The Allman Brothers Band - Brothers and Sisters
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.99 You Save: $5.99 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $4.00 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for Brothers and Sisters
Free Music Review: The Last Great Allman Brothers Album
Hit: 4 Stars
1973's BROTHERS AND SISTERS was the first full-length studio album from the Allman Brothers Band in nearly three years, during which time the band had lost both guitarist Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley, who were replaced as it were by pianist Chuck Leavell and Lamar Williams. Surviving Duane's death had been nothing short of miraculous; surviving Berry's, without a major shift in the group's sound and sensibilities, proved impossible.
For this reason, as well as the remaining bandmembers' ongoing slide into the personal and chemical excesses which have always made the big time what it is, BROTHERS AND SISTERS presents a largely revamped ABB, with songwriting replacing jamming as the chief priority and a crisper, more commercial attitude than that of any previous Allmans release coloring the results. Guitarist Dickey Betts, having already proven himself capable of singlehandedly tackling the string-strangling front line he'd once so famously shared with Duane, here also takes the lion's share of composing credits; it is clearly his vision which predominates on this, the ABB's last genuinely great LP.
The first two tracks on BROTHERS AND SISTERS were the last to feature Berry Oakley, and the tragedy of his sudden exit is underscored by the fact that one of them, Dickey's country-rock anthem "Ramblin' Man," would become the band's only major hit single. It's a phenomenal piece of work, to be sure, with stinging guitar work from Dickey and guest strummer Les Dudek and a made-for-radio chorus which suggests that the Brothers could still go anywhere and do anything if it involved making music. Gregg Allman's opener, "Wasted Words," is a bit too similar in both title and mood to EAT A PEACH's "Ain't Wastin' Time No More," but that hardly makes it bad.
As for the post-Berry cuts, Gregg scores winners with both the soulful, lovesick "Come and Go Blues" and the updated Ray Charlesish "Jelly Jelly," while Dickey contributes "Southbound" - a tune so much in Gregg's vein that he gives Gregg the vocal - and a bright instrumental ("Jessica") which, inevitably, would be greatly expanded upon in concert over the years. "Pony Boy," the closer, a down-home acoustic number on which Gregg doesn't even play, is one of the album's strongest numbers, mixing clever and humorous lyrics with a flawless instrumental track which must have left listeners at the time wondering whether the next release from this group would be credited to the Allman/Betts Band.
It wasn't, of course, though perhaps it should have been. In any case, more than three decades later BROTHERS AND SISTERS stands as the right bookend on the ABB's top shelf of recordings, posthumous live releases by the original sextet excepted of course. A fully worthy addition to the catalogue, nevertheless; Duane and Berry would have been proud.
Free Music Review: In spite of tragedy, the band played on
Hit: 4 Stars
Bass player Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident during the recording of this album. It wasn't the first death of an originating band member because Gregg Allman's brother Duane died in another bike accident prior to the release of the classic "Eat A Peach". "Brothers and Sisters" has, in spite of tragedy, also become one of the best in rock history. The Allman Brothers survived and released this gem when other bands may have packed it in (Zeppelin comes to mind with the death of Bonzo). Highlights on this disc include 'Wasted Words', 'Ramblin' Man', "Southbound' and 'Jessica'. The upbeat, country infused 'Pony Boy' ends the album in an upbeat way in spite of the tragedy.Free Music Review: Lightning Strikes Twice
Hit: 4 Stars
With the passing in 1971 of Brother Duane Allman and the addition of keyboardist Chuck Leavell, a change in musical direction for the Allman Brothers Band was a certainly. Like 1972's Eat a Peach, this album was also recorded under trying circumstances. Brother Berry Oakley died during the album's sessions on November 11, 1972 from injuries resulting from a motorcycle crash eerily similar to that which took Brother Duane (the two crashes happened just two blocks from each other). It was on this album the Allman Brothers shifted from the blues into a more country-like direction. This change began, ironically enough, with Dickey Betts' "Blue Sky" from "Eat a Peach," and continued with the hit "Ramblin' Man," also a Dickey Betts tune. Of the seven songs on "Brothers and Sisters," four of them are Dickey's (including "Southbound", Pony Boy," and the instrumental "Jessica.") Throw in Brother Gregg's "Wasted Words," "Come & Go Blues," and "Jelly Jelly," you have a certified Allman Brothers classic. One can only wonder how good this album would have been had Brother Gregg not recorded his solo debut "Laid Back" at the same time the Brothers were cutting "Brothers and Sisters." Another must-have CD.Free Music Review: Very Good
Hit: 5 Stars
I won't critique the entire album song by song (they're all good) because others have already done that. I will say this: I've heard "Ramblin' Man" about 10,000 times and still enjoy listening to it. I just love the guitar solo after the first verse. "Ramblin'", paired with "Jessica" make for two great FEEL GOOD songs that are a joy to hear. Dickey was on his game when the Allmans hit the recording studio to work on this album.Free Music Review: 3rd In A Series of Blockbuster Albums
Hit: 4 Stars
After 1971's "Allman Bros at Fillmore East" and 1972's "Eat a Peach," what else could happen with the Allman Brothers? Simple. The tightest studio arrangements of the Allman Bros. Each song on 1973's "Brother and Sisters" album are a gem.
"Wasted Words" is an understated classic. "Ramblin' Man" earned valued radio play and still does today. "Come and Go Blues" has the elegance of well arranged classic AB. "Jelly Jelly" is by far the best traditional blues tune on the album, with well-executed lead guitar work. "Southbound" comes in a close second with very good rhythm guitar. "Jessica" is the outstanding recognizable song from the movie "Field of Dreams" as Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones travel to Minnesota. If you like dobro guitar, the last song "Pony Boy" will get your feet a-tappin'.
All 7 songs earn a place on this album, each in its own right. If you like guitar jams that are organized, "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica" will satisfy your hunger. Many wished that the Allman Bros remained true to jam band status like the previous "AB at Fillmore East" and "Eat a Peach," but I believe is was just a part of their evolution to become a tighter band, with less improvisation, and with better writing capabilities. Live, they were unparalleled. These early efforts became the hallmarks of their career which has more or less survived to this day.
Sadly, the AB band has lost too many of their original players to death or attrition, and they are still a good band, just not to their former abilities. There will never be another Duane Allman who could play lead and slide like he could. Maybe there will, but it will be a long wait for the same style that he played.