S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook (Live 9/19/71) [Live]

Allman Brothers Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 6, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live
• Label: Peach Records Associates
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• ASIN: B000HTY2GC
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Rock > Jam Bands > Rock Jam Bands
  • #3 in Music > Classic Rock > Southern Rock
  • #43 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Statesboro Blues

2. Trouble No More

3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'

4. Done Somebody Wrong

5. One Way Out

6. Blue Sky

7. Stormy Monday

8. You Don't Love Me

Disc: 2

1. Dreams

2. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Editorial Reviews

Review

Unlike the Grateful Dead, their obvious and acknowledged model for reissuing vintage live recordings, the Allman Brothers Band has not shied away from exploring their early work in an attempt to demonstrate that they were as good in 1980 and 1990 as they were in 1970. On the contrary, in such archival releases as 1991's Live at Ludlow Garage: 1970 (Polydor), 1996's Fillmore East, February 1970 (Grateful Dead), and the first release from their own Allman Brothers Band Recording Company, 2002's American University 12/13/70, the Allmans have made a point of sticking to their early years when the original band, led by slide guitarist Duane Allman, was still intact. Their purpose, as band members said in a front-page article in Billboard in April 2002 that announced the formation of their record company, is to demonstrate Duane Allman's prowess. This album, recorded a scant five weeks before the guitarist's death, furthers this goal. Annotator John Lynskey acknowledges that, also unlike the Dead, the Allmans did not vary their set list very much. 'The Allman Brothers might have played the same songs night after night' he admits, 'but they were never played the same way twice.' The album, which compiles material from two shows on the same night, backs up his assertion. The titles may be familiar, but the jamming is not, as the band explores different ways to approach the songs, including one that is still in development. 'Blue Sky', which would not appear on record until the group's next album, 'Eat a Peach', gets an 11-minute treatment that is a showcase for Duane Allman and Dickey Betts' guitar interaction. Six months after the legendary shows that produced their signature recording, At Fillmore East, and just before they changed forever with Duane Allman's death, this is the sound of the Allman Brothers Band at their peak. --Allmusic.com

Product Description

Recorded live at State University of New York on 9/19/71, just six weeks prior to Duane Allman s untimely accidental death, this 2-CD set contains the only known quality live performance of Duane on Blue Sky , one of the pillars of the Brother s catalog.

The crowd that day at SUNY witnessed a band that was at the absolute height of spontaneous creativity, with music that ranged from loose, free-flowing jazz-like improvisation to whiskey-soaked blues, country swing to full blown rock - all of it delivered with a furious, right on the edge intensity. The band truly played as they lived, and lived as they played. With Duane Allman's searing slide and lead lines, the melodic brilliance of Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley playing bass like a third guitar, Gregg Allman's distinct vocals and soothing B-3, and the dual syncopated drumming of Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, the sum total of the Allman Brothers Band was greater than the considerable talents of its individual parts.

Five weeks later, while the band was back home in Macon, Georgia, 24 year old Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle crash. His death on October 29th, 1971, cost rock music of one its greatest masters, while the Allman Brothers Band lost their founder and cornerstone. Although they would carry on and actually achieve their greatest commercial success without Duane, Stonybrook 9/19/71 features the Allman Brothers Band at their musical zenith before the circle was tragically broken.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars arguably the best Allman Brothers record ever, January 14, 2007

By 

J. Johnson "Allman Brothers obsessive" (Manassas, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook (Live 9/19/71) (Audio CD)

When I began collecting Allman Brothers live shows someone traded me Capt. Skippers wonderful remaster of this show. I knew immediately I had something special as soon as I heard it. Duane and dickey were so on this night that I was trasported to a place that I had never been musically. I knew Duane Allman was my favorite guitarist, and arguably the best to pick up the instrument, but this show cemented that in my mind.

Imagine my excitement that the 9/19/71 Stoneybrook show was to be the second release in the Allman Brothers archival release series. And not only was it a decent soundboard recording, but it had an amazing 11:26 minute version of Blue Sky (One of three known live versions featuring Brother Duane.) In addition the amazing 19:37 version of Dreams is here in all it's grandeur. Add this to some of Duane's best slide work on Trouble No More, Don't Keep Me Wondering and of course Statesboro Blues and a cooking version of Elizabeth Reed and you have everything you need for a major musical/religious experience.

This is essential listening for any Allman Brothers fan. IMHO opinion of the 50 or so shows I've heard from the Duane era of the band, this is the best I've heard the band play. Get this if you don't have it. If you have the Capt. Skip remaster, get this one too

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another welcome reminder of where it all began, May 2, 2007

By 

r.j. zurek (Cape Coral, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook (Live 9/19/71) (Audio CD)

Archival live recordings are valuable indeed, because moments of greatness are captured that can never be duplicated. Such is the case with the Allman Brother's "S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook 9/19/1971".

This is the second release in the Allman Brothers Archival Collection. In September of 1971, the Allmans made their fifth visit to S.U.N.Y. (State University of New York), right when all the stars were aligned for the band. "Live At Fillmore East" had been certified gold, and reviewers were unanimous that the Brothers were the best in the land.

High points are many, including a blistering "One Way Out"; at the conclusion, a proud Duane Allman boasts into the mike "That's my brother singin'!" Greg is in fine voice throughout this 107 minute double disc, but the real treat is the live version of "Blue Sky", which introduced the world to the talents of Dickie Betts. His lead vocal is strong and confident, and he and Duane's guitar leads reach heights worthy of "Fillmore East". At the end of the song, Duane again shouts praise: "Dickie Betts- WHOO!"

The second disc contains a nineteen minute version of "Dreams", showcasing Duane's powers on slide, and Betts' instrumental "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", where the entire band gets to shine.

Sadly, the following October, Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident, as was bassist Berry Oakley thirteen months later.

The Brothers today are still creating great improvised blues-based rock, as is Dickie Betts with his own band, Great Southern. But these archival releases are welcome reminders of where it all began.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A more than worthy companion to the Fillmore Concerts, March 30, 2007

By 

Kenneth M. Osowski (Stewartstown, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: S.U.N.Y. at Stonybrook (Live 9/19/71) (Audio CD)

Apparently this disc is hard to track down, which is a shame (I picked it up in the used bin at Amoeba in Berkeley). The playing here is at least as intense as at the well known Fillmore concerts. Duane is mind-blowing as usual, but the revelation here is Dickey Betts - he simply tears it up in "One Way Out" and "Blue Sky," which features blissful extended solos from both gents. The sound is raw but powerful (comparable to Ludlow Garage), and the guitarists' sounds are captured with immediacy. Don't be discouraged by the sound on the opener, "Statesboro Blues" - it gets better. The repertoire is standard '71 ABB, with the blues-based material on disc one and expansive readings of "Dreams" and "Elizabeth Reed" on disc two (sadly, there's no "Mountain Jam," though the rare "Blue Sky" compensates). The only problem with this release is that disc one is so good that I've had a difficult time turning it off and moving on to disc two.