The Play All Night Playlist Project: Preface

Yes, a greatest hits collection changed my life.

It was 1993, the moment I discovered the Allman Brothers Band (ABB). Since that day, I have not gone a week of my life without listening to something Allman Brothers–related, including this very moment. Yes, a greatest hits collection changed my life. (from Play All Night!)

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Discovering new music is one of the best parts of reading music books but it can also be daunting. I’ve compiled some tracks that reflect the text for each chapter in the book.

BAKER’S DOZEN PLAYLIST of tracks (in the order references appear) that influenced my listening up to hearing the ABB for the “first” time.

The Allman Brothers Band A Decade of Hits 1969–1979

This is a compilation album of the Allman Brothers Band. Wikipedia reports it’s the band’s best-selling album in the U.S., certified double platinum (2 million in sales), I among them. I got my first copy in 1993. My favorite tracks were the ones that sounded classic rock but weren’t all over the radio: “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” “Blue Sky,” and, most important to me, “Dreams.”

1. Spotify

2. iTunes

3. Youtube

The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East.

Might as well introduce you to the source of the book’s inspiration. I love every song on here and I find “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” and “Whipping Post” to be among the truest examples of the ABB’s originality. I did not post these in the above playlist.

1. Spotify

2. iTunes

3. Youtube

Muddy Waters At Newport 1960.

My first Muddy Waters album. I was just learning guitar and I’d asked Dad for one for Christmas 1983/4 and he got this one for me. It started my lifelong love affair with the blues, which turned out to be Duane and the ABB’s deepest taproot as well. Muddy’s slide playing on the opening track — “I Got My Brand on You” — led me on an arduous quest to learn the technique. The two versions of “Got My Mojo Working” are bristling with excitement.

1. Spotify

2. iTunes

3. Youtube

I honestly didn’t *get* Robert Johnson until years after first hearing him. Now I can’t *not* hear the sheer brilliance of this music. There were only two records available, King of the Delta Blues Singers and King of the Delta Blues Singers Volume II and there’ve been at least two box sets issued in the cd era. I pulled three tracks for the playlist: “Cross Road Blues” because it’s the song Clapton covered with Cream; “Come on in My Kitchen” because it’s a tune the ABB played throughout their career; and “Hellhound on My Trail” because the imagery is so quintessential Johnson.

1. Spotify: Volume I; Volume II

2. iTunes: Volume I; Volume II

Eric Clapton

An Italian bootleg compilation of Clapton was my entrée into Slowhand, one I’ve never found on any streaming service, though all of the songs are available online. My choice cuts are those that fit into my own understanding of the possibilities for blues guitar. Clapton was a touchstone to me, and he was also a touchstone to the Allman Brothers. There are too many albums to mention, so I’ll list a few Clapton tracks that meant a lot to me. They’re all included in the Baker’s Dozen playlist

Songs:

The Yardbirds. I never got into the Clapton Yardbirds much at all, but I always loved Clapton’s guitar on “I Ain’t Got You.”

John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Three tracks show different sides of E.C.’s work on this project. He channels Albert King (and presages Cream) on “All Your Love;” takes a vocal turn on Robert Johnson’s “Ramblin’ on my Mind;” and makes sparks fly on “Steppin’ Out.”

Cream. “Crossroads” is not only a Robert Johnson cover, which led me to explore more about its source, it’s also some of the fiercest, intentional music I’d heard in my life at the time. It inspired generations of guitarists.

Blind Faith. “Can’t Find My Way Home” this gentle acoustic ballad has long captured my imagination.

Champion Jack Dupree. “Third Degree” this is a track from the Clapton compilation I had. I have always been a sucker for a slow blues — and just love Dupree’s sound.

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Long Live the ABB features ramblings on the intersection of music, culture, history, and place from historian Bob Beatty, author of Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East.