Track Listing

1. Don't Want You No More
2. It's Not My Cross to Bear
3. Black Hearted Woman
4. Trouble No More
5. Every Hungry Woman
6. Dreams
7. Whipping Post
8. Revival
9. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
10. Midnight Rider
11. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
12. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
13. Please Call Home
14. Leave My Blues at Home

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4744 in Music
• Released on: 1997-10-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Amazon.com essential recording
For once, a record label actually gives us more bang for the buck, combining two indisputable classics--1969's self-titled debut and the 1970 follow-up Idlewild South--onto one glorious CD. Five urgent notes kick off Spencer Davis's "Don't Want You No More," and by the time that searing instrumental morphs into Gregg Allman's superb slow blues "It's Not My Cross to Bear," it's clear these Georgians mean business. Everyone talks of the Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon covers, the furious twin leads of Duane and Dickey Betts, Gregg's soulful voice and formidable organ, the percussion attack of Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, but what about the songwriting skills? Just start with "Cross to Bear," "Whipping Post," "Dreams," "Revival," "Elizabeth Reed"--are you kidding? These two records blend gritty blues, Southern soul, and psychedelic rock into an exciting creation, and they serve notice: the Allmans will contend for the title of best American rock & roll band. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

The beginning of the legend
Beginnings is the first two Allman Brothers Band albums, their self-titled debut and Idlewild South on one disc. This collection is a masterpiece, not aging one moment since its release. Several of the tracks here are still album rock standards. It also shows the band's incredible diversity from the classic blues of their first album to their more acoustic and jazz roots on Idlewild South.

The first half of the disc begins with the jazzy instrumental "Don't Want You No More" featuring an excellent organ solo from Gregg Allman and a very tasty guitar solo from Duane Allman before flowing into the slow blues of "It's Not My Cross To Bear." Gregg's vocals are fantastic, already possessing one of the best blues voices ever, which is amazing considering he was just 21 when they recorded this album. This is clearly one of his best collections of songs as his compositions "Dreams" and "Whipping Post" have become blues classics with the latter taken to new heights on their live album At Fillmore East. The other tracks, "Every Hungry Woman", the percussion heavy "Black Hearted Woman", and their killer version of Muddy Waters' "Trouble No More" are all fantastic. The fact that they still play every one of these songs live attest to the excellent material here.

The second half of the disc is best known as the emergence of guitarist Dickey Betts as a composer. His two contributions are among his best work. "Revival" with its memorable melody and its hippie lyrics has become one of their most popular songs. The jazz instrumental "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" is perhaps the best instrumental track released in modern rock music. This track, written as a tribute to Miles Davis, also lead to Betts contributing several other instrumental tracks in their career such as "Jessica." The most popular track here is Gregg Allman's acoustic "Midnight Rider", which would become his biggest solo hit and has remained as one of their most enduring tracks. "Leave My Blues At Home" and their version of "Hoochie Coochie Man", sung by bassist Berry Oakley, are among their best blues tracks. The lesser known ballad "Please Call Home" and "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'" are also excellent tracks. The slide guitar playing of Duane Allman is among the best ever recorded and the aggressive drumming duo of Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson, now known as Jaimoe, only add to the intensity of this stunning collection. Highly recommended to all fans of blues and classic rock.

Uncover the blues rock from the South
I just keep running into more and more incredible music as I continue to dig deeper. In trying to learn more about blues music and great blues guitarrists, I ran into Duane Allman, and this album by the Allman Brothers Band, which combines the music from their two first works. What can I say about it? Let me just put it from a perspective of a newbie into Blues and Southern Rock. This band is unbelievable. The soul they pour into each track is just impossible to describe. Two tracks, as a reference: "It's not my cross to bear" and "Midnight Rider" are so touching that every time I hear tham I am transported. Though lacking some of those 15-20 minute long solos (grab the live "Fillmore..." album for some of that), this combo album reminds of the best British Blues of the sixties (Yardbirds, Cream, Clapton, Beck, Page).

The Beginnings of their power
"Don't Want You No More" starts out with the searing, up-front statement that would characterize the band's future work. The twin guitar leads roar out a dramatic opening, and are followed by blazing organ, crashing drum/cymbals. Then it's Duane's turn: he steps up to belt out a dynamic riff. The band regroups again for another pass at the opening theme, Dickey then hammers a reply to Duane, and everyone simmers down into "It's Not My Cross to Bear." Gregg's vocals are steamed raw, and his torment and despair are left standing bare and alone as Duane wraps another solo around the framework of Gregg's vocals.

"Black Hearted Woman" rocks along with Gregg's angry lyrics and guitar solos that skip boisterously ahead of the rest of the band. "Trouble No More," their studio version of Muddy Waters's song, shuffles and hesitates while Duane shows his slide guitar call-and-reply style against Gregg's vocals. "Every Hungry Woman" opens with a gust of guitar and B-3 Hammond organ layering the track, and Gregg's accusing comments and voice are painted with cynicism and contempt.

"Dreams" is one of the band's masterpieces, as Duane mixes slide and lead guitar. The drummers coil and release with refrained shots of snare drum and cymbal rides, and Gregg's organ takes the song to a hazy, etheric state. His grievous, intense singing provides the setting for Duane's soaring, spiraling solo. Skydog's mid-way switch to bottleneck lifts the piece right out of the stratosphere, and sets up the infamous, earth-shattering "Whipping Post." Berry starts off with dark and frightening warfare bass lines, the band reaches a frenzy behind Gregg's confrontation of his misery, and the guitars ring out their defiance. Duane and Dickey embrace the pain with their solos, and the band walks on coals to a scorching crescendo. Gregg has never sounded more wretched in his plight when he sings the chorus line.

"Revival," written by Dickey Betts, shows a hippie, peace-and-love side of the band, with cheerful acoustic guitar and family vocals helping underscore the country sound of twin lead guitars and upbeat measure. "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'" offers stinging slide by Duane, highlighted by octave sweeps as he rides up the fretboard on his solo. Special guest Thom Doucette also fills in handsomely with harmonica whoops. "Midnight Rider" is Gregg's offering of a country-rock ballad, with dusty trails fading in the sunset. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," Dickey's instrumental wizardy, features a panoramic, Carribean-like intro, and a race course workout for both guitar solos. Berry paints "Hoochie Coochie Man" with voodoo vocals and threats, and Duane and Dickey pick the flesh off the bones with their solos. Everything is forgiven in Gregg's mind as he laments on piano during "Please Call Home," and Duane plays his heart out beside him, sadly reflecting on his brother's pleas for reconciliation. James Brown would be pleased with "Leave My Blues At Home," a scruffy, bumpy shuffle.