A few years ago I developed a surprise fondness for this, based off the title track popping up unexpectedly on my shuffle during a listening session. At first I laughed a bit nervously at how I enjoyed it, then I just realized I was grooving on it after a few more listens. The album is certainly a type of nadir for the Brothers, but I chalked it up to a sign of my deep love for them that even at this point, they could put together a song that makes me feel those feelings I do when the Allman Brothers Band puts it on.
yeah that video is pretty good in spots isn't it? If you check the link in the post, I shared the FULL video--lots of snippets appear, but this is the whole thing.
Bob, I never bought this album. I have most of their catalog...but I really stayed away during the "non Jaimoe" period. The video shows a pretty competent band, but it seems to be lacking something. I'm glad they never gave up the ship and eventually we got the final iteration that brought back the fire.
It has like a Doobie Brothers harmony type of sound in spots. And I like the DBs (with both Johnson and McDonald on lead vocals). But this is like the Doobies' bastard cousin. Almost like someone was trying to make Gregg into Michael McDonald to some extent. Two totally different type of vocal talents. But yeah, mostly terrible. The ABB were never the greatest lyricists in the world, but this was a new low in spots.
Looking for some bright spots, "Leavin" is not a bad blues tune. Gregg and Dickey doing yeoman's work there.
the Doobies' comparison is spot-on and I remember in that era conflating Gregg and McDonald (I was ~10/11). The Allmans from Solid Gold, the Doobies from the tv show What's Happening?
Brothers of the Road is compromised. It's ABB with an arm tied behind their backs and a foot nailed down. I can hear it in that album, and it just annoys me. 1980 Reach for the Sky tour was my first ABB concert. Didn't really care for that album, I mean it was OK. however, I never bought it. I was there for the good stuff.
But I do like the album Win, Lose or Draw. Why? Because of High Falls and Can't Lose What You Never Had...and I really love the Song Win, Lose or Draw and there's a reason though it may sound corny but it's one of the reasons Gregg Allman is my favorite singer of all time. The way Gregg evokes strong emotion, that feeling of loneliness and pain in the verse,
Cause each time I think of your soft hand in mine
I lay here and die one more time
Tears came to my eyes. Actual fuckin tears. Gregg hit me right in the heart, man. He almost made me cry. Maybe I was, I don't know. No singer or song could ever do that to me. Gregg did. Thats why I love the Allman Brothers Band. That's why I like WLoD.
outstanding take. WLoD is the ABB's 6th best album at that point. But that's like saying "what's your 6th favorite flavor of ice cream?" BotR is barely even ice cream to me.
Of "Win, Lose, or Draw"--Gregg sang the vocals from LA and sounds like he has a cold. such a killer song ruined by execution.
My ABBsolute favorite version is Eric Church from the Gregg tribute show in 2014. Includes Jack Pearson on guitar and Chuck Leavell on piano.
Agree with every word. WLD is a very underrated song that I wish they had kept in the live set assuming they ever did it live. And sorry to the author but those Arista albums are terrible with very little to recommend them.
I believe those 2 albums are about as good as you were gonna get given the musical climate and the state of affairs the ABB were in. That said there are some great songs on both albums. Less on BotR
Straight from the Heart is so NOT the Allmans it’s not even funny. I still can’t believe that was the single release. A record company trying to make the Brothers something they were never about. No vision or trust by Arista
Hi. Very interesting discussions on much criticised album.
For those interested here is an article I wrote for Kudzoon on what they did NEXT…
Subject: Allman Brothers 1982 Unreleased Album
Conventional Allman Brothers history books have them breaking up on January 23rd 1982.
The final performance being documented as a TV show run through of the aptly titled “Leavin” from the previous year’s “Brothers Of The Road” album.
Is that really the case though?
There is the oft used picture of a band, now featuring Chuck Leavell, posing against a very large tree.
Chuck did not play in that final TV performance. So what is the real story?
In October 1982 there is an article in a trade paper called “Record” featuring an interview with ABB Manager Bert Holman about the next Allman Brothers album being in limbo due to their record company Arista withdrawing support.
Several tracks are mentioned in the piece –
“Lead Me On”, “Let Me Ride”, “Anything Goes”, “Feel Your Love” (a Chuck Leavel composition) and “Lorraine” – credited to Johnny Cobb.
So what became of these tracks...
Were they recorded? Do they still exist? Are they any good?
The answers to those questions are “yes”, “some, maybe all” and “that depends”…
There exists a collection of tracks purporting to be the “Unreleased Allman Brothers 1982 album”.
As this section of Kudzoo is all about “Unreleased Albums” we had better get into it!
Rather than take the tracks as they come on my review copy, I have organised into three very distinct groupings –
Dickey Betts sung tracks – “Lorraine”, “Let Me Ride”, "Nobody Wants To Be Alone"
Gregg Allman sung tracks – “Anything Goes", "Feel Your Love", “Make It At All”
Outside demos – “Helpless”, “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”, “Face The Music”, “Handle With Care”, “Blinded By Love”,
Of these “Outside demos” I can determine no Allman Brothers involvement at all on them – with the exception of “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”, which clearly has Dickey on guitar.
This track was quite often part of the Betts Hall Leavell Trucks (BHLT – Dickeys first post ABB band) set list – with Jimmy Hall singing.
So – what are the tracks like?
The Dickey tracks are all very similar – fitting into his “rock ‘n’ roll” style. All benefit from the signature sound of Chuck Leavell on keys throughout.
“Lorraine” will be familiar to BHLT fans, a high energy slide guide rocker with a great chorus. “Lorraine – I thought it would sing good!” says Dickey in an interview at the BHLT TV show performance (Now on DVD!). Nice solos from Dickey and Chuck, with performances and arrangement mirroring the BHLT version.
“Let Me Ride” of course cropped up on Seven Turns – but this is a rollicking 12 bar interpretation. (I prefer the country solo acoustic arrangement to both of these on the “Brothers Of The Road” video). Once again this rocking arrangement is how BHLT handled the song.
“Living Alone” bears striking similarities to “I Got A Right to be Wrong” from the Reach For The Sky Album a couple of years earlier, particularly in the linking guitar riffs, but there is no slide on this demo. Of these three tracks, this is the only one I cannot find a version of anywhere else. As per all these tracks, it features nice Chuck and Dickey short and snappy solos.
So, Dickey’s tracks are fun and high energy but do not offer anything new in terms of style or approach.
At least two of the three were used in BHLT - suiting that band's style, and not changing so much from what we hear here.
Dickey went on to debut yet more new tracks with BHLT such as “Pick A Little Boogie”, “Stop Knocking At My Door” and "Rollin'" to name a few.
Gregg’s tracks show an interesting development from his ABB sound moving clearly towards his “I’m No Angel” solo style – but without the 80's production values of that album, which proved to be more of a curse than a blessing in the long run, dating those particular efforts from 1987 to that particular time, (a problem the follow up "Bullets" album did not have). It would be interesting to hear the GAB demo tape versions from 1985 (that allegedly ended up in the A&R bin at Epic...), to see how they compared.
“Rain” from the “Dreams” box set could well be something featured on there.
So, what of these 1982 Gregg sung efforts?
“Anything Goes” - is remarkably close to the arrangement on “I’m No Angel” – a mature AOR style rocker with a funky style, and nice guitar touches from Dan Toler.
“Feel Your Love” - the above mentioned track by Chuck Leavell, is appropriately a piano ballad, nice feel and tempo which some very nice Dan Toler solo work.
“Make It At All ”- sounds very much like an “I’m No Angel” style track – up tempo and bright, well sung by Greg, with more decent Danny Toler playing.
Whilst not providing any knockout blows, a perfectly acceptable group of “album tracks”, looking for some killer additional material to make a good album
The problem comes with the “Outside Demos”….
Without any ABB participation (the exception being “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”), there is nothing to lift them out of being some quite ordinary performances and compositions.
If these were coupled with the Gregg and Dickey tracks, even with the ABB playing them, it would have pushed the release into being “disappointing” – without a “Brothers Of The Road”, “The Judgement” or even “Never Knew How Much” stand out track to lift it as on the “Brothers Of The Road” album.
“Helpless” – an AOR rockerswith some “Brothers Of The Road” album leanings. Big chorus – not much to offer. Perhaps geared towards a Gregg vocal?
“Face The Music” – A Bo Diddley beat style tune – maybe geared towards a Dickey vocal? Rockin’ sounds from the guitars – its OK . A little harmonica too.
“Blinded By Love” – Not at all suitable for the Brothers. More like a commercial 38 Special track.
“Handle With Care” – A very sappy ballad; even Gregg would have trouble selling this….!
“Need Somebody Bad Tonight” – As used by BHLT – a mid tempo rocker, played too straight here so it lacks groove, However it has a decent hook / chorus. Dickey shines on some cool guitar!
With the exception of “Need Somebody..” – if you find this collection, these can be skipped with no regrets.
As a footnote – also sometimes included on this hard to find collection, are a group of demos for the “Brothers Of The Road” album.
Amongst performances of the eventual album tracks “Leavin’”, “The Heat Is On” and “The Judgement” (all seemingly live in the studio) this throws up three more unheard / unreleased tracks – all with Gregg & Dickey present and correct!
“I'm Really In Love With You” – is an up tempo track major key track with a Dickey Betts vocal, sadly without any guitar work – perhaps awaiting an overdub?
“Worth It All” – is a mid-pace Gregg track with a weak lyric that doesn’t really go anywhere, but is sung in Gregg’s inimitable style.
“The Two Of Us ” – this is the pick of the bunch, a Gregg vocal with plenty of Hammond, an initial descending chord sequence like "These Days" morphing more into something like Eddie Hinton's "Everybody Needs Love", with almost a gospel feel. Something certainly worthy of a Gregg solo release.
By dropping the 4 “Outside Demos”, keeping “Need Somebody Bad Tonight” (which is not a bad tune, in a more modern style), and adding the three “Brothers Of The Road” unreleased tracks we have a pretty decent “unreleased” 10 track album to enjoy!
So – what is missing in action….
On my review copy there is no “Lead Me On” mentioned in the article – which ended up on I’m No Angel.
Even “No-One to Run With” was around at this time (possibly later – we would need Kirk West to clarify for this…)
The biggest omission is the great performance given by Mike Lawler (on acoustic guitar) and Dickey Betts of “Danny Blue Boy” in the hotel room on the “Brothers Of The Road” video.
THIS could have been the best track on the album – but I guess it just did not fit the 1980s… it doesn’t however stop its country leanings, joyful lyric and monster chorus from being a timeless Dickey Betts sung Mike Lawler / Dickey Betts penned classic!
So – where can this all be heard?
Not being commercially available, you will have to rummage for this on some file sharing sites, and for you Allmans completists I recommend a listen.
Not something for you 80-81 to haters, but, if like me, you have to hear EVERYTHING Gregg and Dickey has over their varied careers, it’s worth checking out.
What we really need is a true “rarities project” rounding up these things (and others from Gregg and particularly Dickey’s solo careers) into a multi CD set where they can be quietly enjoyed out of context of one of the most troubled periods of the band. Bill Levinson are you listening?!
A few years ago I developed a surprise fondness for this, based off the title track popping up unexpectedly on my shuffle during a listening session. At first I laughed a bit nervously at how I enjoyed it, then I just realized I was grooving on it after a few more listens. The album is certainly a type of nadir for the Brothers, but I chalked it up to a sign of my deep love for them that even at this point, they could put together a song that makes me feel those feelings I do when the Allman Brothers Band puts it on.
my dude! Can't say I find anything to like in this record...there's just too much good music by the ABB to enjoy 🍄
The album is forgettable, but ABB were never an albums band any way. The Brothers Of The Road DVD is fantastic (from that Gainesville 82 show)
yeah that video is pretty good in spots isn't it? If you check the link in the post, I shared the FULL video--lots of snippets appear, but this is the whole thing.
Bob, I never bought this album. I have most of their catalog...but I really stayed away during the "non Jaimoe" period. The video shows a pretty competent band, but it seems to be lacking something. I'm glad they never gave up the ship and eventually we got the final iteration that brought back the fire.
It's the one ABB album I do not own a copy of. That's intentional :)
It has like a Doobie Brothers harmony type of sound in spots. And I like the DBs (with both Johnson and McDonald on lead vocals). But this is like the Doobies' bastard cousin. Almost like someone was trying to make Gregg into Michael McDonald to some extent. Two totally different type of vocal talents. But yeah, mostly terrible. The ABB were never the greatest lyricists in the world, but this was a new low in spots.
Looking for some bright spots, "Leavin" is not a bad blues tune. Gregg and Dickey doing yeoman's work there.
the Doobies' comparison is spot-on and I remember in that era conflating Gregg and McDonald (I was ~10/11). The Allmans from Solid Gold, the Doobies from the tv show What's Happening?
Brothers of the Road is compromised. It's ABB with an arm tied behind their backs and a foot nailed down. I can hear it in that album, and it just annoys me. 1980 Reach for the Sky tour was my first ABB concert. Didn't really care for that album, I mean it was OK. however, I never bought it. I was there for the good stuff.
But I do like the album Win, Lose or Draw. Why? Because of High Falls and Can't Lose What You Never Had...and I really love the Song Win, Lose or Draw and there's a reason though it may sound corny but it's one of the reasons Gregg Allman is my favorite singer of all time. The way Gregg evokes strong emotion, that feeling of loneliness and pain in the verse,
Cause each time I think of your soft hand in mine
I lay here and die one more time
Tears came to my eyes. Actual fuckin tears. Gregg hit me right in the heart, man. He almost made me cry. Maybe I was, I don't know. No singer or song could ever do that to me. Gregg did. Thats why I love the Allman Brothers Band. That's why I like WLoD.
outstanding take. WLoD is the ABB's 6th best album at that point. But that's like saying "what's your 6th favorite flavor of ice cream?" BotR is barely even ice cream to me.
Of "Win, Lose, or Draw"--Gregg sang the vocals from LA and sounds like he has a cold. such a killer song ruined by execution.
My ABBsolute favorite version is Eric Church from the Gregg tribute show in 2014. Includes Jack Pearson on guitar and Chuck Leavell on piano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEVuAQmvjaA
Agree with every word. WLD is a very underrated song that I wish they had kept in the live set assuming they ever did it live. And sorry to the author but those Arista albums are terrible with very little to recommend them.
author here, no apologies necessary for not liking the Arista records. the post is titled “worst ABB record”—I have no love for them.
I believe those 2 albums are about as good as you were gonna get given the musical climate and the state of affairs the ABB were in. That said there are some great songs on both albums. Less on BotR
Straight from the Heart is so NOT the Allmans it’s not even funny. I still can’t believe that was the single release. A record company trying to make the Brothers something they were never about. No vision or trust by Arista
Hi. Very interesting discussions on much criticised album.
For those interested here is an article I wrote for Kudzoon on what they did NEXT…
Subject: Allman Brothers 1982 Unreleased Album
Conventional Allman Brothers history books have them breaking up on January 23rd 1982.
The final performance being documented as a TV show run through of the aptly titled “Leavin” from the previous year’s “Brothers Of The Road” album.
Is that really the case though?
There is the oft used picture of a band, now featuring Chuck Leavell, posing against a very large tree.
Chuck did not play in that final TV performance. So what is the real story?
In October 1982 there is an article in a trade paper called “Record” featuring an interview with ABB Manager Bert Holman about the next Allman Brothers album being in limbo due to their record company Arista withdrawing support.
Several tracks are mentioned in the piece –
“Lead Me On”, “Let Me Ride”, “Anything Goes”, “Feel Your Love” (a Chuck Leavel composition) and “Lorraine” – credited to Johnny Cobb.
So what became of these tracks...
Were they recorded? Do they still exist? Are they any good?
The answers to those questions are “yes”, “some, maybe all” and “that depends”…
There exists a collection of tracks purporting to be the “Unreleased Allman Brothers 1982 album”.
As this section of Kudzoo is all about “Unreleased Albums” we had better get into it!
Rather than take the tracks as they come on my review copy, I have organised into three very distinct groupings –
Dickey Betts sung tracks – “Lorraine”, “Let Me Ride”, "Nobody Wants To Be Alone"
Gregg Allman sung tracks – “Anything Goes", "Feel Your Love", “Make It At All”
Outside demos – “Helpless”, “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”, “Face The Music”, “Handle With Care”, “Blinded By Love”,
Of these “Outside demos” I can determine no Allman Brothers involvement at all on them – with the exception of “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”, which clearly has Dickey on guitar.
This track was quite often part of the Betts Hall Leavell Trucks (BHLT – Dickeys first post ABB band) set list – with Jimmy Hall singing.
So – what are the tracks like?
The Dickey tracks are all very similar – fitting into his “rock ‘n’ roll” style. All benefit from the signature sound of Chuck Leavell on keys throughout.
“Lorraine” will be familiar to BHLT fans, a high energy slide guide rocker with a great chorus. “Lorraine – I thought it would sing good!” says Dickey in an interview at the BHLT TV show performance (Now on DVD!). Nice solos from Dickey and Chuck, with performances and arrangement mirroring the BHLT version.
“Let Me Ride” of course cropped up on Seven Turns – but this is a rollicking 12 bar interpretation. (I prefer the country solo acoustic arrangement to both of these on the “Brothers Of The Road” video). Once again this rocking arrangement is how BHLT handled the song.
“Living Alone” bears striking similarities to “I Got A Right to be Wrong” from the Reach For The Sky Album a couple of years earlier, particularly in the linking guitar riffs, but there is no slide on this demo. Of these three tracks, this is the only one I cannot find a version of anywhere else. As per all these tracks, it features nice Chuck and Dickey short and snappy solos.
So, Dickey’s tracks are fun and high energy but do not offer anything new in terms of style or approach.
At least two of the three were used in BHLT - suiting that band's style, and not changing so much from what we hear here.
Dickey went on to debut yet more new tracks with BHLT such as “Pick A Little Boogie”, “Stop Knocking At My Door” and "Rollin'" to name a few.
Gregg’s tracks show an interesting development from his ABB sound moving clearly towards his “I’m No Angel” solo style – but without the 80's production values of that album, which proved to be more of a curse than a blessing in the long run, dating those particular efforts from 1987 to that particular time, (a problem the follow up "Bullets" album did not have). It would be interesting to hear the GAB demo tape versions from 1985 (that allegedly ended up in the A&R bin at Epic...), to see how they compared.
“Rain” from the “Dreams” box set could well be something featured on there.
So, what of these 1982 Gregg sung efforts?
“Anything Goes” - is remarkably close to the arrangement on “I’m No Angel” – a mature AOR style rocker with a funky style, and nice guitar touches from Dan Toler.
“Feel Your Love” - the above mentioned track by Chuck Leavell, is appropriately a piano ballad, nice feel and tempo which some very nice Dan Toler solo work.
“Make It At All ”- sounds very much like an “I’m No Angel” style track – up tempo and bright, well sung by Greg, with more decent Danny Toler playing.
Whilst not providing any knockout blows, a perfectly acceptable group of “album tracks”, looking for some killer additional material to make a good album
The problem comes with the “Outside Demos”….
Without any ABB participation (the exception being “Need Somebody Bad Tonight”), there is nothing to lift them out of being some quite ordinary performances and compositions.
If these were coupled with the Gregg and Dickey tracks, even with the ABB playing them, it would have pushed the release into being “disappointing” – without a “Brothers Of The Road”, “The Judgement” or even “Never Knew How Much” stand out track to lift it as on the “Brothers Of The Road” album.
“Helpless” – an AOR rockerswith some “Brothers Of The Road” album leanings. Big chorus – not much to offer. Perhaps geared towards a Gregg vocal?
“Face The Music” – A Bo Diddley beat style tune – maybe geared towards a Dickey vocal? Rockin’ sounds from the guitars – its OK . A little harmonica too.
“Blinded By Love” – Not at all suitable for the Brothers. More like a commercial 38 Special track.
“Handle With Care” – A very sappy ballad; even Gregg would have trouble selling this….!
“Need Somebody Bad Tonight” – As used by BHLT – a mid tempo rocker, played too straight here so it lacks groove, However it has a decent hook / chorus. Dickey shines on some cool guitar!
With the exception of “Need Somebody..” – if you find this collection, these can be skipped with no regrets.
As a footnote – also sometimes included on this hard to find collection, are a group of demos for the “Brothers Of The Road” album.
Amongst performances of the eventual album tracks “Leavin’”, “The Heat Is On” and “The Judgement” (all seemingly live in the studio) this throws up three more unheard / unreleased tracks – all with Gregg & Dickey present and correct!
“I'm Really In Love With You” – is an up tempo track major key track with a Dickey Betts vocal, sadly without any guitar work – perhaps awaiting an overdub?
“Worth It All” – is a mid-pace Gregg track with a weak lyric that doesn’t really go anywhere, but is sung in Gregg’s inimitable style.
“The Two Of Us ” – this is the pick of the bunch, a Gregg vocal with plenty of Hammond, an initial descending chord sequence like "These Days" morphing more into something like Eddie Hinton's "Everybody Needs Love", with almost a gospel feel. Something certainly worthy of a Gregg solo release.
By dropping the 4 “Outside Demos”, keeping “Need Somebody Bad Tonight” (which is not a bad tune, in a more modern style), and adding the three “Brothers Of The Road” unreleased tracks we have a pretty decent “unreleased” 10 track album to enjoy!
So – what is missing in action….
On my review copy there is no “Lead Me On” mentioned in the article – which ended up on I’m No Angel.
Even “No-One to Run With” was around at this time (possibly later – we would need Kirk West to clarify for this…)
The biggest omission is the great performance given by Mike Lawler (on acoustic guitar) and Dickey Betts of “Danny Blue Boy” in the hotel room on the “Brothers Of The Road” video.
THIS could have been the best track on the album – but I guess it just did not fit the 1980s… it doesn’t however stop its country leanings, joyful lyric and monster chorus from being a timeless Dickey Betts sung Mike Lawler / Dickey Betts penned classic!
So – where can this all be heard?
Not being commercially available, you will have to rummage for this on some file sharing sites, and for you Allmans completists I recommend a listen.
Not something for you 80-81 to haters, but, if like me, you have to hear EVERYTHING Gregg and Dickey has over their varied careers, it’s worth checking out.
What we really need is a true “rarities project” rounding up these things (and others from Gregg and particularly Dickey’s solo careers) into a multi CD set where they can be quietly enjoyed out of context of one of the most troubled periods of the band. Bill Levinson are you listening?!
excellent and thank you.
Here’s that photo with Chuck. the lineup that never recorded a note made an album cover
https://www.discogs.com/release/3759143-The-Allman-Brothers-Band-Legendary-Hits/image/SW1hZ2U6NDA3NzYwMTE=
post a link to your full piece and i’ll share that. I did reference some of those songs here as well.
I think the Jan 82 date is convenient as their last show until the reunions in 86 and 89
https://content.yudu.com/libraryHtml/A43zfd/KudzooMagazine38July/reader.html?page=5&origin=reader