Southern Rock’s finest band in their commercial and critical breakthrough, 1971’s At Fillmore East is acclaimed as one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. The Allman Brothers figured out that a live album was the best way to represent what they did best…jam. Only seven songs made up this double lp, but those extended tracks took the listener into uncharted territories comprising rock, blues, jazz, and lots of free form improvisation. Duane Allman’s remarkable slide guitar work garnered the lion’s share of attention in those days, but his brother Gregg’s whisky soaked vocals and keyboard skills were right in plain sight as well. Dickey Betts gave Duane plenty of competition with his fiery lead playing, and the tandem drum team of Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson (Jaimoe), along with Berry Oakley on bass, kept the rhythms percolating in various time signatures and grooves. Statesboro Blues, Stormy Monday, Whipping Post and In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed were my favorites, but there is no weakness on this ultimate master course in live music.
Written By Braddon S. Williams
VinylLair.com 
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