Play All Night!: Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East

Most Allman Brothers Band fans will never tire of reading or hearing about the band and its members, especially its founder, Duane Allman. Most times the story is very familiar, filled with oft-told quotes and beloved anecdotes.In this book, historian Bob Beatty unearths a surprising amount of unfamiliar - yet relevant - information from musicians and friends who shared time with Duane along his path from voracious guitar student to venerated legend.The book could have been made shorter by eliminating some overlapping and repeated information from chapter to chapter, but that would have been a disservice to most of its intended audience. For most Allman fans, being immersed in the story, the excitement and anticipation, is far more important than reaching the unavoidable conclusion.As a historical document, "Play All Night" is lengthy but essential; as a story it is detailed, loving and all-absorbing. I recommend a slow, meandering journey through the book, accompanied by a chapter-appropriate soundtrack: Allman Joys, Hourglass, studio sessions and pre-ABB projects, right through the first two ABB albums and pre-Fillmore East shows. By the time you hit "play" on Live at Fillmore East, you might feel like you've shared the journey and are in the front row, watching it all unfold.

I really enjoyed this book. Duane and the Allman Brothers Band were always one of my favorite bands and still are for the past 50+ years. This book does them justice. Great stories and great background history laid out within these pages. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!

Good writing, incredible photos, this book has it all for Allman Brothers fans. Highly Recommended!!

W

For someone like me, who only dreamed of being at the Fillmore East for the Allman Brothers in 1971, this book is the experience you're looking for. The author has a keen sense of the history and knows the whereabouts of the quotes, articles and players to add a unique perspective to the Sunami that was the Allman Brothers descending on the cathedral of rock-n-roll located at 105 Second Avenue in NYC , Bill Graham's Fillmore East.It culminates in a wave of euphoria captured on a 16 track tape machine and preserved for all to enjoy.Bob Beatty weaves a masterfully detailed journey that captures the dreams and vision of Duane Allman's creation/formation of one of rock's most enduring band.Duane's magnesium existence [burning hot & bright for a short time] that left a solid foundation for the original six and for those who soldiered on after his death is expertly documented in this tome.It focuses on the positves that the leader imparted on his bandmates and cajoled them through his intense skill set to ride along with him.Kudos to Mr. Beatty on an excellent work!

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Fantastic read! It really takes you inside Duane’s head as he strives to put together his vision of the best possible band ever culminating in their iconic performances at Fillmore East in 1971. And for Berry fans, there is a lot more about Berry in this book than in most. If you are an ABB fan this is a must have.

I was very eager to get my copy because I have written about the band and also know very close friends who played with them. Bob's book is an epic portrait of the heart and soul of each of the band members and their friends, but he also wonderfully captures the passion and motivation-dedication that the original six brought to their recordings and the stage. This has a warmth to it that I have found unique to other books written about the Allman Brothers. An absolute must-have for your shelf!

Exceptional storytelling....sequentially and methodically illustrating the assemblage of this gifted and masterful group by one of our generations greatest guitarists. No drama....no debauchery.....just eloquent storytelling!!

Ein sehr informatives Musikbuch

I got this recently and I am enjoying this book immensely. I have a numbers of books on the Allman Bothers Band but I’m finding out new things in this book, which is always nice. I haven’t finished it yet but the way it reads through the formative years leading up to what, IMHO, is the best live album of all times. Reading parts of this whilst listening to the corresponding albums is fun and when I get to the actual Fillmore album part in the book I will be listening to my 6 CD complete 1971 Fillmore recordings which is, naturally, a superb set.Finished the book, now, and really enjoyed it. If you’re an ABB fan then I cannot recommend this enough. Just get it and listen to the albums whilst reading.

Questo e’ quello che ho provato anch’io, come Miller Francis jr, al loro ascolto man mano che mi coinvolgevo nella loro musica, “the best contemperary music” come la definisce Bill Graham introducendoli nella serata della chiusura del Fillmore East, “Play all night” e’ il grido che risuona in un passaggio di you don’t love me in at Fillmore East, come il celebre “whipping post” alla domanda di Duane su che brano avrebbero voluto ascoltare i duemila fortunati del Fillmore newyorkese. Una musica mai ascoltata prima e che non stanca mai, non passa settimana che una delle decine di versioni del loro live giri sul mio Vpi Classic, ricavandone ogni volta sensazioni ed emozioni nuove, in certi momenti il sestetto sul palco raggiunge la potenza dei pieni orchestrali di un’orchestra sinfonica.Veniamo al libro di Bob Beatty, un crescendo dalle origini alle serate dei concerti del marzo 1971 al Fillmore fondate su citazioni e testimonianze di quanti hanno contribuito ed assistito al successo di una band voluta ed assemblata da Duane per realizzare il suo progetto musicale, fusion di rock, blues, jazz, country e spezie southern, 300 concerti l’anno nei primi due anni, 1969/70, per raggiungere la perfezione che solo in concerto il gruppo sapeva creare. Un cenno sugli anni successivi alla tragica morte di Duane 28 ottobre 1971, fino ai concerti del Beacon Theatre dell’ottobre 2014 con lo scioglimento definitivo del gruppo.Il libro e’ esaustivo e documentato, un po’ appesantito dalle citazioni dirette a decine per pagina, tanto da fornire una sterminata bibliografia, raccolta con certosina acribia dall’autore un vero appassionato ed amante del gruppo che noi stimiamo come il migliore dal vivo di tutti. Ho interrotto a metà’ la lettura di ‘the Philosophy (!?) of modern song” del Nobel Bob Dylan, mi riservo di finirlo per una recensione accurata, ma mi sembra che il nobel si sia un po’ montato la testa!