This is the third part in my series of favorite records.
I’ve talked about the Allman Brothers before, and I’m about to do it again. They put out a lot of great records that combined blues, rock, jazz and country into an excellent sound that serves as the voice of the New South to me and many others who grew up in the South during the 60s and 70s. They have at least four records that could make my list of all-time favorite records.
But I’m going to pick Live at Fillmore East. I love Brothers and Sisters just as much, but I’ve already praised that record. At Fillmore East starts off with the single greatest slide guitar riff ever put on vinyl- Duane Allman’s lead off on Statesboro Blues. Next is a rocking cover of Done Somebody Wrong, an Elmore James song. The defining cover of Stormy Monday follows. You Don’t Love Me is a 20 minute jam that would be the best song on about any other live album. The last two songs, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Whipping Post deliver the knock out punch that understandably became the highlight of the Allman’s excellent live shows.
When I want to introduce someone to good music, particularly blues or southern rock, this is the album I start with. It’s hard to call anything perfect, but Tom Dowd‘s production work on this album is perfect. I have listened to this record hundreds of times and I never get tired of it. A masterpiece performance by the best blues band ever.
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