Sorry for the sparce postings... Busy week, weeks, whatever. Or maybe I'm just trying to savor Southern Rock Summer. Anyhoo, today's offering is MTB's first effort. This album captures the hunger of the mid era of Southern Rock. A mixture of blues, blue grass, honkey tonk and sheer country fuled by a steady Memphis rock under current. The mellow tracks are as beautiful as a Carolina sunset and the up beat cuts are fit for the finest barn dances long passed.
Here's a comp I found floating around cyber space. It consists of tracks from the Duane Allman anthologies. It includes his session work with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Otis Rush and King Curtis amongst others, Some Hourglass (Allman Bros Proto type) songs, and some solo tracks... I love this dude!
The last album recorded by this line-up. Duane Allman died not long after this recording. Although upbeat at points the sound of this album is ironically somber and more downtrodden than the former.Even overwhelmingly mournful at moments. The instrumental track In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed was Dickey Betts tribute to Miles Davis. I'm sure you've heard the legend... That the song was written in Rose Hill Cemetery, and was named after the headstoned Betts sat upon while writing said song..... That song was the begining and end of a great genre..Cemetery Jazz!
The Allman Brothers Band Original line up was, is, and will continue to be the absolute essence of what was Southern Rock. 19 year old Gregg Allman's haggard soulful growl teamed with Barry Oakley's power walk bass lines, Duane Allman and Dickey Betts dual lead guitar majesty and the anchor solid percussion of Jamoie Johnson and Butch Trucks caused a sound totally unheard of... The absolute opposite of what was going on in San Fran Cisco. If the music on this recording does not make every hair on your body raise, or your big toe stand up in your boot, then you my friend simply have no soul.. Now get away from me you creepy fuck.
