Some voices are simply classic, some are simply ordinary but very few are simply instantly recognisable. To anyone who grew up with the seminal albums ‘Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East’ or ‘Brothers & Sisters’ the high tones of Gregg Allman fall into the instantly recognisable and it is great to hear those tones belting out some Blues classics on his first new album for 14 years.
The sound is strong and deep and his voice is in fine fettle while the selection of songs follows the Allman Brothers way of taking classics and taking the heart out for all to see.
T-Bone Burnett’s production is powerful but he really keeps the subtlety that is often buried when lesser helmsmen treat voices like Gregg Allman. The guests include Dr. John on piano and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and Burnett’s brilliant go-to rhythm section: bassist Dennis Crouch and drummer Jay Bellerose.
Very few people have covered Sleepy John Estes ‘Floating Bridge Blues’ (excepting Eric Clapton) but Allman tells the story in a walking style very true to the original in base styl;e but with some simply brilliant guitar work to bring it up to modern style.
Junior Wells ‘Little By Little’ is a rollicking soul/Blues and Allman’s keyboards and piano turn it into a bar-room wonder that should be a belter played live.
‘Devil Got My Woman’ is simple, pure and so honest it hurts – John Martyn used to do a fabulous version of it but Allman’s voice is so perfectly suited to the song that (the sadly late) Skip Spence might even be applauding this version.
As the album goes on he covers Muddy Waters (‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’), BB King (‘Please Accept My Love’) and does a couple of traditional numbers in ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘I Believe I’ll Go Back Home’ but for me the best track on the album is the monumental ‘Blind Man’ by Bobby Bland which draws a truly heartfelt vocal in front of knockout soul horns and keys.
The only new number is ‘Just Another Rider’ written by Allman and Govt Mule’s Warren Haynes – very much in the classic vein and with real punch and swing.
14 Years is a long time between albums but this really deserves to stand in the list of Gregg Allman’s best works. Full of passion and brilliantly produced, a great start to the year.
The sound is strong and deep and his voice is in fine fettle while the selection of songs follows the Allman Brothers way of taking classics and taking the heart out for all to see.
T-Bone Burnett’s production is powerful but he really keeps the subtlety that is often buried when lesser helmsmen treat voices like Gregg Allman. The guests include Dr. John on piano and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and Burnett’s brilliant go-to rhythm section: bassist Dennis Crouch and drummer Jay Bellerose.
Very few people have covered Sleepy John Estes ‘Floating Bridge Blues’ (excepting Eric Clapton) but Allman tells the story in a walking style very true to the original in base styl;e but with some simply brilliant guitar work to bring it up to modern style.
Junior Wells ‘Little By Little’ is a rollicking soul/Blues and Allman’s keyboards and piano turn it into a bar-room wonder that should be a belter played live.
‘Devil Got My Woman’ is simple, pure and so honest it hurts – John Martyn used to do a fabulous version of it but Allman’s voice is so perfectly suited to the song that (the sadly late) Skip Spence might even be applauding this version.
As the album goes on he covers Muddy Waters (‘I Can’t Be Satisfied’), BB King (‘Please Accept My Love’) and does a couple of traditional numbers in ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘I Believe I’ll Go Back Home’ but for me the best track on the album is the monumental ‘Blind Man’ by Bobby Bland which draws a truly heartfelt vocal in front of knockout soul horns and keys.
The only new number is ‘Just Another Rider’ written by Allman and Govt Mule’s Warren Haynes – very much in the classic vein and with real punch and swing.
14 Years is a long time between albums but this really deserves to stand in the list of Gregg Allman’s best works. Full of passion and brilliantly produced, a great start to the year.
