Just two months before their iconic At Fillmore East, The Allman
Brothers Band were at Bill Graham’s Fillmore West for an epic weekend,
as the middle act between headliners Hot Tuna and the 24-piece opener
Trinidad Tripoli Street band. The cover depicts a never seen photo of
Duane Allman taken at these shows, from the legendary photographer, Jim
Marshall. These recordings are being issued for the first time and any
time there’s an opportunity to hear more of Duane Allman and this
edition of the ABB, it’s more than worth a listen. Yes, these are the
same tunes on the east coast Fillmore album, perhaps a bit more ragged,
as the band was shaping their sound but there’s a pulsating energy and
spontaneity across these four CDs that’s very bit as good, at times
better than the versions of these tunes that are burned into our
collective consciousness. Gregg Allman sings with so much unbridled
passion that that alone is worth the listen while, of course, Duane and
Dickey added down and dirty licks. These were young cats playing freely
and establishing themselves.
Compiled from reel-to-reel soundboard masters, the January 29 show that kicks it off reads like an Allman Brothers Band greatest hits from their first two studio albums, from opener “Statesboro Blues” through an 11 minute version of “Dreams” to the set-wrapping “Whipping Post.” On the next night, the standard sequence of “Statesboro Blues,” Trouble No More,” “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin'” and “Elizabeth Reed” was typically riveting, and then the slow simmering “Stormy Monday” was worked in, replacing “Midnight Rider.” This “You Don’t Love Me” has even more improvisational moments than the familiar one while a rollicking “Whipping Post” closes it out. The band–Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Jaimoe, Berry Oakley and Butch Trucks – demonstrates palpable chemistry, a relaxed rapport with the audience, and telepathic jazz-like moments...
https://open.spotify.com/album/7huOtG6twsFgvIp4zggKie?si=94HI3lSfQaijHLrRclROrA
