Tuesday 27 November 2018

The Allman Brothers Band – THE ALLMAN BROTHERS****

Don’t Want You No More/Its Not My Cross To Bear/Black Hearted Woman/Trouble No More/Every Hungry Woman/Dreams/Whipping Post

The eponymous debut album from the Southern blues rock group The Allman Brothers. They would become one of the major American rock acts of the early 1970s. (US:188)

“The Allman Brothers' self-titled debut album is an impressive brew of blues, rock, jazz, and even classical influences. Gregg Allman's vocals are fantastic and his organ work blends incredibly well with the twin guitars of his brother Duane and Dickey Betts, setting the stage not only for future Southern bands, but for the jazzrock fusion movement of the mid-to-late-70s as well.”

“Their debut was one of their better studio releases as it fused rock, blues, and even a little jazz into a soulful mix. Gregg Allman has a perfect blues voice and the combined lead guitars of Duane Allman and Dickey Betts made for one of the best combinations in rock history. The album is just about a perfect selection of five original compositions by Gregg Allman, plus two cover songs, that blend into a cohesive unit as each builds upon one another as the album progresses.”

“This album is a testament to the rock/blues music that characterized the early Allman Brothers. Every song is blues centred with Duane Allman and Dickey Betts sharing the lead guitar spotlight, assaulting their respective guitars with powerful blues jams. Gregg Allman supplies the vocals, Berry Oakley the bass, The music stays basic but powerful, with one extended blues guitar lick after another.”

“What a debut album, one of the best of all time. Southern Rock is born, but again it's much more than that. The Allmans didn't just draw from the usual sources. Sure there's blues, and a lot of it. There's soul, funk, and rock, but there's also the element that made The Allmans unique for their time, a very healthy dollop of jazz. And that's what sets The Allmans apart from any other bands from the genre they created. As a band The Allmans are all fantastically talented, Duane and Dickey Betts are both phenomenal guitar players, and Gregg's keyboards are superb and sublime."

“The musicianship is laid-back and mellow but intense at the same time. Every song is strong, a very solid debut.”

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