Allman Brothers Band
Live at Fillmore East

Considered by many as the most beautiful live album in history (alongside "Live Dead" by the Grateful Dead), "Live at Fillmore East" represents the first official recorded testimony of the spectacular shows of the original Allman Brothers Band line-up.
Recorded in 1969 at the famous Fillmore East in San Francisco, the album presents the original Allman brothers (that is, before the premature passing of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley). Accompanied on stage by Dickey Betts on the second guitar, Berry Oakley on bass, and Jai Johanny Johanson and Butch Trucks on drums and percussion, brothers Duane and Gregg Allman deliver a truly memorable concert.
The audience is ecstatic, and the band moves between their own songs and covers, engaging in improvisation and extending pieces to the limit.

The show starts with a bang with "Statesboro Blues", an old blues by Blind Will McTell, which the band makes its own and plays with great passion (the piece will become the opener song for all the band's future concerts). Truly an excellent calling card for the group, where Duane and Dickey's slide guitars intertwine in a dense and powerful blend, supported by Gregg's Hammond organ and raspy voice, giving the song a strong Southern flavor.
Noteworthy is definitely the harmonica work of Thom Doucette, a great friend of the group and guest here.
The tone doesn’t drop even with the more relaxed "Done Somebody Wrong", another cover, this time of a piece by Elmore James, where pauses and continuous breaks dominate. Great work from the dual drummers who integrate well with each other, also aided by Oakley's standout bass.
The tempo slows down with "Stormy Monday", an old slow blues by T Bone Walker, serving as ideal ground for the band's performances, and especially for Gregg's voice, which shines in all its beauty and intensity in slower pieces.
The first real highlight of the evening is "You Don't Love Me",a bluesy ride also characterized by numerous pauses and restarts. But the real gem is the central guitar solo by Duane: almost ten minutes of pure and true magic, where the guitarist's slide rises high into the sky and gracefully falls back to earth. Breathtaking. (Not for nothing, Duane is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time).
Vaguely Santana-esque is "Hot'lanta", the first original piece played by the band that night, where the two drummers showcase their skills in a truly impactful mini solo. Five minutes of Latin music, blues, and improvisation just to reaffirm the group’s great instrumental skill and versatility. Instrumental skill that finds its ideal ground in the next piece.
It’s "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", perhaps the most beautiful piece ever written by Dickey Betts. A wonderful song, extended in this instance to 13 minutes where blues and jazz find their natural union. Spectacular guitar solos, with fine craftsmanship work from both Duane and Dickey. A truly wonderful song, one of the sonic manifestos of the early Allman Brothers Band, where melody, inspiration, and improvisation reign supreme.
A blistering finale with "Whipping Post", another band piece, featured on their first self-titled album. A thrilling version with the whole group jamming intensely to the limit. A version lasting 23 minutes of pure Southern rock blues in the band's style.

In short, a legendary place, a legendary band for a legendary live album.
Inimitable.