30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing. Some of their best live material ever, August 8, 2004
Opening with a thoroughly bizarre introduction, and equipped with the unwieldy handle of "Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970", this excellently remastered double live album captures The Allman Brothers Band in July of 1970, eight months before the legendary Fillmore shows.
The sound is very, very good, crisp and realistic, and the young band plays with authority and skill (singer and organ player Gregg Allman was 22 at the time, and guitarist Duane Allman little more than a year older). Duane Allman and Dickey Betts play off the muscular organ riffs of Gregg, laying down energetic, eager and lean renditions of songs like "Every Hungry Woman", "Trouble No More", and "Statesboro Blues", versions which have a tough, rock n' roll-like immediacy sometimes lost on longer, more improvisational versions of those songs.
Disc I is the longest, although not by much. Duane Allman's slide guitar burns all the way through, and he and Dickey Betts lay down galvanizing licks behind Gregg's powerful vocals on "Trouble No More", "Every Hungry Woman" and "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'". Thom Doucette adds gritty blues harmonica to several numbers, bassist Berry Oakley sings a great, rough version of "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man", and the 11-minute "Elizabeth Reed" features more high-class guitar playing than most full-lenght CDs.
"Whipping Post" includes a l-o-n-g instrumental jam which will probably appeal mostly to diehards, and this is not the best version I've heard of that song, but almost everything else on the first disc is top-notch, including the coolest, most swinging "Mountain Jam" ever!
Disc II features the original mixes of July 7th's performances of "Whipping Post" and "Statesboro Blues", first released on "First Great Rock Festivals Of The Seventies". ("Every Hungry Woman" from disc I has seen the light of day before, too; everything else is previously unreleased.)
This version of "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'" is even more magnificent than the one on disc I, a tough-as-nails rendition, all howling slide guitars and pounding drums, courtesy of Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johnson. And this very tight, four-minute "Statesboro Blues" features, among its many other virtues, three magnificent, fiery guitar solos, including the opening one which threatens to ignite the CD player.
The 28-minute (!) "Mountain Jam" features a guest appearance by Johnny Winter, who plays third guitar, and if you like 28-minute Allman Brothers jams (not everybody does), this version will thrill you.
Disc II's 13-minute take on "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" is unusually beautiful, filled with urgency and power, and while the 9-minute "They Call It Stormy Monday" is somewhat more subdued than the Fillmore version, it has lots of soul and some fine guitar playing as well.
Lots of listeners have already made up their mind and decided that the Allmans' "At Fillmore East" album is the greatest thing ever as far as early live Allman Brothers is concerned, and this album probably won't change their mind. But to me, these two discs match the Fillmore concerts every step of the way, due to the quality of the performances as well as the exceptionally clear sound and wonderful three-dimensional mixes.
Very highly recommended.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Real Find in a Great Year for ABB Releases- 4&1/2 stars, October 29, 2003
It's been an overwhelming year in regards to the quantity of ABB releases/goods in 2003. With a long list including the Beacon dvd, the Instant Live shows, & along with the recent gem> the 9/19/71 archive release... the Atlanta Pop release from Sony. (For more information, check out the offcial ABB web page.)
These recordings have been circulating in the trading circles(you know who you are) for a bit, but NEVER in this recording quality. The quality of these recordings is nothing short of breathtaking. There was a neat little promotion for this release through the Sony web site that included a promo poster as well(I think it's over though).
Re: the shows
It's an essential recording that is just as important as the Fillmore East album. Their "sound" had yet to reach Fillmore levels, but it's an interesting contrast to the Fillmore shows as well: the large festival atmosphere permeates with an overabundance of energy. Just listening to Duane Allman & Berry Oakley (listen to him on Hoochie Coochie Man) work the crowd is a guilty pleasure for ANY Allman Brothers Band fan.
My personal preference between the two shows is the 7/3/70, as I like the flow of the setlist(even w/ the rain delay). Duane Allman is simply awesome throughout the gig- recommended are Dreams & his solos on Mountain Jam. The guest appearance by Johnny Winter on the second MJ is a mixed bag.... he does not add anything musically, & some may even find him to be a distraction. One should also note, that the Mountain Jam w/ Winter also has been edited down, as the original running time is much longer (in the 40 min. range). How do I know this? Well, I have it, as do countless other traders. So people that have had the show should hold onto their Captain Skipper remaster.... but should get this release as well due to the stunning sound quality & packaging.
Although the recent Dickey Betts split has caused a division of sorts to the many faithful in the ABB legion, w/ many claiming who is "right" or "wrong", there is a common ground for them all: the original line up. A dear place in the hearts of many, when Duane, Gregg, Dickey, Berry, Butch, & Jaimoe were all playing music together.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No