The Allman Brothers Band

Session guitarist Duane Allman was the brainchild of this six man combo. The music within grew out of a communal crash pad and intensive gigging in Macon, Ga and its surrounding regions. On their debut album, the Allman Brothers appropriate music that is completely black-rooted. Gregg Allman's voice is pure blues and he channels his feelings into creativity without having to think. There's no mistaking his deep growl. And Duane has no blind spots in building a song along with second guitarist, Dickey Betts. It's that fluid guitar interplay between Duane and Dickey that makes this music a new and invigorating force in blues rock. But every other band member contributes mightily to the sound. The rhythm section smokes. I especially love hearing Jaimoe's congas on "Every Hungry Woman", giving the band a subtle black-Latin flavor that drives the song. Gregg's original material is first-rate and is shaped by the pain and despair in life. And in the way he sings them, there just may be some autobiographical elements lurking around. The basis of "It's Not My Cross to Bear" is musically and lyrically straightforward blues and gospel. It's his determination in moving on. Duane's guitar into and his solo display a master of intricate blues chords and changes. In this performance alone, I'll take him over Eric Clapton. "Dreams" is spellbinding. Once again, Gregg's lyrics are sourced by the struggles of the blues and his organ drone mesmerizes you into his world of surviving. Duane already shows an advanced aptitude on slide guitar. His solo quivers with otherworldly vibrations and he offers this masterpiece a dash of psychedelia. If there's any one song on this album that gives full range of Duane's vituousity, it's "Dreams". Berry Oakley's bassline opening to the pub crawling "Whipping Post" rates amongst the finest in all rock. And with Duane and Dickey trading lines off of each other, it really soars. Gregg is left enough room to sing this song with real menace. It will rightly become their first anthem. The production isn't the greatest but he knows how to get great performances. The Allman Brothers Band turns all their energy to the music and the results found on this album are beyond gratifying.

The birth of a genre of American music. Six Brothers, two of which are brothers, craft one of the best and most iconic first album's ever.Can you imagine any band not praying for a first set of recordings that create a whole new category of musical expression? The Allman Brothers get their break and they give it all that they can. While not a smash hit on its initial release, this title secured a coherent set of music around which they could almost ceaselessly tour. On days off, they were recording their sophomore hit, Idlewild South. This was their best studio album, which set-up the knockout punch found in their live Fillmore East recording. Then tragedy struck twice within a year. The Brothers were reduced by a third and required new members to continue, for better or worse. But, let the record show that the Original Allmans produced not one, nor two, but three strikes of lightning. Yet, if there had not been this opening shot, the first album of tunes, then it is quite unlikely that the ABB would have revolutionised Southern Rock. It is possible that Little Feat might not have coalesced, and that would have been tragic. Some of the other purveyors of jam band Southern Rock may not have been missed as greatly, but Classic FM Rock could be even more of a desert than it is now. Report Card: Sound: A+ (diamond-sharp and grimy, say what?) Performances: "Hitting the Note" 98% of the time Song selection: Timeless Classics in their original recorded forms (I actually prefer the more precise Whipping Post found on this disc.) Recordings' importance: Incalculable (In some cases, I was fortunate enough to be "there" @ concerts when all six originals were blazing away and these songs were central to their live repertoire.)

I believe that this album came out in 1970 or 1971, if I recall correctly. Listening on my turntable at home, I was immediately struck by the dual guitars of Dicky Betts and Duane Allman, the gritty vocals of Gregg Allman, and the songwriting. I took the album with me when I visited my cousin - by then a fixture in Memphis music and radio - and I said, in effect, "These guys are going to be famous!" And they were/are. This is legendary stuff, friends. And, they were far more than southern rock, to be sure. All of the Lynyrd Skynyards, Outlaws, Marshall Tucker Bands, Charlie Daniels Bands, and other contenders owe a debt of gratitude and a sizeable chunk of their royalties to the Allman Brothers Band. Listen and then listen again. If you're a guitar player then you already know about Betts and Allman and wish you had those chops. But, it doesn't end with the guitars. Berry Oakley provides a rock solid bass bottom with inventiveness and a sensitivity to the song. Butch Trucks and Jaimoe proved that dual drummers not only worked, but the interplay was critical to the dynamics of each song. There's a lot of albums that you need in your collection, regardless of the genre fence you find yourself trapped in. This is one of them, At the Fillmore East is the quintessential roadmap that the Grateful Dead, Phish, and so many other "jam" bands used to find their way into fearless innovation and experimentation. I saw the Allman Brothers in concert only twice, much to my sorrow. The first time Wet Willie and ZZ Top opened for them at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. What a night! ZZ Top shortly after the release of their first album burning down the stage with their staggering Texas rock. Jimmy Hall conducting the good time artistry of Wet Willie. And, then the Allmans walked on the stage. No glitter, no backup singers and dancers, no space-age light show, and no pretense. The second time was at the Overton Park Bandshell in Memphis also. Unbelievably tight and held the audience captive with song after song. Buy this CD, Idlewild South, Live at the Fillmore East, Eat A Peach, and Brothers and Sisters. Enjoy!

The Allman Brothers are one of those bands that I have "discovered" rather late in life. Years ago I worked in radio for a year and we were able to bring albums home from the station to borrow overnight if we wanted to listen to something. I remember borrowing "Eat A Peach" and "Enlightened Rouge" and thought they were both good, but it did not make we want to run out and buy a bunch of Allmans stuff. Over the past 10 years I have discovered a growing appreciation of blues based music and thus went back to re look at the Allmans. The result was basically falling in love with their material and I have since picked up much of their stuff. The first Allman Brothers album has to rank up there with the best debut albums of all time. The album contains classic after classic, "Not My Cross To Bear", "Don't Want You No More", "Trouble No More", "Dreams" and the band's most well known classic "Whipping Post" The album is solid all the way through and formed the blueprint of all that came after.

Despite much great music with a variety of players up to this day, nothing can really top this first Allman Brothers release. The tunes are solid from beginning to end. It's no surprise that most of them have become standards. It's also no surprise, that at the time of its release, the album was largely ignored. American blues-based rock was still not very popular, and these guys were Southerners to boot. But other musicians took note; one of them was Eric Clapton. (Give a listen some time to Eric and Duane dueting on Mean Old World.) Anyway, Idlewild South, as a whole was not up to this eponymous debut, and soon Duane would be gone. Eat A Peach was ambitious, but much dominated by Duane's playing on Mountain Jam. Then that wonderful and under-appreciated bassist Berry Oakley would be gone, too. The ABB would have its ups and downs and be a breeding ground for great musicians and a continuing fount of great music, but nothing has yet topped the tight, focused, writing, playing, and sequencing of this first album. It is a perfect record.

Great album. My only issue is track 2, my favorite. I don't remember the end of the song having a long pause then a little bit of another song I think. The song is supposed to be 5:00 minutes long, but song ends around 4:40, then around 4:52 another part fades in. I'm not an Allman Brothers expert but was that how the original was?

I've seen ABB as a group at least 8 times, once at the Beacon in NYC., I've been to Virginia to see Dickey Betts. I went to a huge weekend long party called ROCK JAM in Colorado to see Dickey Betts, I've seen Gregg by himself a few times, I've seen Warren Haynes a few times, and Gov't Mule at least 3 times, I've also seen Derek Trucks by himself, so yeah I guess I'm a big fan !!! I have every ABB studio CD and another 50 or 60 Dickey Betts, Warren Haynes, Gov't Mule, Derek Trucks, and all of Gregg and Duanes solo stuff. Altogether I think I got about 150 or more CD's from all of them. They're all really good !!!! I'm hoping I get to see Gregg by himself at least 1 more time before he calls it quits, but we'll see. Oh yeah and I'm from Canada, and LOVE Southern Rock.

What a debut! This album has it all. Gregg's vocals are so soulful, and his keys are right on the mark. Those twin lead guitars are smokin'. Duane plays some fine slide. And I would be wrong not to rave over the twin drummers and that fantastic backbeat. There are no filler songs here, all material is top shelf, and I can't find a favorite song. Every one is so good. God, can you imagine to what heights this band would have reached had Duane and Barry lived. This album is a must have.

Classic Southern Blues Rock. Amazing band. The first three albums are incredible. This is the one that launched ABB. I remember being in a record store, and the clerk at the time said to me, have a seat, take the headphones and sit back, I am going to play you (what i heard) the Osmond Brothers album. I said, no thanks, I don't like them. He looked at me with disbelief and said, are you crazy? As the needle went down on the vinyl, I heard the beginning of what was 'Don't want you no more'. I couldn't believe this was the Osmond Brothers....lol, and of course, it wasn't. Hooked me from that moment forward. Saw them live in the original formation once. I was 14 and in total awe.

Gammal goding som håller än!

L'avantage lorsqu'on est un peu inculte, voire une buse comme moi, en matière de Southern Rock, c'est que l'on peut encore à un âge avancé faire de belles découvertes: j'avoue misérablement que je n'avais jamais écouté le premier album éponine de l'orchestre des frères allemands! (plus tard, Derek le neveu du batteur, futur membre du groupe, épousera Susan Tedeschi pour rester dans la mouvance teutonne). Ce disque est une petite merveille, un peu comme le Bluesbreakers de John Mayall avec Clapton, mais vivant. J'ai beaucoup aimé par exemple le "Black Hearted Woman" très hendrixien, période Electric Ladyland. Je n'étendrai pas plus loin mon analyse musicale, d'autres l'on fait avant moi beaucoup moins bien. Je voudrais plutôt faire passer un message aux nouvelles générations: si vous comptez faire et de la musique et de la moto (c'est pas incompatible, regardez Johnny !), apprenez d'abord à très bien conduire votre bécane, vous aurez tout le reste de la vie pour parfaire vos gammes! Et puis évitez les Harley-Davidson ( Je veux une Harley, Tome 1 : La vie est trop courte ! ), c'est bien pour les labours, mais prendre un virage avec, même si vous êtes un spécialiste de la slide comme Duane, n'y comptez pas trop ! Pour certains , cet album est trop court, pas pour moi car lorsque le temps vous est compté, ça permet d'en écouter plus dans une journée.

気に入らないことは全くないです！ 素晴らしい！アルバム！

Parabens pelo excelente trabalho. Procurava esse CD a muito tempo por um valor justo.