Product Description

Three songs into these sessions, bassist Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident, eerily similar to the one that had claimed founding member Duane Allman a year earlier. Given these circumstances, it is amazing that, on balance, BROTHERS AND SISTERS is probably the Allman Brothers' strongest studio effort. Songwriter and guitarist Dickie Betts really hits his artistic stride here; his "Ramblin' Man", for example, not only has country soul to burn but also features one of the all-time great fadeouts, with the instrumentation building on itself and soaring into the stratosphere.
Founding member Gregg Allman, whose contributions lean more toward the band's blues roots, is in equally good form. In particular, "Wasted Words" and "Jelly Jelly" plumb seemingly bottomless depths of feeling, and the band, notably pianist Chuck Leavell, renders them with an effortless textural transparency and swing. Though not as essential as the Allman Brothers' first four albums, the superb writing and performances on BROTHERS AND SISTERS still place it among their finest releases.

Track Listing

1. Ain't Wastin' Time No More
2. Ramblin Man
3. Come And Go Blues
4. Jelly Jelly
5. Southbound
6. Jessica
7. Pony Boy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6868 in Music
• Released on: 1998-07-06
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 38 minutes

Customer Reviews

a great album
This album is an enjoyable experience from start to finish, the song writing is incredible.

Fantastic
Admittadly not gound breaking and never considered an essential record by anyone regards the history of Rock Music, but for me brilliant. Definatly one of my all time top five favourite albums. Despite the loss of key members, Duane Allman and Berry Oakley in traffic road accidents the band made a breathtaking album here. The opening track Wasted Words is the only one that dips below brilliant. No matter how good a mood you are in, the instrumental Jessica will always get you a touch happier, Come and Go Blues sounds so tired and lazy until a brilliant bridge and guitar solo. Jelly Jelly ( Stormy Monday )eases in then hits you with left hook of a guitar at the end. The Country sounding Rambling Man has brilliant guitar work..... need i go on , just buy it and enjoy.

Brothers, Sisters, Babies and Jeremy Clarkson
This cd represented a change in direction for the Allmans. With Duane Allman no longer around, the decision was taken to stick with Dickey Betts as a lone guitarist and to bring in Chuck Leavell on piano. Two on drums, two on keyboards and one on guitar. Sounds weird, huh?

The music is the real change of direction, with Dickey taking a bigger role in the writing and the vocals. Net result is that five of the tracks have a country/blues feel to them. The exceptions are tracks 3 (a bit Supertrampy) and 4 (more Greg Allman bluesy). The country ones are the ones I prefer.

Track 6 (Jessica) if you didn't know is the theme music for Top Gear (or was until they replaced the Allmans version with something horrible, modern and tinny).

And track 7 is a great one for getting my baby son to sleep. I can sit him in my lap and tap my hands to the music on his thighs, and he's gone. Totally sparko! But I'm not telling the missus my secret.

All in all, an excellent album. I rate it above Eat a Peach and just below Beginnings and the Fillmore.