Allman Brothers Band undated publicity photo with, from left, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Jaimoe, Duane Allman, Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman. COURTESY PHOTO BY KIRK WEST/UNIVERSAL MUSIC ENTERPRISES /MERCURY RECORDS
The Allman Brothers Band delivered a beautiful balance with “Idlewild South,” the group’s first album to meld the blues-based songwriting of Gregg Allman with Dickey Betts’ country and jazz informed compositions. Singalong singles, heavy blues and a brilliant instrumental that would become even more exciting and epic in concert, it’s all here.
Released 45 years ago with various deluxe versions available December 4, “Idlewild South” followed the Allman Brothers Band’s self-titled debut that came out in 1969. That album relied solely on Gregg’s compositions and blues covers chosen by his brother, guitar god and bandleader Duane Allman. It’s a gripping collection featuring the definitive version of “Dreams” and the first “Whipping Post.” The only flaw, though, is that while Gregg is a top-shelf blues songwriter, that’s where he usually stays, and on that album he delivers dark blues through and through.
“Idlewild South” marks the debut of co-lead guitarist Betts as a songwriter and his impact is felt immediately with the opening track “Revival.” It’s a catchy sing along – “Love is everywhere” goes the chorus – that spoke to the hippie spirit of the time without sounding cheap or corny, a quality no doubt reinforced by Gregg’s grizzly growl. Still a joy to hear today, the song became the Allman Brothers’ first charting single.
Next, we get two of Gregg’s best songs. The bad-love blues of “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’” and the Allman Brothers' rollicking anthem “Midnight Rider.” The latter is a song of determination that for some strange reason didn’t become a hit until Gregg rerecorded a swampier version for his 1973 solo album “Laid Back.” Both renditions are equally appealing.
Clocking in at about seven minutes, the original studio version of Betts’ jazzy masterpiece “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” is the shortest on record. It’s also Betts’ least favorite available from the Duane Allman era, but the instrumental still mesmerizes in this truncated version. Side two of the original “Idlewild South” opens with a blast of blues written by Willie Dixon and completely owned by bassist Berry Oakley, who delivers an awesomely lascivious lead vocal on “Hoochie Coochie Man.” Gregg returns to the mic for the sweet and somber “Please Call Home” and then the fiery closer “Leave My Blues at Home.”
On the three-CD “Super Deluxe” version, disc one also includes the outtakes “Statesboro Blues,” similar to the “At Fillmore East” version but lacking the fire, and the “One More Ride” instrumental that is perhaps most notable for being the rare Allman-Betts co-write. Considering both songs already appeared on the “Dreams” box set they’re kind of a bummer and the alternate versions of “Revival” and “Midnight Rider” also included on disc one don’t add much to the ABB canon. There is a highlight, though. The previously unreleased studio take of “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” which at 8:20 features formidable guitar interplay between Duane and Betts with Gregg’s organ swirling around the righteous rhythms being created by Oakley and drummers Butch Trucks and Jaimoe.
Disc two and three is a remastered and expanded version of the “Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970” double CD first issued in 1990. Recorded nearly a year before the Allman Brothers played the shows resulting in "At Fillmore East,” “Ludlow Garage” is nearly as essential. For starters, it opens with a 10-minute “Dreams” featuring one of Gregg’s finest vocals matched by some of the warmest, soul-soothing slide guitar work on record courtesy of Duane. Allman Brothers fans also get a chance to hear Duane sing on “Dimples” with Oakley clearly having fun with “Hoochie Coochie Man.”
But the main reason to get the deluxe version featuring this show from 1970 is the second disc, an hour of instrumental virtuosity kicking off with the previously missing “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” (15 minutes) followed by the 45-minute “Mountain Jam.” Longer than any other “Mountain Jam” released by the Allman Brothers, it’s also the best, which is saying something considering the famous version covering much of “Eat a Peach.” Based on the Donovan ditty “There is a Mountain,” it’s the ultimate showcase for the sheer genius of the original Allman Brothers Band lineup. As for studio albums, the same could be said for “Idlewild South.”
RELATED: Here's the interview I did with Betts last year at his Osprey home. Here are the stories Betts told me behind "Revival," "In Memory of Elizabeth" (he reveals who the song is really about and why eh had to change her name)) and few of his other most famous songs including "Ramblin' Man."
RELATED: Our Allman Brothers Band archive features interviews I have done with Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks plus concert and album reviews.
Track listing for the three separate editions of the "Idlewild South" reissue:
Remastered CD:
1. Revival
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Midnight Rider
4. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
5. Hoochie Coochie Man
6. Please Call Home
7. Leave My Blues at Home
Deluxe Edition:
Disc One:
1. Revival
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Midnight Rider
4. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
5. Hoochie Coochie Man
6. Please Call Home
7. Leave My Blues at Home
Additional Material:
8. Statesboro Blues (Session Outtake) – Previously Unreleased New Mix
9. One More Ride (Session Outtake) – Previously Unreleased New Mix
10. Midnight Rider (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased
11. Dreams (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
12. Statesboro Blues (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
13. Trouble No More (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
14. Dimples (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
15. Every Hungry Woman (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
Disc Two:
1. I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
2. Hoochie Coochie Man (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
3. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970) – Previously Unreleased
4. Mountain Jam (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
Super Deluxe Edition:
Disc One:
1. Revival
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Midnight Rider
4. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
5. Hoochie Coochie Man
6. Please Call Home
7. Leave My Blues at Home
Additional Material:
8. Statesboro Blues (Session Outtake) – Previously Unreleased New Mix
9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Alternate Take) – Previously Unreleased
10. One More Ride (Session Outtake) – Previously Unreleased New Mix
11. Midnight Rider (Alternate Mix) – Previously Unreleased
12. Revival (Love Is Everywhere) (Mono Single Version)
Disc Two:
1. Dreams (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
2. Statesboro Blues (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
3. Trouble No More (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
4. Dimples (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
5. Every Hungry Woman (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
6. I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
7. Hoochie Coochie Man (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
Disc Three:
1. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970) – Previously Unreleased
2. Mountain Jam (Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
Blu-Ray Pure Audio, 5.1 (96kHz 24-bit Surround & Stereo)
1. Revival
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Midnight Rider
4. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
5. Hoochie Coochie Man
6. Please Call Home
7. Leave My Blues At Home
8. Statesboro Blues (Session Outtake)
9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Alternate Take)
10. One More Ride (Session Outtake)
11. Midnight Rider (Alternate Mix)
WADE TATANGELO has been an entertainment editor, reporter, columnist and reviewer at publications nationwide. He is a Hershey, Pa., native who grew up in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida. Wade joined the Herald-Tribune staff in 2013 and writes about various forms of fun including his weekly Bar Tab column. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4955.Follow @wtatangelo
