Eat a Peach

Always somehow the dribbling younger brother to the puff-chested mighty older sibling of "...Live At Fillmore East" from 1971 - February 1972's double-album-farewell to the cruelly taken Duane Allman is nonetheless the Allmans classic I return to more than even "Brothers And Sisters" (a 1973 LP I adore).Like most guys of my age, I love a good double-album. And here it sits in a Bezos warehouse for a paltry three quid in a top notch CD remaster – soiled, unloved and forgotten like a December 2019 election manifesto-promise to lob untold billions with financial abandon at some tiresomely worthy cause - like pesky nurses wanting a proper wage or those women with whiskers wanting a new pair of slippers come the cold spell. Oh dear...let's get to the mountainous jams my desert-island darlings...UK released 14 October 1997 (reissued July 1998) - "Eat A Peach" by THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND on Capricorn 531 261-2 (Barcode 731453126121) is part of their 'Capricorn Classics' Remastered CD Series and offers the entire 9-Track February 1972 part Live/part Studio double-album onto 1 CD; it plays out as follows (69:56 minutes):1. Ain't Wastin' Time No More [Side 1]2. Les Brers In A Minor3. Melissa4. Mountain Jam (Theme From "There Is A Mountain") [Sides 2 and Side 4 - see Notes]5. One Way Out [Side 3]6. Trouble No More7. Stand Back8. Blue Sky9. Little MarthaTracks 1 to 9 make up the double-album "Eat A Peach" - released February 1972 in the USA on Capricorn 2CP 0102 and in the UK on Capricorn K 67501.NOTES: On the original vinyl 2LP set the live "Mountain Jam" was spread across Side 2 and 4 clocking in at 19:37 and 15:06 minutes respectively; on this Capricorn Classics CD reissue it has been amalgamated into one track at 33:41 minutes and placed as Track 4 overall. Tracks 4, 5 and 6 were recorded live at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East venue in New York – the other six studio cuts at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. Produced by TOM DOWD - the double-album peaked at No. 4 in the US LP charts in 1972 (didn't chart UK).THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND was:GREGG ALLMAN - Lead Vocals, Organ, PianoDUANE ALLMAN - Lead and Slide Guitar (Tracks 4 to 8, Acoustic Guitar on Tracks 8 and 9)DICKEY BETTS - Lead and Slide Guitars (Tracks 1 to 9 - Acoustic Guitar on Track 9)BERRY OAKLEY - BassBUTCH TRUCKS - Drums and Percussion (Tracks 1 to 6 and 8)JAI JOHANNY JOHANSON - Drums and Congas (Tracks 1, 2 and 7 - Drums only on Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)The three-leafed double-side foldout inlay reproduces the Jim Holmes and David Powell painting artwork that graced the inner gatefold along with those song-by-song musician credits/original double-album recording data details that were on the insert. There are no new liner notes - mores the pity. The see-through CD spine sports the Capricorn Classics Logo, as does the inlay beneath the CD tray. Adequate but not too much to write home about for sure – still the SUHA GUR Remaster is superb - especially on those cool studio cuts like "Stand Back", "Melissa" and the short but gorgeous acoustic farewell from Duane - "Little Martha".April 1972 saw the slick sliding peach that is the Side 1 opener "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" issued as a US 45 on Capricorn CPR 0003 with Gregg's truly lovely "Melissa" as its flipside. Personally, I can't help thinking that "Melissa" would have been the better A - but whatever way you look at musical history - in my book - CRP 0003 is one those fabulous 45s where both sides rock - where both sways are equally brill. The gargantuan "Mountain Jam" is either a test-your-patience moment or testament to their Blues-Rock genius - probably a bit of both if truth be told. For sure in 2019 it's a brave soul indeed who can last the half-hour in full - but I still love it - especially Duane's playing that starts to explode from about 8 minutes in and that interplay between him and Betts. Betts would of course come to songwriting fruition with stuff "Jessica" on the Brothers And Sisters LP in 1973, but you can so hear how in 1972 he was already the unsung hero in the band overshadowed by his buddy's loss (he contributed "Blue Sky"). Their cover of Elmore James' "One Way Out" and the Muddy Waters classic "Trouble No More" allow the trio of guitar players to strut their rockin' Bluesy stuff. Gregg and Berry Oakley co-write the fab "Stand Back" - a Rock band in the 70ts getting funky while the album ends on the beautiful duetting acoustic guitars of Gregg and Dickey - 2:07 minutes of sweetness in "Little Martha".You can't help think that between 1970 and 1973 - this Southern Boogie Rock band were on fire and of course led the way for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker, Grinderswitch and even The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Few bands could produce two double albums year after year that remain essential to this day - but then the combo of talent that was The Allman Brothers Band was always that little bit special...

This recording shows that with good original masters, remastering to CD should not damage but enhance the recording. This is a very clear and well defined recording. The quality of the live tracks stand out for the quality of the bass recording as this allows the twin drummers and bass guitar playing to underpin the virtuoso guitar playing.A worthy addition to any collection.I have not set out to write reviews of the music content as “beauty is in the ears of the listener”. These reviews are about the quality (or not) of the recorded sound. To read about how the reviews are done please see my profile. • Clarity – Very good for the age of the recording • Channel separation - Good • Channel balance – Good, traditional left, right, centre • Sound Stage – OK a little flat but has some depth • Distortion – Non audible • Compression – Non audible • Atmosphere – OK even good but not great. It is difficult to tell that some of the tracks are live. However the recording is very clear and clean if slightly sterile • Bass – low frequencies – Clear well defined, the drums in particular are very good • Treble – high frequencies – Clear and well defined without being shrill • Vocals – Good, have a very pleasant warmth which makes the recording very listenableAs a general rule of thumb recordings from the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s are nearly always better on the original vinyl. Remasters often fail to please as it’s just not possible to make a silk purse from a sows ear, i.e. the original recording lacks the necessary detail to be processed digitally and show an audible improvement. Indeed such processing can make the sound worse.Modern recordings which have been processed digitally from start to finish can be as good as vinyl. CD’s are often unfairly criticised for being poor quality. This is not the case, it is the original recording or the process which is to blame. Modern “remasters” can both enhance and degrade a recording. The statement GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out) is the limiting factor. Ignore this at your cost.

After the whirlwind success and quality of the first 2 albums and the all time classic 'live at the Filmore' album,any band would be hard pressed to keep up that level of quality.Sadly after the tragedy of losing main man Duane Allman and the task becomes impossible.Disc 1 The original album ,a mixture of live and studio tracks including the classic 'Aint Wastin Time No More' and a another mammoth version of 'Mountain Jam clocking in at 33 mins .Disc 2 .. 9 tracks ,recorded live at the Filmore 1971,a generous 75 minutes or so,7 of the 9 tracks were unreleased at the time of release,they would all eventually turn up on the 'Filmore' 6 disc box set released years later.Highlights 'In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed' naturally and a 20 minute version of 'Whipping Post'This comes in a 4 panel fold out dig pak sleeve with a decent booklet.As expected the audio is excellent quality

This album is great. After listening to, and loving, the Fillmore East live album, I read that this album was a mixture of live Fillmore tracks as well as studio tracks. I bought this album on this basis as well as the fact Duane Allman is present on all but 3 tracks. This is a stellar album. Excellent musicianship, as you would expect, and a great mixture of song types. 3 songs are instrumental tracks, including the glorious half hour 'Mountain jam', which in my opinion is one the of the great recorded tracks from that era, as well as the closer,'Little Martha', Duane's farewell. The studio tracks are great. Highly recommended.

Lovely early Allman's music.