Allman Brothers Band

This month's bootleg feature is devoted to a pair of performances by the Allman Brothers Band from 1970 and 1971.  The initial half of the collection contains a classic performance from 1971 at the University of Missouri.  Dreams is nothing short of spectacular and allows for quite a psychic journey riding the dual guitar onslaught of Dickey Betts and Duane Allman. The group makes You Don't Love Me its own via a series of fiery guitar solos, swirling organ riffs, and Gregg's deep, gruff vocals. Unfortunately, the trailing jam is cut, but the set picks up with a nice, rowdy Statesboro Blues. Of course, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is nothing short of amazing, containing a full 15 minutes of ferocious jamming!

Please note: There are many copies of this tape floating around that are mislabeled as August 22, 1969.

Set List

Side 1: Hot Lanta, Dreams, You Don't Love Me, Statesboro Blues Trouble No More, Don't Keep Me Wonderin'

Side 2: In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, Midnight Rider

The second Allman Brothers Band tape is from nearly a year earlier, and although it contains a similar set list, it's still worth picking up. Stormy Monday falls into a nice, slow, blues groove. Yet another, soaring rendition of In Memory of Elizabeth Reed follows. This version, like the 1971 tape, features some very enthusiastic jazz playing from every single band member. It's songs like this that prove the Allman Brothers Band was far more than just a Southern blues outfit.

Then, of course, there is Mountain Jam, the incendiary, psychedelic treatment of Donovan's classic tune. The Allman Brothers Band certainly put this one through the mixer and mutated quite a masterpiece for itself. The jam abruptly begins side 2 of this tape, and about a minute into the tune out pops a very brief riff from the Grateful Dead's Dark Star. The song continues for more than 35 minutes, reaching stratospheric heights before landing in a lengthy, driving, drum solo. It then winds slowly back to the main theme, and lands safely back on Earth with a bluesy, gospel-tinged finale!

Set List

Side 1: Don't Keep Me Wonderin', Stormy Monday, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed, You Don't Love Me, Dreams

Side 2: Mountain Jam