With Duane (1969-1971)
Oct 14, 2009 Musical Appreciation, The Allman Brothers Band
Posted by
Mike Mora
This might seem to a huge slight to the amazing talents of Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts but is more of a defined change in the sounds and direction the band took. “With Duane” saw the formation of the group and the had Duane “Sky Dog” Allman as the engine of the group. He pushed and prodded everyone to be better than they thought themselves to be. This brought to us the studio albums “The Allman Brothers Band” and”Idlewild South“, producing staples such as “Dreams“, “Whipping Post“, “Revival“, “Midnight Rider” and “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed“. This was also the category that sees the release of the highly lauded “At the Fillmore East“. The only live album that I have owned in more formats than I care to mention ( currently stuck on the 1992 Polydor release called “The Fillmore Concerts” which is a remix by Tom Dodd of both nights). On October 15, 1971, “At the Fillmore East” goes gold; 14 days later “Sky Dog” was gone.
Bridging the gap between “With Duane” and “Without Duane” was “Eat A Peach” containing live tracks from Fillmore and more ABB staples, “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More”, “One Way Out”, “Melissa”, “Blue Sky” and “Little Martha”. So, that’s what? 10 undeniably classic tunes captured on 3 albums in less than 3 years, oh and let’s throw in one of the best live albums ever recorded…ever? And that’s just the first category!!!
The album that started them down the road.
Smokin’ yet not receiving the kind
of sales they expected.
The first opportunity for
the world to hear ABB live
A great mix of the original
Fillmore East concerts editted
by Tom Dowd
Despite the tragedy of losing Duane,
the band played on.
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