Allman Brothers Band - Manley Field House - Music Review

 

Happy to report this two disc set featuring the five man band does not disappoint. I damn near rowed my water rower out of the front room and into the street. Sonicallly Berry's bass sounds a little hot from the show - sort of a wonky amp or a pinned needles affect. But this get's sorted out after the first few songs and there he is in all his talent. The show sounds great through my bookshelf Polks kudos to Jason NeSmith. Gregg gets lost in the mix so often it's always nice to easily hear him and his keyboard work.

Six months after Duane catapults into the next realm the band is fierce. Ain't wasting time no more and playing with determination and fire. I wasn't sure what to expect with this release. How much is there of the legacy of the ABB in unreleased material? Was this going to be a sourly sourced release? But I've always loved Berry's playing and voice (more Hoochie Coochie like numbers is what I would have said) and championed him over the air so I jumped on the release. Happy new year indeed!

A real unsung member of the band Berry comes to the fore and sounds drivingly inventive. All five of the boys are thundering through this live broadcast. Gregg sounds great and extends his solos, the freight train and Jaimoe are enormous. And Dickey wasn't messing around. I mean honestly this whole review could have been about Dickey's tenacity, and melody.

Thanks to the team of Bert, Kirk, John and Bill for getting this out to the public.

Long live the Allman Brothers Band.

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Allman Brothers Eat A Peach - Deluxe Edition Appreciation

Eat a Peach - the Deluxe Edition with the second disc devoted to the closing of the Fillmore in June is a freakin' tour de force. Scorching through the stratosphere Hot Lanta is just fantastic. The mix is stellar and I've been listening to it on crappy car and desk top speakers as well as my treasured Polks. Berry is clearly heard and of course the tone of the guitars is so vintage, biting, just the right amount of fuzz not overwhelming to distort the true tone of the notes just scorching. The twin drums are settled in so nicely and everything is heard with the Hammond B-3 building slowly to a crescendo and then punctuating the soul groove.

The way the band and Berry jump out on Whipping Post is serious. Whether it’s my imagination or not it sure sounds up tempo to me. Berry is more than ready to bring it and it feels like he catches the band by surprise as he furiously launches into the opening... so great to hear and it’s a pace that doesn't let up.... as the boys just go with it - oh my the little touches on the guitar twin attack. I have to stop myself right now or I'll spend the next twenty minutes celebrating every note, turn, phrase, sound and riff just beautifully rendered together. I mean the tone of that band and tighter than tight. Gregg’s vocals are heard beautifully just right above the mix.

When they slow it down you can hear that B-3 just stalking the band the chords sustaining like wind through your hair. Their gentle segues arrive tear inducing as they reach for the heavens follow. If you don't get a lump in your throat you don’t know how to listen to music.

Get Eat a Peach back out and it will seduce you with its magic so passionately. I’m so happy that it was captured in real time for all time just a blistering messianic journey to the soul of creation.

It's mind boggling how a band can sound this excellent, the drive and the power, the determination. Music wasn't a distraction it was a mission.

Stand Back I’m laser locked on that tune the way it jumps out and grabs you with that riff. The Allman Brothers knew what they were doing and the lyrics “a dagger in my back while she's calling me honey" just fantastic. Look a lot has been written about the jazz influence on the ABB - granted – and it’s all good and true but don’t forget the funk. They can authentically bring that swing and swagger just funkin, funktastic. Funkified freaks every funkin where they funkin can the ABB throw that groove at a very righteous magnitude with Berry and Butch as far into the pocket with Gregg grinding the soul foundation and Jaimoe painting over the top.

“Hey have you seen my copy of Eat a Peach” wait I can hear it blaring upstairs in my sisters room. As I open the door Amy and her friends are moving to Les Brers as if their lives depended on it – “just don’t scratch it” as the door slams back in my face.