IDLEWILD SOUTH(1970)
This album smells Southern Rock. Anyway,Idlewild is a place in South America. What is Southern Rock? Well, as far as i know country-rock and blues-rock mingled with South American lyrics(those about the life in the south). The album opens with 'Revival'(meaning of revival:to become alive again) my first Southern Rock experience[people can you hear it,love is everywhere]. Just like its title it is a refreshing song, makes the listener cheerful. 'Don't Keep Me Wondering' comes the second, 'Midnight Rider'-a very popular ABB song and 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed' follow. These three are all enjoying to listen, the last one being instrumental. Maybe you have heard of Willie Dixon, he is the bluesman who before was a heavy-weight boxer, and then he learns to play the bass guitar. Dixon is the creator of 'Hoochie Coochie Man'(hooch=marijuana,cooch=a woman's genitals), their 5th song in the album. Drums here are unbelievable, make your blood boil. Also Berry Oakley is the singer in this song. It is supposed to be the best blues rock song sung by a white man. Gregg Allman sings the rest of the songs. 'Please Call Home' is a slow blues rock example(i don't like this much). Album ends with 'Leave My Blues At Home'.Dickey Betts is the creator of 'Revival' and 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed', whereas all others by Gregg Allman.(of course except 'Hoochie Coochie Man' which is by Willie Dixon). Also on the album cover the black person may seem to be a woman he is a man.All Men.
LIVE AT FILLMORE EAST(1971)
This is a MUST HAVE live album except i think the first 3 tracks are the lowkeys. These first three songs are of blues-rock type. And believe when i say they mar the beauty of what is to come in the rest of the album. Buy this for only last 4 tracks. And see what jamming is all about. And a flawless one. You Don't Love Me is inexplicable. Instrumentation, virtuosity, versatility. Hot 'Lanta reminds me of the soundtrack of the soap opera Streets of San Francisco. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is a long great instrumental. Whipping Post by Gregg Allman is from the debut album of the band.
EAT A PEACH(1972)
This album is the last Duane Allman album. This album shines with One Way Out and it is a cover. Ain't Wastin' Time No More, the opener, is a good song. Les Brers in A Minor is a great instrumental, opening slow and going fast. Mountain Jam is a boring, very long jam. Melissa by Gregg Allman is a nice ballad. Blue Sky is also a good number from the Bros. All others are mediocre tracks to me but it is arguable. BROTHERS AND SISTERS(1973)
The boy on the cover is depicted as a kin to the band personnel on the inner page. There is a small girl at the back of the cd cover. In this album which is a tribute to recently died bassist Berry Oakley, we see Oakley in 3 of the songs. Lamar Williams is the new bassist in 4 other songs. Les Dudek is another added guitarist. We see 4 songs 'Ramblin Man', 'Southbound', 'Jessica' and 'Pony Boy' composed by D. Betts. Others are by Gregg Allman. 'Wasted Words' opens the album. The very popular 'Ramblin Man'[When it's time for leaving,i hope you understand, 'cause i was born a ramblin' man]-(rambling=wandering) and 'Come and Go Blues' and 'Jelly Jelly' take us to 'Southbound'[Lord i'm southbound,lord i'm comin' home to you]. 'Southbound' is a vibrant boogeey song.The instrumental epic- 'Jessica' makes you wonder how such a harmony in instrumentation and complexity are possible. 'Pony Boy' features slide guitar playing by Mr. Dickey Betts.
WIN, LOSE OR DRAW(1975)
Allman Bothers on the fall. Louisiana Lou And Three Card Monty John , a fast one. High Falls , above standard instrumental. This album is the indicator that ABB can not come up with any classic albums like their early and mid-70s albums. However, the instrumental wizard D. Betts shows no sign of weariness on writing the High Falls. High Falls is comparable to In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Les Brers in A Minor and Jessica. Country style turned Allman Brothers, on this album, can not cheer up. These guys are Southern Rockers, the genre constricted by the mid-70s, and this album clearly bears that mark. This album can be bought just because of its date(that is in range of 70s albums). But the question is does it worth the buck? ABB's decline signs surface as they enter the 80s, that is truely due to the fact of a constricted genre. Maybe you should get yourself an 80s effort by Molly Hatchet, instead.
WIPE THE WINDOWS, CHECK THE OIL, DOLLAR GAS (1976)
A naive try to re-capture the faded essence of the band`s jamming.An incomparable album to LIVE AT FILLMORE EAST. But I should mention that the cd has selections from Brothers And Sisters album which does not truly include long jam songs. Wasted Words is played the way it should be, that is: slow. But if you prefer a vibrant song jump to Sothbound.Sothbound is as brilliant as the studio version, and it truly is a classic. Ramblin' Man is another live gem here. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed is shorter than it is on LIVE AT FILLMORE EAST, this is a drawback, in my opinion. The great epic Jessica finishes the show.