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The Allman Brothers Band is one of those groups from America that managed to establish themselves in the world's blues rock scenes as one of the most important. These six guys from Macon, Georgia, literally kicked off the much-loved yet simultaneously hated genre of Southern Rock, while also dabbling in various genres such as rock, soul, honky-tonk, and country.
The early works of the ABB have a fantastic sound, influenced by the madness of the mythical '70s, encompassing everything the climate and culture of those years could offer: a psychedelic, almost progressive blues that often exploded into wild and uncontrolled guitar improvisations, behind which sat the brothers Duane and Gregg Allman. Just listen to the fantastic Live At Fillmore East to realize the frantic technique and passion of the musicians.
"Brothers And Sisters" is the album that marked a slight shift in the band's sound, as it was the first proper record after the death of the significant guitarist figure, Duane. We find on lead guitar, alongside Gregg Allman, the guitarist Dickey Betts, who previously handled only rhythm parts: he transforms the sound into a genre that might be daringly defined as country-southern-rock, with a touch of healthy blues.
The different style is recognizable already in "Wasted Words" characterized by the radiant and bright atmosphere of southern rock, and whose intersecting guitar and keyboard passages make the piece historic. Then we move on to the piece "Ramblin' Man", delightfully country and with that guitar charm that imprints the indelible mark of the Allman Brothers Band sound. Introducing the next piece is the great Chuck Leavell, who would later found the relatively unknown but highly appreciated Sea Level, which are also southern with crazy Caribbean and psychedelic digressions. This latter genre is distinguishable even in this piece, and the piano solo is formidable.
In every respectable ABB album, there is a blues song, but truly blues blues: "Jelly Jelly" is slow and drawn out, whiny but at the same time powerful; the organ solo and later the piano enchant whoever is in front of the stereo. Steady rhythms and lively atmospheres are the formula of "Southbound", whose singing intertwines well with guitar and piano. Guesting on "Jessica" is the southern songwriter Les Dudek, who together with Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman form the perfect guitar trio for this perfect song: indeed "Jessica" is one of the most famous and beautiful pieces ever, just think of the ingenious guitar digressions, which seem to sing from the beginning to the end of the piece. "Pony Boy": a cheerful country ride, which can take you to the Great Plains of the 19th century, with only the company of a horse and a bottle of whiskey.
"Brothers And Sisters" is thus a typical star-spangled record, but for the greatness of the work, it has only one flaw: it's too short!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Ramblin' Man (04:48)
[Chorus]
Lord, I was born a ramblin' man,
Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can.
And when it's time for leavin',
I hope you'll understand,
That I was born a ramblin' man.
Well my father was a gambler down in Georgia,
He wound up on the wrong end of a gun.
And I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus
Rollin' down highway 41.
CHORUS
I'm on my way to New Orleans this mornin',
Leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee,
They're always having a good time down on the bayou,
Lord, them Delta women think the world of me.
CHORUS
[Repeat and Fade]
Lord, I was born a ramblin' man...
04 Jelly Jelly (05:46)
Stormy stormy rain
I'm as lonesome as a man can be
Oh, it's stormin', stormin' rain and
I'm as lonesome as a man can be.
Whoa, the way you've been treatin' me,
I realize it's not the same.
It's a down-right rotten,
Low down dirty shame
Lord it's a down right rotten
low down dirty shame
The way that you treated me
Lord I know I'm not to blame
Jelly jelly jelly
Jelly stays on my mind
Jelly jelly jelly
Jelly stays on my mind
Jelly roll killed my pappy,
And drove my mama stone blind.
05 Southbound (05:10)
by Dickey Betts
(c) 1973 & 1974 No Exit Music Co., Inc.
Well I'm Southbound, Lord I'm comin' home to you.
Well I'm Southbound, baby, Lord I'm comin' home to you.
I got that old lonesome feelin' that's sometimes called the blues.
Well I been workin' every night, travelin' every day.
Yes I been workin' every night, traveling every day.
You can tell your other man, sweet daddy's on his way.
Aww, ya better believe.
Well I'm Southbound.
Whoa I'm Southbound.
Well you can tell your other man, Sweet daddy's on his way.
(Guitar solo)
Got your hands full now baby, as soon as I hit that door.
You'll have your hands full now woman, just as soon as I hit that door.
Well I'm gonna make it on up to you for all the things you should have
had before.
Lord, I'm Southbound.
Yes I'm Southbound.
Whoa I'm Southbound, baby.
Said I'm Southbound.
Well I'm gonna make it on up to you for all the things you should
have had before.
(Piano solo)
(Guitar solo)
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Other reviews
By Mitch Buchannon
This is one hell of a record that I would have bought even if I didn’t like the music, even if I found the band repulsive.
'Jessica' represents joy for the sunny life, 'Ramblin' Man' expresses the desire for freedom.
