Beginnings

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
For once, a record label actually gives us more bang for the buck, combining two indisputable classics--1969's self-titled debut and the 1970 follow-up Idlewild South--onto one glorious CD. Five urgent notes kick off Spencer Davis's "Don't Want You No More," and by the time that searing instrumental morphs into Gregg Allman's superb slow blues "It's Not My Cross to Bear," it's clear these Georgians mean business. Everyone talks of the Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon covers, the furious twin leads of Duane and Dickey Betts, Gregg's soulful voice and formidable organ, the percussion attack of Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, but what about the songwriting skills? Just start with "Cross to Bear," "Whipping Post," "Dreams," "Revival," "Elizabeth Reed"--are you kidding? These two records blend gritty blues, Southern soul, and psychedelic rock into an exciting creation, and they serve notice: the Allmans will contend for the title of best American rock & roll band. --Marc Greilsamer

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Customer reviews

review by: xdaoki date: 2008-01-07 rating:
Essencial cd
This cd contain the first and second ABB that are essencials to anyone blues/rock collection. The Almans Brothers with Duane is one of the best jam band in the world!

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review by: man of steel date: 2007-12-31 rating:
sweet classic allman bros.
what an amazing piece of music history, with the original crew...nice to have the first two records together and the blues and edgy toughness of greg's voice is wonderful...add this to the collection...

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review by: date: 2007-10-26 rating:
Southern blues-rock
Great classic selection of Allman originals. Did not notice any huge differences with the remastering, but then, my ears are much older. A must have if you want to hear the original Allman Bros. Band when all were still alive. Dual lead guitars, dual percussionists, distinct vocals, and more! An excellent value and a fine collectable if you like the southern blues-rock genre!

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review by: If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.-Albert Einstein date: 2007-08-26 rating:
Two essential Allman Brothers albums together but try and find the earlier edition
Sometimes older is better and I'm not just talking about the music itself but the mastering of the recordings as well. Two terrific albums on one CD, "Beginnings" represents The Allman Brothers with a very good album(the first album)and truly stunning second album. Duane and Gregg Allman had recorded previously (and Greg was a session player)with their band The Allman Joys (nice pun). These are both terrific albums and normally I'd encourage people to buy the new editions if they were remastered and better than previous editions. This version sounds pretty good but can't hold a candle to the individual albums and even the other version of "Beginnings" mastered by Dennis Drake.

Drake accurately captures the rich sound of the original mastertape without having to resort to cheap tricks like playing with the EQ or mastering them so loud that there is no dynamic range. Any of the Allman Brothers albums that are mastered by Dennis Drake (and you'll know because these were the earlier masterings but, unfortunately, Drake's credit isn't on the outside of the CD but the inside of the CD booklet.

The two albums included here are classic recordings with Duane in terrific form, Gregg belting out the blues like he had lived them and Dickey Betts adding some nice guitar flourishes and writing some terrific tunes that perfectly complimented Gregg's songs. If you can't find used copies of the earlier remasters done by Dennis Drake, this isn't bad. The best versions out there of the first two albums are the Drake and the recent Mofi reissue.


review by: Poorboy's Revenge date: 2007-06-09 rating:
First record I ever bought
This was the first record I ever bought in a store, along w/ CSNY's 4 Way Street. Still a classic. The first ever appearance of Gregg's voice at the top of Ain't My Cross to Bear sounds like a caged bear has been let into the studio. How did he sound so gnarly so young? and the songwriting -- Wow! They fit right in w/ the classic covers of Muddy et al. Everyone raves about Live at the Fillmore, but for me, this is "where it all begins".

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