THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: BROTHERS OF THE ROAD
The Allman Brothers returned during 1981 with their third and last album by what can be considered their mid-career line-ups. It would also be their last studio album for nine years as the band would dissolve during 1982, with various members vowing never to play together again. Brothers Of The Road was recorded in an atmosphere of animosity and the quality of the music reflects that fact. The band also tried to modernize their sound as the songs are shorter with little of the improvisation that highlighted their best work. They also moved in a more rock direction, leaving their blues roots behind. Dickey Betts and Dan Toler were a very good guitar duo, but here there is little of the fire of their past efforts together. It all added up to an uninspired effort that ranks near the bottom of their catalogue. The band members would quickly go their separate ways. Allman and the Toler brothers would form the Gregg Allman Band and record and tour with moderate success. Betts, Trucks, Goldflies, and former member Chuck Leavell formed BHLT, which only lasted a couple of years. Dickey Betts would then go on to form his own band.
Tracklist:
1.Brothers Of The Road 2.Leavin' 3.Straight From The Heart 4.The Heat Is On 5.Maybe We Can Go Back To Yesterday 6.The Judgement 7.Two Rights 8.Never Knew How Much (I Needed You) 9.Things You Used To Do 10.I Beg Of You
Lineup:
Gregg Allman - lead vocals, organ, acoustic guitar, Dickey Betts - lead, slide, and acoustic guitar, lead vocals (1,4,6,7), Butch Trucks - drums, David "Rook" Goldflies - bass, Mike Lawler - pianos, synthesizers, clavinet, "Dangerous" Dan Toler - lead and rhythm guitar (3), David "Frankie" Toler - drums. Additional musicians: Charlie Daniels - fiddle on "Brothers Of The Road", Jimmy Hall - sax on "Never Knew How Much (I Needed You)", Mark "Tito" Morris - congas, timbales, percussion, Thomas Cain, Johnny Cobb, Jimmy Hall, Chip Young, Greg Guidry, Joy Lannon, Donna McElroy, Keith England, Jeff Silverman, Randall Hart, Peter Kingsberry, Joe Pizzulo - background vocals