Revival/Don't Keep Me Wonderin'/Midnight Rider/In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed/Hoochie Coochie Man/Please Call Home/Leave My Blues At Home
Idlewild South was the follow up LP from the southern boogie Allman Brothers Band. It would be their last studio album to showcase the slide guitar talents of Duane Allman before his death in a motorcycle accident. (US:38)
"From the melodic opening lines of Revival to the closing strains of Leave My Blues Alone this is one of the best albums The Allman Brothers Band ever created. The band has, of course, created other masterpieces but this is the first album where everything comes together from the top notch playing by Duane and Dickey to Greg's bluesy growl. Most of the tracks from this album became the bedrock of the band's concerts."
"The Allman's best studio album, southern rock never gets this sublime or jazzy, unless The Allmans are playing it. Gregg Allman's keyboards are simply wonderful. Duane's slide guitar stings, Dickey Betts guitars meander, roam, growl and shine. The twin drum attack is as rumblingly great as always. There's not one bad song here, and some are cosmic, like Dickey Betts incredible jazz instrumental In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed. Then there's the rollicking album opener, that rafter-shouter, Revival. And of course, the best song The Allmans ever did, the mystical, magical, timeless Midnight Rider. Idlewild South is as classic as an album gets."
"The great country blues song Midnight Rider, with its mournful harmonies but bright guitars, is reason enough for blues enthusiasts to own this album, but the rollin' and tumblin' licks on Muddy Water's (I'm Your) Hoochie Man let everyone know where The Allman Brothers were coming from on their second album."
"So many artists have had amazing debut recordings only to follow up with a lessthan- inspired second effort. That certainly isn't the case, here. While, I am not sure if Idlewild South has quite the impact The Allman Brothers had, it certainly comes close. In this effort, Betts steps out for some of the songwriting and more singing duties. Berry Oakley takes a huge risk to sing a terrific version of Hoochie Coochie Man. The recording is more acoustic, subtle and beautiful than their debut. Everything here is working in a big way."
"Idlewild South includes entertaining songs one after another. Every song is very nice and good but none are perfect. On the other hand none of the songs are boring either. I could have hoped for more stand-out cuts but the album is still quite strong."
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