The Allman Brothers Band brought mystery, skill, and, sadly, a hefty dose of tragedy to American roots rock. In the process, the group helped create Southern rock, as well as thousands of imitators.
But The ABB wasn’t just a group that collected some of the best blues-rock players around. On their finest records, and especially live, the band could reach some remarkable peaks.
Beloved but often misunderstood, it’s time that I give a tribute to The Allman Brothers Band, one of the greatest blues-rock bands of all time. These are the band’s 10 best songs.
The 10 Greatest Songs by The Allman Brothers Band
10. “One Way Out”
The Allman Brothers Band, for a while, was the premier authority on operatic blues rock. Sure, they played roots music. But they raised the damn thing up to Valhalla.
Since it was the live medium, albeit recorded on tape, that made the group successful, “One Way Out,” the Elmore James standard, was chosen to prop up the “Eat a Peach” studio record.
9. “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More Time”
The good news for The Allman Brothers Band is that once the group was finally successful, they had songs beyond the classic blues-rock formula. on which to depend.
“Ain’t Wastin’ No More Time” is, essentially, a radio single. It’s also a song honouring the band’s founder, Duane Allman, who perished in a terrible motorcycle accident in 1971.
8. “Ramblin’ Man”
“Ramblin’ Man” is where The Allman Brothers Band started building the band’s mythology. It’s not just a tune about their lives but really about Southern U.S.A. as a whole.
In fact, the band’s ease at playing country music endeared audiences to the “Brothers and Sisters” album. Those audiences turned this Dickey Betts composition into an unexpected hit.
7. “Statesboro Blues”
You may not like the blues or roots music. But if you have any appreciation of great live performances, chances are that you’ll love The Allman Brothers Band’s live record “At Filmore East.”
The best document of an early 70s band firing on all cylinders and keeping the audience in the palm of its hands, “Statesboro Blues” opens the affair in a marvellous fashion.
6. “Blue Sky”
For a man who looked like he could murder the judge, the priest and you, Dickey Betts wrote some of the most beautiful music of the 1970s.
“Blue Sky” is an exceptional love song written and sung by Betts upon the encouragement of Duane Allman himself.
The fact that this is also one of Duane’s final musical moments makes it all the more special. It’s the bar that future versions of The ABB were forced to live up to.
5. “Melissa”
At times, Gregg Allman had the world by a string. Not only did he possess an excellent, smokey blues timber to his voice. But he could write the odd hit record.
“Melissa” was one of Gregg’s first compositions that he found worthwhile. And, the love song became a trademark tune for the band.
4. “Midnight Rider”
Unlike most other Southern rock bands, The Allman Brothers Band were not plain folks who played music. There was a mythology to the band, a sense of the otherworldly.
The mythos began being built with “Midnight Rider.” You won’t find anyone in the Southern U.S.A. who can’t sing it to you nowadays. But, at the time of the release of the “Idlewild South” record, audiences ignored it. Myself and you are just lucky the band soldiered on.
3. “Jessica”
The Allman Brothers Band wrote and played country rock with the same scope and confidence as an orchestra playing Richard Wagner.
It’s hard to imagine a world in which “Jessica” doesn’t exist. One of the greatest instrumental rock songs of all time, the song has the power to uplift the spirit. No wonder that a show like Top Gear opted to use it in their credits.
2. “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”
I’ve moments when I get anxious. It’s maybe on a long journey or a trip to the dentist. That’s when I play “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” in my head. Luckily, it’s a long instrumental. Also, thankfully, each part of it is beautiful and memorable.
“In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” is largely the brilliant creation of Dickey Betts. It helps cool the fire of the performance of “At Filmore East.”
And, frankly, it’s a testament to the attention span of audiences back in the early 1970s. Think of a long, modern instrumental that you’ve heard played recently.
1. “Whipping Post”
“Whipping Post” might just be responsible for Southern rock as we know it. And while the genre would accompany numerous from then onward, The Allmans bring a certain gravitas to their performances.
“Whipping Post” is the ultimate blues, a song about times when everything is uncertain and life is overbearing. Everyone here delivers a great performance, but Gregg Allman’s howl towards the song’s finale is unmatched. This is one of the greatest songs ever written, and the Allman Brothers Band at their very finest.
