Where It All Begins

Allman Brothers Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GMUY0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,089 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. All Night Train

2. Sailin' 'Cross the Devil's Sea

3. Back Where It All Begins

4. Soulshine

5. No One to Run With

6. Change My Way of Living

7. Mean Woman Blues

8. Everybody's Got a Mountain to Climb

9. What's Done Is Done

10. Temptation Is a Gun

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The popular aphorism that "there are no second acts in America" has been contradicted by the surprising reincarnation of the Allman Brothers Band after highway deaths, drug trials and artistic lethargy hammered more than one nail in the group's coffin. After breaking up in '81, the four surviving original members, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe, reunited for a 20th anniversary tour in 1989. The results were so unexpectedly good that the band decided to stick together and have released their fourth post-reunion album, Where It All Began. Why did the Allmans' reunion succeed where so many rock and roll reunions have flopped? The Allmans' concept hasn't changed, but like the jazz and blues legends they admire, they play a little differently each time. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes, when I haven't listened to the Allman Brothers Band in a while, I sort of forget how amazing they are, November 7, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where It All Begins (Audio CD)

Recorded live in the studio in 1994, "Where It All Begins" is a terrific latter-day Allman Brothers album. It is filled with big, muscular rock songs, only one of which is over seven minutes long...and that is REALLY tight for an Allman Brothers record!

Musically, "Where It All Begins" is more diverse than most of the band's records, spanning rock, soul, blues, a little bit of jazz and funk, and various forms with a hyphen and the word "rock" (blues-rock, country-rock...)
Gregg Allman has a much stronger presence than on the 1990 comeback album with four songwriting credits, including two of the best songs, the confessional "All Night Train" and the great, muscular funk of "Sailin' 'Cross The Devil's Sea".
Dickey Betts gets five...he usually provided the countryish flavour, but here he brings the wonderful, tough "Mean Woman Blues" and the driving hard rock of "No One To Run With" to the party, as well as the powerful mid-tempo blues stomper "Change My Way Of Living" and two more traditionally "Betts-ish" numbers, the title track and "Everybody's Got A Mountain To Climb".

The rhythm section is perfect, tough yet supple, with plenty of swing...bassist Allen Woody and percussionist Marc Quinones are just wonderful, and this is the Allmans' last studio album to feature the combination of Dickey Betts and slide guitarist Warren Haynes. Haynes is a fine, rough singer, and he provides an updated version of the Gov't Mule number "Soulshine", a wonderful, melodic slow rock song. He also gets co-writing credits on "All Night Train" and the apostrophe-song ("Sailin' 'Cross The Devil's Sea"), and plays sizzling lead and slide guitar.

This is an unusually strong and consistent batch of songs...the garish cover looks like something from a cartoon, which is a bit of a shame, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the music. "Where It All Begins" is a bit more mainstream and certainly not as improvisational as the Allman Brothers records of the early 70s, and that may not be to everybody's liking, but most listeners, whether casual or diehard, should get a kick out of this delightful album all the same.
In fact, "Where It All Begins" should appeal to all serious rock and blues fans. And don't forget to pick up the live album from the ensuing tour, "An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band - 2nd Set".
This is one album I never get tired of.
4 3/4 stars - highly recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back in good form - 5 star effort, March 7, 2006

By 

Riley (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where It All Begins (Audio CD)

I found this cd in a used shop and got it for only 5 bucks! What a great deal!! This is not The Fillmore Concerts or Eat a Peach but it delivers. The title track is a real stand out. And 'Nobody Left to Run With' is a fantastic song that got some airplay. Both of these songs do what the brothers do so well - create a mood. In this case the mood is a very good one. There's a lot of joy on this entire album. I love it all the way through.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, January 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Where It All Begins (Audio CD)

Like the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band has often been labelled "better live than in the studio." Anyone who has ever seen the Brothers at their considerable heights may well agree. But, they have turned out some wonderful studio compositions -- Where it All Begins being the last. Perhaps it was the Woodstock festival, perhaps the fact that guitarist Warren Haynes and bassist Allen Woody were in the middle of forging Gov't Mule, but the Allmans had more energy on this album then they had shown in some time(or have shown since). Gregg and Dickey sound wonderful (although the years have caught up to them both) and the music can reach spiritual heights at its best.

This is a great place to start for new fans -- songs like "No One to Run With" and the title track are fine illustrations of why we diehards love these guys so much. There is great guitar work here, classic songwriting, intricate drumming, and feet-tapping good fun. And, those of us who have remained loyal to the ABB over these last few years know that Gregg hasn't sung any new songs since this album. With Dickey's departure last year, there may never be another studio album from the band. So, don't pass this one up.