The Allman Brothers Band was an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969[3] by brothers Duane Allman (founder, slide guitar and lead guitar) and Gregg Allman (vocals, keyboards, songwriting), as well as Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals, songwriting), Berry Oakley (bass), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jai Johanny “Jaimoe” Johanson (drums). Subsequently based in Macon, Georgia, they incorporated elements of blues, jazz, and country music, and their live shows featured jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.
Their first two studio releases, The Allman Brothers Band (1969) and Idlewild South (1970) (both released by Capricorn Records), stalled commercially, but their 1971 live release At Fillmore East was an artistic and commercial breakthrough. It features extended versions of their songs “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Whipping Post”, and is considered among the best live albums ever made.
Group leader Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident later that year – on October 29, 1971 – and the band dedicated Eat a Peach (1972) to his memory, a dual studio/live album that cemented the band’s popularity and featured Gregg Allman’s “Melissa” and Dickey Betts’s “Blue Sky”. Following the motorcycling death of bassist Berry Oakley one year and 13 days later on November 11, 1972, the group recruited keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams for 1973’s Brothers and Sisters. The album included Betts’s hit single “Ramblin’ Man” and instrumental “Jessica”, which went on to become classic rock radio staples and placed the group at the forefront of 1970s rock music. Internal turmoil overtook them soon after; the group dissolved in 1976, reformed briefly at the end of the decade with additional personnel changes, and dissolved again in 1982.
The band re-formed once more in 1989, releasing a string of new albums and touring heavily. A series of personnel changes in the late 1990s was capped by the departure of Betts. The group found stability during the 2000s with bassist Oteil Burbridge and guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks (the nephew of their original drummer) and became renowned for their month-long string of shows at New York City’s Beacon Theatre each spring. The band retired for good in October 2014 after their final show at the Beacon Theatre.
Butch Trucks died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on January 24, 2017 in West Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 69. Gregg Allman died from complications arising from liver cancer on May 27, 2017 at his home in Georgia, also at 69. The band was awarded seven gold and four platinum albums, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Rolling Stone ranked them 52nd on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004. (wikipedia)
And here´s another pretty good bootleg:
For The Allman Brothers Band, 1972 was a time of mixed blessings. Having decided to continue as a group, despite the tragic loss of visionary guitar maestro Duane Allman following his motorcycle accident on 29th October 1971, the Allmans released Eat A Peach on 12th February ’72. Featuring a mix of live and studio tracks, the new record exceeded the success of its predecessor, Live At Fillmore East. Containing such classics as ‘Melissa’ – Duane’s favourite song, chosen by Gregg Allman in tribute – ‘One Way Out’, and the Dickey Betts-penned ‘Blue Skies’, Eat A Peach eventually went Platinum in the United States while reaching number four on the Billboard chart. The band played almost 90 shows across North America that year, eager to capitalise on their recent successes and to honour Duane’s memory.
Founding bassist Berry Oakley had been profoundly affected by Duane’s passing, and took solace in drink and drugs. Ironically, on 11th November 1972, while still intoxicated, he crashed his own motorbike into the side of a bus, just three blocks away from where Duane had met his end. Initially declining treatment, he slowly sank into delirium, and died in hospital later that day.
And here´s their New Years Eve concert … with their new line-up (feat Chuck Leavell on piano and Lamar Williams on bass).
A superb selection of newer songs and fan favourites were performed, including ‘Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More’, ‘In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed’, ‘Midnight Rider’ and ‘Whipping Post’. At this juncture in their career one would be forgiven for thinking that the Allman Brothers’ hard times were in the past and it would all be plain sailing for a while.
It’s a soundboard recording, excellent sound, great show with Elvin Bishop as guest on 4 tracks.
Recorded live at The Warehouse, New Orleans, December 31, 1972
Personnel:
Gregg Allman (keyboards, vocals)
Dickey Betts (guitar, vocals)
Jai Johanny Johanson (drums)
Chuck Leavell (piano)
Butch Trucks (drums)
Lamar Williams (bass)
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Elvin Bishop (guitar on 06., 14, – 16.)
Tracklist:
01. Wasted Words (Allman) 7.05
02. Done Somebody Wrong (James/Lewis/Levy) 5.13
03. Statesboro Blues (McTell) 4.54
04. Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More (Allman) 6.23
05. One Way Out (Williamson/James) 10.10
06. Stormy Monday (Walker) 11.06
07. Midnight Rider (Allman) 4.07
08. Ramblin’ Man (Betts) 6.56
09. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Betts) 19.08
10. Hot ‘Lanta (D.Allman/G.Allman/Betts/Oakley/Trucks/Johanson) 6.35
11. Whipping Post (Allman) 19.34
12. You Don´t Love Me (Cobbs) 10.16
13. Les Brers In A Minor (Betts) 18.24
14. Help Me Baby (Williamson) 10.51
15. Drunken Hearted Boy (Bishop) 8.13
16. Don’t Lie To Me (Cobbs) 5.07
More from The Allman Brothers Band:
The official website: