Allman Brothers Band
Brothers and Sisters

THE REVIEW

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!!