Addendum: Duane Allman Studio Sampler

Given how much I fluffed Duane Allman in last week's entry, I thought it would be appropriate to back up my claims with some evidence. So, for your enjoyment and edification, here are some choice examples of Duane's virtuosity.

First, some diverse tracks from Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The first is the classic blues tune Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. Duane's addition to the track is a spare slide line that adds just the right emotional intensity. It's almost as valuable in it's absence as in its presence. Great lyrics on this track as well, and a convincing vocal delivery.

Contrast this with the absolutely incendiary guitar interplay with Clapton on Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad and the syncopated strut of Anyday. Taken all together, they illustrate some of the strength of Duane's technique as well as how stacked the Layla album is. It's got 14 cuts, and Layla itself is about my 8th favorite. If you're not familiar with the rest of the album, do yourself a favor and download it. This is desert island-level material here.

We also have Livin' On the Open Road, a Delaney and Bonnie and Friends tune. Just good solid slide guitar playing on this one from Duane. Delaney and Bonnie and Friends is notable mostly because Clapton stole the "Friends" backing band to form Derek and the Dominos. It's hard to overestimate the skills of these guys, especially Jim Gordon on drums. The guy lays down amazingly smooth fills. And with the rock solid bass of Carl Radle the rhythm is all good.

Derek and the Dominos also wouldn't have worked without Bobby Whitlock, whose vocal sparring with Clapton is part of what makes the record so unique, and great. Serviceable organ work too. Both have written that their vocal models were the legendary soul duo Sam and Dave, who would keep crowds spellbound by trading off verses and coming together for rousing choruses. Combine that with the production talents of the legendary Tom Dowd and you really have lightning in a bottle. For these guys, it was a Johnny Walker bottle with a speedball chaser (Radle and Gordon met tragic fates from their drug abuse, Clapton chose life - eventually), but we're here to remember the good times.

From the Layla album outtakes, there's Mean Old World, which gives a nice taste of Duane's acoustic chops. Finally, we have Dreams, an Allman Brothers tune which generally shows Duane off to his best advantage, especially live. This is a studio version but you'll get the point. Beautiful tune.

Also, I took Greg Allman's advice and checked out King Curtis' Live at the Fillmore West. I have to say it's a ton of fun, and King Curtis can really blow. Creative, rock solid interpretations of classic tunes and some great originals. It's ideal party music in that it's instrumental (I find lyrics distracting to conversation), familiar, yet novel. Plus a full "Memphis horns" section to get the tail feathers shaking.

So for a bonus, included in the Duane Allman sampler here are two tunes from King Curtis' Live at the Fillmore West: his original version of Soul Serenade and a cool instrumental take on a great 60's tune, Procul Harum's Lighter Shade of Pale.

Good stuff if I may say so myself. Enjoy.

Click here to download the Duane Allman Studio Sampler

Here's a bunch of info about Duane's gear and technique. Most of it is Greek to me, but anybody with knowledge of the instruments would find it interesting. It's certainly comprehensive.

Click here to purchase Derek and the Dominos Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs

Click here to purchase King Curtis Live at the Fillmore West

The Allman Brothers Band 08-26-71, A&R Studios, NYC

In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked Duane Allman #2 in its all-time best guitarists list, behind Hendrix. I tend to agree, noting that they couldn't be more different. Hendrix was Hendrix: raw, overwhelming, explosively original, unprecedented and unequaled. Duane was simply the best slide guitar player of all time and one of the great lead ax men as well. And not just because of his work with the Allman Brothers Band.

Duane Allman was a legendary session musician who added a sparkling top layer to dozens of tracks, many uncredited. His best known session work was with Derek and the Dominos on the Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs album, notably on the title track and, a personal favorite from the album, Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad.

But anytime someone recording at Muscle Shoals, Criteria, or later at A&R in New York needed some technically flawless yet improbably soulful lead or slide work, Duane was the man they called. Since he loved music more than anything else, Duane unfailingly obliged.

This particular short in-studio gig sounds the best of the Allmans bootlegs I have from the era. It's a stellar recording, if a little compressed (Duane comes through perfectly in the left channel). The setlist and performances are generally straightforward, probably because the 1hr format precluded two of their most expansive live staples: Whipping Post and Mountain Jam. Most of this material is "borrowed" from established blues musicians, with the notable exception of Dickey Betts' gorgeous In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.

But by straighforward, I mean nothing other than the finest blues-rock ever perpetrated.

The exception is a 20 minute exploration that melds the classic You Don't Love Me with variations on Soul Serenade by bandleader King Curtis. Curtis, a noted tenor saxophonist and friend of the Allmans, was killed only a few days before in Harlem by deranged drug addicts.

Then, time for the home state instrumental homage Hot 'Lanta, and even before they can be introduced, they're gone. In October, only a couple of months after this performance, we lost Duane forever in a motorcycle accident at age 25 (Jesus!). How much we lost we'll never know.

But the music he did leave behind is legendary and will live on forever. Hope the fishing is good up there Duane. Thanks.

Enjoy.

The Allman Brothers Band:

Gregg Allman - organ, vocals
Duane Allman - guitar, vocals
Dickey Betts - guitar, vocals
Berry Oakley - bass, vocals
Butch Trucks - drums
Jai Johanson - drums

Click here to download The Allman Brothers Band Live at A&R Studios 08-26-71

Click here to buy The Allman Brothers at Fillmore East (one word: classic)

Click here to buy the Duane Allman Anthology (some great non-ABB tracks)

Click here for Allman Brothers Tour Info (Derrick Trucks ain't bad)


Next Week: Steely Dan 03-20-74 Live at the Record Plant, Los Angeles

Welcome to Tesla Coils

I have decided to re-enter the "blogosphere" after an abortive attempt at a "general interest" blog last year. I've decided that the blogs I like have something to do with music, and live music in particular. Most of my favorite things to listen to are bootleg live shows. Unfortunately, the audio quality on bootlegs is generally spotty, especially if an audience mike is picking up every stray "woooooooo" and rambly conversation from the peanut gallery.

This weekend, listening to our first entry, I was struck by an interesting thought: many of my most cherished bootlegs were in-studio performances broadcast over the radio. The performances make up in polish what they lack in "spontaneity" and the recording quality is usually a fine mix of a multi-track recording that was meant for stereo home listening - not mixed for a PA system like most soundboard recordings.

I felt it was a good idea to share the music and some of my thoughts on the performers for each week and each particular performance.

So, I present Tesla Coils. The energy of live performances with the sound quality of studio recordings. Look for about one a week. Suggestions are more than welcome.