I chose The Allman Brothers Band this week because I have been dying to see them live ever since they were announced in the 2008 Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival lineup.
Of course, I didn't go that year, and neither did they in the end (health reasons), but that's besides the point.
Everyone needs a little Southern rock in their lives and who better to start with than the "principal architects" of the genre? Yes, I stole that from Wikipedia.
The Allman Brothers have been well-received critically, in 2004 being named No. 52 of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. The magazine also listed "At Fillmore East" as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of all time, inspiring me to make an exception here to to "no live albums" rule.
Though I've personally never had the pleasure of experiencing The Allman Brothers Band live, they're known as a jam band, which is what makes their live stuff so intriguing. Every show is different. For that reason, I can appreciate the really long songs that I have so often complained about with other artists.
Not long after "At Fillmore East" was certified gold, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident, a tragedy that was followed by yet another motorcycle fatality in the same band- that of Berry Oakley (bass, vocals). From then on, the band consisted of various members and today comprises just three original members. Derek Trucks, a current member of the band, is the nephew of original member Butch Trucks (and has also played his share of Bonnaroo sets I understand).
I'm mostly familiar with the older stuff, and believe me, there was a lot to choose from. For that reason, I regret that I am not including "Idlewild South" but have suggested a song from it you might add to your track listings (embedded below). From there I did some research and picked an album from their slump in the 80s and their newest release from 2003, which is said to be a return to the band's roots. I believe the band still tours.
Whether you are familiar with The Allman Brothers, you will no doubt recognize "Jessica," as it was featured on Guitar Hero II, and "Melissa" if you ever saw "Brokeback Mountain" (and loved it, like I did).
I have always loved Southern Rock for its authenticity and the way the songs project such strong emotions ranging from homey and comfortable to bad a** just plain cool. Anyway, I hope you keep an open mind and enjoy.
This week's required listening is:
(If you listen to the deluxe version, "Midnight Rider" will be on it, although it is not required.)
2. Eat a Peach (1972) (double album)
3. Brothers and Sisters (1973)
4. Brothers of the Road (1981)
5. Hittin the Note (2003)
BONUS:
"Midnight Rider" from "Idlewild South" (1970)
For more information, visit the band's official Web site, http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/
I'd like to apologize, first off, for "Brothers of the Road," hehe. Talk about slump!
ReplyDeleteIt's getting pretty late, anyone care to comment? I have been sick so it's going to be later tonight, but it'll be there. Can't wait to hear what you guys have to say.
ReplyDeleteI usually dislike live albums, but "At Fillmore East" is a big exception to that rule. The sound is as crisp as if it had been recorded in the studio, but if I close my eyes it's like I'm there. I can imagine being in the crowd, the hot sun beating down on me as I lie under one of the only shade trees in sight, and it's one of the greatest feelings. It's all about the guitars on this album.
ReplyDeleteMoving onto "Eat a Peach," "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" is an inspirational track about living life to the fullest, but that's not where the emotions stop on this album. "Melissa," which is probably my favorite Allman Brothers song, is haunting and beautiful. I especially like at the very end of the song where the guitar riffs build almost to a point of tension and then the song fades out. It leaves me wanting more, and many times has me pressing repeat. You can tell the band was coming off some trying times with the death of Duane Allman, but I think it adds to the album rather than detracting from it. Some of the tracks are repeated from "Live at Fillmore East" so it's easy to say the two albums sound similar - I just love their bluesy rock sound added to the country twang. It's cool, without being cheesy like country music, and I love the emotion in southern rock almost making it a way of life rather than a musical genre. In addition, the southern sound takes me back to when my uncle's band used to play from the garage during family functions... "Blue Sky" is one of my favorites on this album, but I can't forget about "Little Martha." It's a Duane Allman song written before his death, and it acts almost an homage to his life and talent - even though it sounds sweet, I think most listeners can appreciate the complexity of the guitar they're hearing.
ReplyDeleteI feel like "Brothers and Sisters" will probably be the most recognized album for you guys - maybe because of "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica" both of which are well known in the first place and can be found in various "Guitar Hero" games. (Ramblin Man' is on 4, Jessica on 2.) The guitar riffs are just so catchy on both - which is a lot for me to say in regards to "Jessica," because I generally don't say that about instrumentals. Some of the somber emotion from"Eat a Peach," seems to have subsided here and given way to a new era for the band. By the time this song was written, Berry Oakley had died in a motorcyle accident as well, so the composure of the band began to change a bit. The classics though were still a hit, as the song "Southbound" reappears on this album. And I love the intro on "Pony Boy," before the song hits with its lightheartedness and makes me feel like I should be at a hoedown.
ReplyDelete"Brothers of the Road" starts off as some sort of southern rock/disco train wreck. *Shudders* I can appreciate the vocals on "Leavin'" but the whole bow chicka wow wow porn music in the background was a little much for me. "Straight from the Heart" was their last Top 40 hit to date, but it's still not great. What I said about this band being country-ish without being cheesy, I guess it turns out anything that came from them in the 80s was just that whether people liked it or not. David and I were discussing this the other day - it seems like the only people who made decent music in the 80s were the ones who made music solely in the 80s - I just don't think their sound translated well into that era. We've studied a lot of artists here that grew and changed over time and that works for some, but my opinion is that the Allman Brothers strayed from what they had, which was golden, and this just didn't work for them. I apolgize for having you listen to it, I was only following my own rule of listening to albums that span the artist's career and it was necessary to see where they went to appreciate them coming back to their roots in "Hittin the Note."
ReplyDeleteLoved hearing the guitar riff leading off "Firing Line" on "Hittin the Note." I had never heard this album before and only picked it because it was their newest release, but it was a relief to hear something that was more reminiscent of their albums previous to the "Brothers of the Road" disaster. I think it's obvious this album sounds more modern - but it's a modern version of their earlier stuff, not so much of a departure from what worked for them like "Brothers of the Road" was. This was the first studio album to include Derek Trucks as lead slide guitar, so this is probably more what they would have sounded like live at Bonnaroo 2008, athlough they probably would have played more of their classics due to the fact that this album isn't very well known and didn't see much radio time. I liked that "Who To Believe" sounded a bit Santana-ish guitar wise, smooth and easy. "Old Friend," according to Wikipedia, is the only Allman Brothers song not to include any of the original members, so I was interested to hear that. It turned out to be my favorite song on the album. The intro sounds like a dueling guitars battle and the rest of the song has a real old timey feel to it.
ReplyDeleteIn closing, although I love the singles on "Brothers and Sisters" that I mentioned, I think "Eat a Peach" stands as my favorite. The whole album holds up well and demonstrates the bluesy-southern sound that I love so much about the band. Although I like upbeat music as well and have no problem rocking out to the Allman Brothers, the haunting familiarity on "Peach" sticks with me long after I'm done listening to it. I know this kind of music really isn't up anyone's alley but mine, but I do hope that you can appreciate what the Allman Brothers have brought to southern jam rock. I probably should have mentioned to you that the best way to go into this week would have been to imagine yourself seeing them live - if you ever plan to give them another listen, do so. It's an experience. (Crossing my fingers that I didn't miss the boat and that I do get to see them someday!!)
Well, again I should start off by saying that this isn't exactly the type of music that I typically listen to, although I do believe that for what it is (southern and blues-influenced jam rock), The Allman Brothers do it about as well as anyone else I've ever heard. I will also admit that one of my favorite bands of all-time, My Morning Jacket, is obviously extremely influenced by the Allmans, and it was interesting to listen to this trying to pick out reference points (at least during the first three albums.
ReplyDeleteThe first album we listened to, "Live at Fillmore East" was possibly my favorite, although I haven't completely made my mind up yet. I feel like this is mostly because for a band like this, the live setting is where they belong. When a band goes on 12 minute long guitar solos, you can definitely feel the power of the band more actually seeing the music performed live than you can hearing it on record. While not being exactly like seeing them in concert, this album most closely approximates what it would have been like to see them at their peak almost 40 years ago. As Laura said, the album (unlike many live albums) really creates the feeling of standing out in a hot field at a festival watching the guys on stage rocking out. My favorite track on the set was also the longest, "Whipping Post." This is one song where the length was actually necessary, and I think it's actually possible to listen to this song as one would listen to jazz music. The guitar solo goes in many different places, and is very interesting for it.
"Eat a Peach" is definitely the studio equivalent of "Live at Fillmore East", in that it for the most part retains the energy of their live show. They also really created their first massive pop-single on this album, with the song 'Melissa.' The band definitely went more towards their country roots with this song, and while being written several years before the death of Duane Allman, and having un-related lyrics, it still carries the somber-reflective tone that is a fitting eulogy to the then recently-deceased great guitar player that the band had lost. As another tribute to Duane, the album includes the 33-minute 'Mountain Jam', which shows just how great the man was with a guitar (he was ranked #2, only behind Jimi Hendrix in Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the greatest guitar players. While remaining a jam session in the truest sense, it was still kept interesting sheerly based on the talent of the man playing. In all, the album was very good for what it was, and was certainly a high-point in their career.
On "Brothers and Sisters", the band definitely went for a more blues-pop oriented sound, with shorter song lengths, and less of a jam-band feel than on their previous releases. For this reason, this is the other album which I'm debating on being my favorite, as while I'm definitely not one to prefer an album due to it containing the most songs that I know, the songs it contains were some that I've enjoyed for a long time, and it was nice hearing them again in their originally intended context. The songs "Wasted Words" and "Southbound" definitely go more for the blues than the pop end of the spectrum, but they're still two of the better songs that the band has ever written, and I enjoy them every time I hear them. The other two big songs, however, were clearly more on the pop side. "Ramblin' Man" takes the blues-rock stereotype of the musician that's unable to stay in one place for too long, and still manages to create a lasting, effective song out of it. It's also one of my favorites from the band. "Jessica" is one of the better instrumental rock tracks ever made, and makes me think of two things distinctly....the first being "Forrest Gump", and the second being "Guitar Hero." I love both of these, so therefore I also love the song. This album is pretty strong from front to back, and is definitely my favorite of the studio albums the band released.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the less said about the album "Brothers of the Road", the best. The band had fallen into the trap that so many other great to decent artists of the 1960s and 70s (ie. Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Neil Young, etc.) had fallen into during the 80's, trying to create music that just didn't fit who they were. Honestly, whoever told these guys that this was acceptable music for release should have lost his job immediately. 'Leavin' is the only song on the album worth listening to, mostly because it still retains something of the skills that the band had once shown....it still would have been a major low-point on any of the first 3 albums, however. I'll probably be having nightmares about 'Straight From the Heart' for the rest of my life, though.
The most recent album they've released "Hittin' the Note" was a little better, but I still didn't enjoy it. It seemed as if the band was trying a little too hard to hold their past sound together, and came off as mostly just a generic pastiche of a blues-rock album. I'm sure that the band is still enjoyable live, as they've got their past material to fall back on, but I'm just not very interested in anything that they've done in the past 30-35 years.
In all, despite my basic non-interest in the genre these guys inhabit, they still managed to remain interesting to me through the first three albums under review. The talent of Duane Allman carries the first album (and part of the second), and the major radio hits of the second and third created a quality listening experience for those records. Regardless of this, however, I still might hold a bit of a grudge towards this guys for being one of the creators of the jam band scene, which tends to lower certain parts of my enjoyment of Bonnaroo every year. Still, though, this was a good pick by Laura, and was definitely something different to start off our second cycle of picks.
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ReplyDeleteWhen I saw we were reviewing the Allman brothers, I had no idea which songs they performed, but had heard their name used before, so this was a bit enlightening. I haven't ever had anything against Southern or Bluesy Rock, but have just never gotten into it. I have enjoyed just about every track that I have heard from Skynyrd and the Charlie Daniels band, so I have enjoyed this week thoroughly. I kind of wish you had not had "At Filmore East" first, just because I think I would have appreciated the tracks more if I had heard the studio versions first, however, this was an impressive album. Duane Allman could really fuckin pick those strings, boy. Everything was very Clapton-esque. There is nothing quite like 20 minutes of continuous jammin out. I can easily see how this got all of the hype that it did.
ReplyDeleteEat a Peach was just a good ole southern rock album. It sounded like they were attempting to make a tribute album to Duane. I read somewhere that he was killed by a peach truck, so perhaps I am on to something. It was interesting to hear both studio recorded tracks and live tracks alternating on one album. The longer Mountain Jam was another great opportunity for Duane Allman to show off his amazing skills. Throw in One Way Out and Trouble No More and yep, you got yourself a tribute album.
Brothers and Sisters was my favorite album of the bunch. There were the obvious two tracks that I had heard before. Ramblin Man reminds me of the video that Chad Stutz put together where Andy Galligan, I believe, was a traveling foosball champ. Jessica instantly reminded me of Field of Dreams. The whole album felt like the perfect album to throw in during a road trip.
I could not find “Brothers of the Road” anywhere on the internet. It was not even on Amazon anywhere for me to at least sample. From David’s comments, it sounds like it is better that we couldn’t find it.
Hittin the Note had my favorite track of theirs in Rockin' Horse. I loved the guitar solo on this one. And Firing Line sounded exactly like Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition.’ In fact several tracks of theirs reminded me of Stevie for some weird reason, but this one sounded almost exact to me.
This was yet another great pick for the spirit of music togetherness. I hadn’t heard of Duane Allman before, so it was really cool getting exposed to that kind of talent. I was quite surprised in how much I enjoyed a southern rock album since I despise country so much.
Well the computer froze up as I was about 2 sentences away from finishing up. Needless to say it didn't save anything I wrote. Sorry Laura but I'm not rewriting it. I am so completely agravated, as what I had written was great. I was very complimentary of the Allman Brothers. I was hitting control+c the entire time and when I got back in and hit control+v nothing happened. I have to step away frpm the computer, as I am about to throw it out the fucking wondow.
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ReplyDeleteI would first like to say that I don’t know much about Southern rock, besides the like of Skynrd. However, I really like Skynrd so when I heard, we were doing the Allman brothers I was very interested. This kind of music kind of reminds me of the stuff my dad would listen to, and of what times were like in the seventies.
ReplyDeleteThe First Album “At Fillmore East,” was probably my least favorite of all the albums. I have to agree with Thomas in that I think I would have appreciated the live album better having heard the studio album first. Since I had nothing to compare it to, it kind of just dragged on for me. I am not a big fan of songs lasting over ten minutes usually, so for me it was kind of hard to get through it. I can, however, appreciate the fact that they are really good at what they do. Meaning, when I was listening to this album I could picture myself out at a Barbeque and just letting this album play as background music. To me, Southern Rock = Summer time, Barbeque. So in that aspect they definitely know what they are doing.
The Second Album “Eat a Peach” was much better for me. I really liked the song, “Aint Wasting Time No More.” To me that song screams 70’s. If I were to make a movie about the 70’s that song would be the headliner. The other song I really enjoyed on that album was, “Melissa.” I feel like I am copying off of Laura as I write this, but I did however find that these two songs were my favorite and stood out the most. I really enjoy songs that are about someone, meaning a singular person. I feel they are more intimate, and I can picture the singer pouring their heart out to that one lone girl. This was a much more enjoyable album for me.
The Third Album, “Brothers and Sisters” was my favorite album. I hate posting after everyone else already has because I feel like a broken record. To me this album was very much like a Blues album. When I went to write about this album that was the first word that came to my head. I think that the song that stuck out for me on here was, “Jelly Jelly.” The other song I really enjoyed off of here was, “Jessica.” That is a song I could listen to all the time. To me, it is a song I would put on when I need to chill out and relax. Very good album, and something I would listen to again.
No comment to the fourth album, Sorry!!
The Fifth album, “ Hittin the Note,” was also very good. I really like the fact that they have not changed over the years. They stayed true to themselves and did not try to change their sound, with that of what is not trendy. I am sure their fans were very pleased with this album, and all I could think, was that this album could have easily come out in the seventies with the others. I really did like the song, “Old Friends” as Laura said, it was really neat to hear the guitars going at it. It made for a fun song, to go along with an album that was just as enjoyable.
All in all, I have to say that I found quite a few songs I really enjoyed, and will be sure to put them on my Ipod for next summers listening.
All right I stepped away from the computer for a minute, smoked a cigarette and am going to try and write something again. Pray for this laptop, for if it freezes on me again I will come at it like a tornado made of arms and teeth and fingernails.
ReplyDeleteIt must be the good-ole-boy in me, but I love me some Allman Brothers. Their music is the soundtrack of steamy summer bbq's and long road trips through America's heartland. Their sound is strait from the Mississippi delta inspired by Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. The name Allman immediately brings me back to Schwagg concerts at Cicero's, a weekly trek when I used to like with a couple of Dead Heads. Gregg's son, Devon, would sit in with the Schwagg on occasion and steal the show. The apple doesn't fall far away from the tree. I love blues music and might be inclined to feature one of my favorite artists in the near future, John Lee Hooker.
ReplyDelete"At Fillmore East" is easily my favorite of our selected listening because this is the Allman's thriving in their element. Statesboro Blues starts us off with Gregg's sorrows over a woman(which is the subject of 99% of all blues songs) and Duane leading us around with his guitar, like a dog on a leash. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed plays out as the blueprint for Phish's entire career, and shows off a jazzier, R&B side of the group. Whipping Post is THE jam standard, like Greensleeves to jazz, this song has been done millions of times but the original will never be outdone. This album is a classic.
"Eat a Peach" is the band coping with the loss of Duane. The opening track Ain't Wastin Time No More, preaches the message that in the shadow of death that life keeps moving, very fitting. Les Bres in A Minor wanders aimlessly for the first half before coming together in a Santana inspired sprall. Mountain Jam reminded me of The Mars Volta, as the 30 minute track plays out like a music suite. Dickie Betts steps to the forefront with Blue Sky and delivers. A solid album that spawned the mediocre Allman-ripoffs we now call Widespread Panic.
Their most commercial album to date "Brothers and Sisters" is the definition of Americana. Ramblin Man is a boat navigating a river stream, a convertible cruisin down Rt.66, a stroll down a levee in the bayou, it's all these things. Jessica is the definition of what a band should be, the sum of the parts making a harmonious whole. Dickie summons his inner Paul McCartney on Pony Boy and is fairly successful. The Allman's had 3 great albums 3 years in a row, not a lot of bands can boast that.
I also couldn't find "Brothers of the Road" but apparently didn't miss much.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. "Hittin the Note" has plenty of new players in the mix but that southern-blues bus keeps right on truckin. With Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks in tow, the spirit of Duane makes a triumphant comeback. "Desdemona" is my favorite track and reminds me of Gov't Mule which is Warren's band. If you liked this album, be sure to check out Mule.
My original post was lengthier and better but I'm gonna post this before the computer gets any ideas. Next time your taking a long trip next summer, make sure to put in some Allman's. Great stuff.
Yay! I'm glad mostly everyone liked them then :)
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