The Allman Brothers' original peak period, 1969-1975

[Miles Archer]

I have a soft spot in my heart for the "Win Lose or Draw" album (1975), but it was clear to anyone paying attention that the end was near. The live album that followed "WLD" ("Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas," 1976) is best described by Wikipedia: "Released after the group had already dissolved in acrimony, the album did not attract much praise or even attention at the time. The band did not like the selections, the sound mixing on the album was poor, the packaging was substandard, and the record also inevitably suffered by comparison to their classic 1971 At Fillmore East, generally considered one of the best live albums of all time." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wipe_the_Windows,_Check_the_Oil,_Dollar_Gas).

From the "Enlightened Rogues" album (1979) through "Brothers of the Road" (1981), the band attempted to supplement the core (Allman, Betts, Jaimoe, Trucks) with new players, but none of them brought the mojo. In 1990, "Seven Turns" introduced Warren Haynes and the second golden era of the band began.

I just put together a mix CD for the car featuring what I consider to be the best 1969-1975 tracks. Once you get past the obvious ("Whipping Post," "Dreams," "Midnight Rider," basically anything with Duane on it), the sheer volume of killer material recorded by the band in this era is amazing.

If you have any memories of seeing the band in concert (I saw them on Dickey Betts' last tour, following the "Shades of Two Worlds" album), favorite songs, or anything you'd like to say, this thread is for you.

[brooklynboy49]

1. I regret not seeing them in concert when I could have

I wasn't a big Allman Brothers freak, but I did have all of their early albums. Their debut self-titled album is definitely among the top 25 albums ever made. Every track is killer. Nothing else they released comes close IMO. Which isn't to say they didn't release other good albums. They did. But that debut album was head and shoulders above everything else that followed. Which is true of so many bands. Led Zeppelin. The Doors. Dire Straits. Etc. All IMO, of course

[graywarrior]

2. Saw them every time they played in Boston

which seemed like every month. Amazing band!

[SCantiGOP]

3. Grew up in SC

So I saw them 7 times, 5 of them before Duane died. My best memory was a show in 1969 in a venue that held about 3,000 (Township Auditorium). About 11:45 on that Saturday night, Gregg said (or rather slurred) into the microphone, "They tell me ya'll got a weird law here that music can't go past midnight, so we're going to play one last song." Then they launched into Whipping Post. Have no idea how long they would have gone, but cops starting walking onto stage at about 10 after, and at 12:15 they put a line of police across the front of the stage and someone from the building starting unplugging amps until the music crashed. The crowd came close to storming the stage, but the Brothers shot everyone a peace sign and headed off. Best rocking jam band in history. If they had just stayed off of motorcycles.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. I love this one