The debut album by what was, for one brief shining moment, the greatest southern rock band of all time. Much like Fairport Convention, their light was snuffed out far too quickly.
Side One
Don't Want You No More
Black Hearted Woman
Trouble No More
Side Two
Every Hungry Woman
Dreams
Whipping Post
Cecily's Notes
Personal Background: I didn't pay much attention to the Allmans, not caring much for southern rock or 11 minute guitar jams. Then I read a review that was exuberantly in love with this particular record and I looked up 'Black Hearted Woman' on YouTube. That's all it took and don't you love it when that happens?
Resonance: Gregg Allman successfully mimics a blues patriarch come back from the wilderness to teach us all about suffering. His voice is not as otherworldly as Robert Plant's could be but it carries the same weight of conviction on its introduction. Of course it would be nothing without a powerful band - inventive and sweeping. For being all about suffering because of some no good woman, this isn't actually a depressing record because the energy level is so high. It's great. 5/5
Design: This is really well thought out. It starts with an instrumental opener, putting the emphasis on the band's skill and inventiveness before seamlessly moving into a slow-burn soul number to successfully introduce Gregg Allman's powerful vocals. The catchy rock numbers only kick in after the band has established itself as a serious outfit, not as just another in the sea of hard rock wannabes. This ambition carries you through all seven songs without complaint. 5/5
Utility: Can be played anywhere and in just about any mood because it's gloomy without being a depressant. It's actually a pick-me-up. 5/5
Best: 'Whipping Post.'
Worst: 'Dreams' sometimes strikes me as overlong.
Conclusion: 15/15. Whoo hoo.
Ticharu's Notes
Personal Background: If I had heard the first two Allman Brothers albums back in the day I would have tried harder to like their later stuff. As it is nothing they did after the first two albums had any possibility of approaching the brilliance of these first two albums. So my background on these is none existent. I had Brothers & Sisters which was an OK record verging on the more mundane sound they embraced after that. Everyone from my generation has heard At Fillmore East. Part of it anyway, I never could get through that one. Eat A Peach is the only other offering I tried and again it just didn't stick. I guess when a band is primarily a live band, well it sets up a conflict, hard to resolve. I am of the mind that recorded albums and live performance are two different things especially with pop music. Take advantage of the studio to make a piece of art in and of itself. Your live performance is there and then it's gone. The record album will outlast you and all your fans.
Resonance: So there's me somewhat surprised I like this album as much as I do. Southern Rock is never going to have much resonance for me but the thing about this album and the second is Duane Allman's guitar and their uncanny ability to mix jazz, blues and prog into something that sounds like it crawled up out of the swamp. It's pretty cool. 3/5
Design: What I don't like about it and this is weird, but I don't like Greg Allman's voice. He doesn't sound like a fresh faced kid. Not ever? Nope. That just seems wrong to me. After 10 years of hard graft yes. I could believe it. So he's just naturally gifted with this incredible gritty voice. If you got it you got it. The other thing that bugs me is just me thinking this was their live set. As such some of the songs have exaggerated big endings and false stops. The kind of thing a live band would do. At their best they transcend all that. I want to credit Duane with that but it's really the sound of the whole band working together. They were great. 4/5
Utility: Here's an album that'll get a mixed reaction if I play it within ear shot of anybody. For some it'll be amazing and for others it'll be a bloody racket/when will it stop? I can't really see listening to it quietly so opportunity might only come when I can crank it, let it rip and boogie my little socks off. 3/5
Best: Dreams - Every Hungry Woman - Don't Want You No More - Black Hearted Woman - Trouble No More
Worst: It's Not My Cross To Bear - Whipping Post
Conclusion: This and the Idlewild South albums certainly look a little odd in my collection but they are stellar and worthy of being included. AND since I haven't heard them to death I may play them now and again unlike some of the other war horses.
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