Customer Reviews

Seven Turns

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Allman Brothers Band released their comeback album, Seven Turns, in 1990. The band was riding a wave of momentum as old fans were reminded of the band's powers with the release of their 4-CD box set retrospective, Dreams. In addition, a new whole audience discovered the band's greatness on their 1989 tour. Original members Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe were joined by guitarist Warren Haynes, keyboardist Johnny Neel, and bassist Allen Woody. The inclusion of both Haynes and Neel indicate an attempt to not only recreate the magic of the two-guitar lineup of Betts and Duane Allman but to also relive their popular Brothers and Sisters album in which Chuck Leavell's piano added another weapon to the band's impressive arsenal. The infusion of new blood is very apparent as the performances on Seven Turns show a classic band regaining their hunger. Allman certainly was feeling the vibe as his vocals on this album are arguably the best of his career. Whether it's on the smoking rocker "Good Clean Fun" or on the bluesy tracks "Low Down Dirty Mean" and "Gambler's Roll", Allman sounds reborn. "Let Me Ride" is a cool country rocker from Dickey Betts while "Shine It On" is a driving slice of southern rock. "True Gravity" is another strong jazz inflicted instrumental to add to their collection and is highlighted by Neel's impressive piano solo. The title track is a modern classic in the country rock vein with a memorable chorus and some cool slide guitar during the outro. The remaining tracks "It Ain't Over Yet" and "Loaded Dice" are also very good. All told, while Seven Turns is not on par with their best work, it's a very strong comeback and easily their best album since Brothers and Sisters.

After many years of inactvity, these guys returned in fine form. Whereas this recording is not on the same level as Idlewie South or Brothers and Sisters, at least the raw honest roots of the Brothers exists on this disc. Greg Allman is in fine voice on the radio friendly Good Clean Fun as well as the haunting blues driven Gamblers Roll. Johnny Neel lays down some pretty piano runs throughout. Dickey Betts also makes his presence known on the spunky Let Me Ride It and the inspiring Seven Turns. The vocal arrangement is pretty unique on the later one as the Brothers tend to step out of their normal style a bit. About three tracks are somewhat ordinary and merely fill up the disc. But in general, this recording is more reminiscent of the Duane Allman Guitar driven days than the previous two recordings, Brothers Of The Road and Reach For The Sky which display a more pop oriented sound. Score one more for the good guys.

A great comeback after eight long years. Very bluesy tunes. The new cats are virtuosos on their instruments. Good Clean Fun shows Gregg Allman very dinstinctive voice full of power, True Gravity makes the strings shine on the top and Dickey Betts shows new skills in Seven Turns (sounds like The Eagles with a south flavour). Make a deal and get this in your collection and to the company records: please, put again the entire Allmans catalog specially the hard-to-find Shadows of Two Worlds, Brothers on the Road and the first Arista Label album...let me ride!!

In 1990, the Allman Bros returned from an 8 year hiatus with the four livng originals (Allman, Betts, Trucks, Jaimoe) being joined by three great new bandmates & legendary producer Tom Dowd. While the Allman Brother albums of the early 80s and the solo efforts of Betts & Gregg in the late 80s had a studio slickness & cheesey shouthern rock sound, somehow the band returned to form with a very "organic" blues rock album (possible the influence of legendary producer Tom Dowd). This album was recorded primarily live in the studio & represents a great batch of songs. The best two cannot be previewed here (country style ballad "Seven Turns" & jazz instrumental "True Gravity") and are among the best songs ever written or performed by any version of this outfit. This would be a great place to start your collection of the Allman Bros second classic period: the 1990s (stay away from anything from them on the Arista label in the 80s). I am not sure why anyone would say this was recorded by "hacks." Just listen to the sound clips and judge for yourself.

Seven Turns (1990) was the last comeback album from the Allman Brothers Band. It's also the last time they've needed to comeback. They've been going strong ever since. What a comeback this was for us long time ABB fans who had all but lost hope in the desolate 1980s! Now, eighteen years and a few more excellent albums later, Seven Turns has lost a little of it's initial luster. In 1990, it was utterly fantastic. In 2008, it's a very good album that has a couple of great songs.

The title song is an excellent Dickey Betts acoustic/electric guitar ballad that makes ABB magic and has become an Allman Brothers Band classic. Good Clean Fun is a rocking romp with great swagger, mean guitars, a screeching harmonica and Gregg Allman's gravelly growl. Those two are great songs, the best on Seven Turns.

Gambler's Roll is an exceptional atmospheric blues-ballad where Allman's golden-throated blues singing is spotlighted. Warren Haynes steps up as the lead singer on his blues-rocker Loaded Dice. Of course, there's the usual ABB instrumental, the jazzy True Gravity, and it's a winner, too. I also like the southern rocker Shine It On. Gregg Allman sings the optimistic Dickey Betts/Warren Haynes lyrics.

I've had my troubles
I know you've had your troubles, too
Sometimes when you need a little sunshine
It keeps raining down on you
But I'm not gonna let it get me down
Keep on pullin', things are gonna come around
Shine It On

The Allman Brothers Band really got back to form with Seven Turns and started what would become their new beginning. It's a good album, one that long-time fans will remember as the rebirth of the ABB. While not quite as good as any of the "Duane Era" albums, it's as close as they had come in a long time. And that's really saying something.

nothing fancy here.just the blistering blues guitars and the Gregg Allman vocal growl we have come to expect--and that,my friends,is just fine.
Warren Haynes does an excellent Duane Allman musical
impersonation on the guitar--his lead vocal on 2 songs is
a little thin (picture Keith Richards singing "Happy") but it is OK in this context. this album will not recruit many new fans-
but those of us us already in the fold will enjoy having it.
at the time of this review--this disk was selling for a super
bargin price--(around $3.00) do not let the fact that it is inexpensive deter you from this one--you will
not be sorry.

Way too many albums are given the top rating of 5 stars. This one is a real classic & deserves it. If you own some of their material from the 1970s and are hunting for more, this is a great place to start. True Gravity, Good Clean Fun, Let Me Ride, Seven Turns, Shine It On, and Low Down Dirty Mean will make you glad you bought this one. After the weak Brothers of the Road album(1981), it is hard to believe these guys came back so strong.

Great comeback album, with all stops pulled. The title track justifys the purchase of this album. If one must buy only one of the comeback album this is it!

This was the Allman Brothers first studio release since 1982 and it said, without a doubt, "WE'RE BACK!"

Each track, beginning with "Good Clean Fun" right through to "It Aint Over Yet" proves that their southern rock and blues sound was not lost in the long hiatus, especially at a time (1990) when rock music was about to take a dramatic turn into the "grunge" scene.

I'd own this CD for "True Gravity" alone, their best instrumental piece since "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed".

The Allman Brothers Band reunited in 1989 to tour and the following year they went into the studio to record this comeback CD. A very welcome return that delights Peachheads! Higlights include Dickey Betts great title track, "Gamblers Roll", "Good Clean Fun",the instrumental "True Gravity", "Loaded Dice" and "It Ain't over yet".
This CD staked the band's claim to fans both old and new that they are still a major band. The great part is they are still staking that claim all these years later!