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Some more history for you Southern Rock scholars. This is where Duane and
Gregg Allman (spelled Greg for this release) found themselves after their adventures in California with The Hour Glass and right before they started
The Allman Brothers Band. A departure from the dictated course set out by their former employees, this is getting fairly close to what would eventually become known as Southern Rock. This is basically Duane and Gregg jamming with the guys from the
31st Of February (notably Butch Trucks, among others), around the same time they met up with a band called The Second Coming, featuring a guitarist by the name of
Dickey Betts. They would soon start jamming together, which would give birth to
The Allman Brothers Band. Yes, they're the founding fathers alright. Initially not meant for release, this was brought out in 1973 at the height of The Allmans popularity.
Musically this still has one foot firmly planted in their repertoire with The Hour Glass, while at the same time we notice some uneasy steps towards the more familiar sounding structures that The Allmans would lay down. Of greatest interest must be an early version of one of Gregg's sweetest songs, "Melissa", here surfacing for the first time (slightly different from the popular version). If you're interested in how Southern Rock grew to what it is today, I guess this is essential. Well
I know too well...
