The Allman Brothers Band

By November 1976 and the hodgepodge live-in-the-70ts release of "Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas" (they had disbanded by then) - The Allman Brothers Band already had two other live sets behind them - the celebrated "Live At Fillmore" (1971) and the part live "Eat A Peach" (1972) - both doubles.I mention their propensity for live albums because they always seemed to me to be a band 'scorching' on stage whilst their studio output lacked a certain bite - especially given their legendary status (I'd count "Brothers & Sisters" from 1973 as the exception).Which brings me to their 4 November 1969 self-titled debut - not exactly plodding for damn sure, but more workmanlike than I would want. As an album, it's a Blues Rock beginning for our heroes with five originals and two clever cover versions. Here are the whipping posts...UK released 14 October 1997 - "The Allman Brothers Band" by THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND on Polygram/Capricorn Classics 531 257-2 (Barcode 731453125728) is a straightforward CD Reissue and Remaster that plays out as follows (33:23 minutes):1. Don't Want You No More [Side 1]2. It's Not My Cross To Bear3. Black Hearted Woman4. Trouble No More5. Every Hungry Woman [Side 2]6. Dreams7. Whipping PostTracks 1 to 7 are their debut album "The Allman Brothers Band" – released November 1969 in the US on Atco SD 33-308 in Stereo (part of their Capricorn Record's Series) and November 1969 in the UK on Atco Records 228003 also in Stereo. Produced by ADRIAN BARBER – it finally charted December 1969 and peaked at No. 188 on the Billboard LP charts (didn't chart UK). All tracks written by Gregg Allman except "Don't Want You No More" and "Trouble No More" which are Spencer David Group and Muddy Waters cover versions.Band was:GREGG ALLMAN - Lead Vocals and OrganDUANE ALLMAN - Slide and Lead GuitarsDICKET BETTS - Lead GuitarBERRY OAKLEY - Bass and Backing VocalsJAI JOHNSON and BUTCH TRUCKS - Drums, Congas, PercussionThe gatefold slip of paper in these 'Capricorn Classics' that masquerades as an 'inlay' is a bit of sad joke and the only extra piece of info afforded in the Remaster Engineer SUHA GUR - a Universal/Polygram Audio Engineer I've sung the praises of many times before. If he's had a hand at the tapes, I want to hear it. At least that infamous six-piece band 'nude in the stream' photo that adorned the original vinyl gatefold is here, but nothing else, which as an appreciation lets the side down badly. But the Audio rocks and a price lean-in of a fiver or thereabouts, gives the listener great value for money. British original LPs of The Allman Brothers Band debut on that Plum Atco label made no impact in terms of UK sales and so are notoriously rare. This is a cool way to get access to the music...Their instrumental cover of the Spencer Davis Group track "Don't Want You No More" (a B-side to the British-released "Time Seller" 45-single in July 1967 on Fontana TS 854) starts out almost Prog Rock-ish until it melts by way of a segue into the first original of the LP - "It's Not My Cross To Bear". Featuring the first vocal, Gregg sits down and writes his gal a letter (tomorrow he'll up and on his way) – the song a slow deep Blues Rock. But whilst Gregg puts on his most Soulful voice, what catches your ear most is the duet soloing after he stops singing, which is just great (the Remaster is powerful on this one). I was never sure of "Black Hearted Woman" - it's good but not my fave and that crude guitar-in-one-speaker with the-second-in-another hasn't worn the years well. Side 1 finishes with Muddy Waters and a cover of his 1955 Chess Records classic "Trouble No More" - all jaunty and rocking in that Allman Brothers way.Side 2 gives it some distant slide as it opens with "Every Hungry Woman", a 4:12 minute chug-rocker with doctors calling and guitars duetting across speakers. Far better for me is "Dreams" - a 7:16 minute swoon that sounds like its floating title suggests. This feels like a band becoming something special - sussing out a vibe and going after it - guitar soloing that actually sounds innovative and babbling-brook cool. Buddy Miles did a stunning shorter cover version of "Dreams" on his second studio album "Them Changes" LP on Mercury Records released June 1970 (featured members of Booker T & The MG's band, see my separate review). And of course when Universal issued a decent 4-disc retrospective for the CD revolution, "Dreams" was chosen as Allman Brothers title. And then the boys pull out the jagged Rock-Blues rhythms of "Whipping Post" – a track that would take up a whole side on the legendary "At Fillmore East" double live album - here a sprightly 5:16 minutes of Bass-Thumping Rock-Guitar joy.Even in re-evaluation terms and with 50+ years of hindsight, you couldn't call "The Allman Brothers Band" debut a balls-to-the-wall meisterwerk. But it's a solid little shin-kicker and this Remastered CD of it does my dreams just fine...

First album, and what an album! One of the best first albums. With Whipping Post and Dreams it is an excellent indication of what was to come.

The album is underproduced, but if your an ABB fan then you'll know that already. The album didn't capture what they were all about. However, the foundations are all there and it contains "Dreams" and "Whipping Post". Where it all began, so buy it!

A classic album and debut that simply blew other bands away! Must have for Allman Brothers fans.

Item as per description

These Capricorn Classics issues are of very good sound quality and packaging.CD arrived prompt and in very good condition sealed many thanks.

Classic

It's okay