew Sweet songs Songs written by Eric Clapton Song recordings produced by Tom Dowd