The Allman Brothers Band

This double-disc live album spawned a thousand Southern-rock bands. Before the
appearance of At Fillmore East, most young, white Southern musicians either backed great
black soul singers, played country music or mimicked the Beatles. The Allman Brothers
Band changed all that, and with the release of the Fillmore concerts, American rock & roll
forever reclaimed its Southern roots. More than just being a social marker, thou... More >

Four sides comprising seven titles--only two of them repeated (ad infinitum) from the band's studio albums--and they sure do boogie. But even if Duane Allman plus Dickey Betts does equal Jerry Garcia, the Dead know roads are for getting somewhere. That is, Garcia (not to bring in John Coltrane) always takes you someplace unexpected on a long solo. I guess the appeal here is the inevitability of it all. (Grade - B-)