Gregg Allman Band - Nashville '88 (1988)

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To me, Gregg Allman was the main man of Southern Rock. Brother, what a shocker to learn of his recent passing. And to think I passed up my last chance to go see him live last year, because of other obligations, hoping to catch him next year or so. Well, not. Anyway, I guess most of you feel pretty much the same way I do. What a legacy, what a voice, such beautiful musical contributions over 50 years. To offer some small consolation (thanks Jean!), here is a pretty cool live show from 1988 of Gregg performing at The Cannery in Nashville, TN. It's an FM broadcast, so the recording is actually quite good and crisp sounding. Gregg, I'm gonna miss you. Still got your music, though. And a new one coming up soon? Let's hope it's a burner (I believe it could very well be!). Until then, get some Sweet Feeling.

Duane & Gregg Allman - Duane & Gregg Allman (1969)

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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...

Gregg Allman - Duck Tape Sessions

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These are the recordings made at Johnny Sandlin's Duck Tape Studio back in 1995. They were meant to become Gregg's "Searching For Simplicity" album. Instead they all turned it upside down and wound with quite a less earthier sound than these tapes. Some people even call it being butchered into the end result. Maybe. Truth is that I prefer these recordings as well. And Gregg Allman is my main man anyway. The first 11 songs are the same as on "Searching...". Then, instead of "Memphis In The Meantime" and Starting Over", there's another song, which closes this album, called "Please Let Me Know". I know all of you people own the "Searching..." album, so this makes for some nice comparing. Hey, it's the real thang! House of Blues.

Gregg Allman - The Inside Track (1990)

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Something different this time. It's Gregg Allman visiting on the A&E show "The Inside Track", hosted by Graham Nash. Apparently (I'm not from the US, so what do I know) this was/is a TV show, and on this one Gregg makes an appearance. This is just the audio, which is fine by me. Some amusing interviews (like the foot shooting party) and some entertaining acoustic performances. He plays "Melissa", "These Days", "Come And Go Blues" and "Midnight Rider". Nothing you haven't heard before, but very pleasing all the same. He's being accompanied by Craig Doerge. If anyone has the video, please, let me know. But I bet you will want this.

Various Artists - Hotels, Motels & Road Shows (1978)

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Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! It's the holiday season coming up alright. Yet another bag of goodies here. This album is the perfect example of what I dig about Southern Rock. Ladies and gentlemen: it's the jackpot!
I knew about this album for a long time, and I wanted it really bad. But I never found a copy. But how cool is that? To find it's everything I'd expected, and then some..
"Hotels, Motels & Road Shows" is a compilation album, chockful of Capricorn recording artists. But this is no cheezy-cheapo-cash-in greatest hits of the label. No, no, no, no. It's a 1978 Rebel Jam! All exciting live performances, classic Southern Rock, and a guaranteed good time. And these tracks haven't been released on albums by the artists themselves. And some artists never released a live album to begin with. The artists: Stillwater, Elvin Bishop, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Bramlett, Dickey Betts, Grinderswitch, Sea level, , The Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie and Dixie Dregs. You get the whole spectrum of Southern Rock on one album. Well, it gets very close to that. This is really, really good. Up among the bestest. For real!

Gregg Allman & The Alabama All-Star Soul Revue (1994)

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This is the Gregg Allman live album to have. Unfortunately it has never been released, but it's circulating amongst traders. This is Gregg doing his Southern Soul thing. And it's red hot and cooking. Great sound, great band, great tracklist. It's much better than any official release. Smokin'.

Allman And Woman - Two The Hard Way (1977)

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Gregg Allman married Cher and obviously had to make an album with his new wife. It was something else... Mocked and ridiculed by the press at that time, but how do we feel about it now?
I've always liked this album. Sure it's slick, it's sugary sweet and has nothing to do whatsoever with The Allman Brothers Band. It's soul with a bit of rock, some funk and really nice vocals. Look, I'm no Cher fan, but she pulls this off quite nicely. And I even enjoy their vocals together. They match to my ears. These are the kind of songs I would want to sing with my wife!
This is the 128 kbps version. I also had the 320 kbps version (that's circulating in a Gregg Allman discography torrent), but this one definitely sounds far better. It's only love...