Customer Reviews

Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First off, let me acknowledge that early 80's Allman Brothers Band that is represented by the 2 Arista albums, Reach for the Sky and Brothers of the Road, as well as a "best of" from those 2 called Hell or High Water, are every bit as bad as you've heard. The sound was loaded with a kind of synthesizer slickness which did not even reach to the level of parody. Only completist collectors would touch those albums. However, the live album Wipe the Windows is not from that period but from the mid 70's lineup that is known in the Allman world as "the Chuck Leavell, Lamar Williams era". It is absolutely fantastic.

Unlike other lineups, Chuck's piano and Lamar's bass interplay lend a much jazzier feeling to most tracks which is in contrast to Duane or Warren's bluesier firepower, yet it works perfectly. In fact, this lineup (which immediately followed Duane and Berry's death) deliberately avoided duplicating the sound of "ABB Live at Fillmore East" so as to free the band from a fan base that might want clones of the 2 deceased band members. That the album did not sell well was a function of the times (disco and early punk), as well as the notorious descent into substance abuse and infighting. The songs are from 5 shows between '72 and '75 (released in '76 to no fanfare) and while I wish there was more from this period available, this 11 song album covers it very well. The only other "must have" album from the "wilderness years" (until Warren and Allen joined much later) is Enlightened Rogues from '79 (the momentary lapse into greatness during the rapid descent into drug induced hell); but that is another story...

I have to disagree with most of the reviews posted here. I have listened to quite a bit of ABB over the years and have managed to see them live about 10 times. The enjoy the song selection, there are a few here that I have not seen live on any other CD. Ramblin' Man is the best version I have ever heard, and Jessica is very good. The version of Come and Go Blues is the best I have ever heard (pay particular attention to the bass). In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (my favorite ABB song) is refreshing, although I prefer the heavy guitar versions. Don't Want You No More and It's Not My Cross To Bear are strong as well. The remaining tracks (Wasted Words, Southbound, Ain't Wastin' Time No More, and Can't Lose What You Never Had) are good and hard to find live elsewhere. This line up contains pianist Chuck Leavell and Bassist Lamar Williams. Leavell is a very accomplished musician and the piano adds a new dimension to the tunes. Although Lamar Williams has a more laid back sound than Berry Oakley, his playing fits in nicely with Dickey's guitar and Gregg's vocals (especially on Ramblin' Man and Come and Go Blues). All in all I think this is a very good album and I listen to it quite a bit. The new or casual fan will want to check out the Fillmore or Ludlow Garage (my favorite ABB album) first. For anyone who is more than a casual fan of ABB, this album is a must.

I was very pleasantly surprised after finding this at a used CD outlet. No, it does not have the early years, classic Fillmore sound. And it does have one or two warts, which are easy to overlook. But, that's ok. The ABB is unique in that they have produced a diverse set of sounds throughout their long history. This live collection captures their second phase begun in December 1972, following the deaths of Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley. Oakley was replaced with Lamar Williams and rather than add a second guitarist the band opted for keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell whose play really stands out. The ten selections were recorded over a period of three years from 12-31-72 to 10-24-75. Overall, this CD features a more jazzy, less bluesy sound. If you can appreciate the subtleties of the twin drummer arrangement, you will find this CD immensely enjoyable. "In Memory..." and "Jessica" especially shine in this regard. "Wipe the Windows,...." also features the best live version of "Southbound " available. In fact, one of the high points on the CD can be heard when Leavell's piano solo segues into Betts' guitar solo. On "Wasted Words" and "Ain't Wastin' Time..." Betts demonstrates he's no slouch on the slide guitar. The key to enjoying this CD is not to compare it to Fillmore, which at first is difficult, but rather find pleasure from it by listening to it on its own merits. You'll hear a classic, unique sound from great musicians still in their prime.

I know that you're supposed to put the Allman Brothers' Fillmore recordings above everything else as far as live albums are concerned, but I'm really fond of this one as well.

The sound on these mid-seventies recordings is good without being truly stellar, and "Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas" actually provides a better representation of the songs from "Brothers And Sisters" and "Win, Lose Or Draw" than most of the original studio versions.
Chuck Leavell plays excellent piano, and Dickey Betts does a fine job as the sole guitarist on most of these tracks, playing searing slide guitar on "Wasted Words", and getting off some fine solos (and one or two less formidable ones as well).

This is as diverse a live album as the Allmans ever put together, spanning blues ("Can't Lose What You Never Had"), blues-rock ("Ain't Wastin' Time No More"), Southern rock ("Southbound"), and country-rock (a great rendition of "Ramblin' Man"), and no fan of the Allman Brothers Band should pass this one up. Really.

This is a good live CD of the Allman Brothers. This is ABB with Dickey Betts on the only guitar and Chuck Leavell on keyboards with Gregg. I liked this CD but I like all of their other live CD's better because with one guitar and an extra keyboard they are a little more laid back and not as energetic. If you are a fan, then this is a good CD because you will have a different version of the band than you're used to. If you are new to the band then Live at the Filmore is a great introduction to them. This band is one of the few bands that are as great live as their studio releases. "Jessica" to me is the highlight of this CD and an extra long version of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed". This CD was recorded over a 3 year period, 1972, 1973, and 1975. This is The Allman Brothers Band shortly after the deaths of Duane and Berry. Chuck Leavell and Lamar Williams filling in for them.

Duane Allman and Berry Oakley had both died by the time this album was assembled & released (after the band broke up in '75). But this has lotsa songs never performed before or since (Can't Lose What You Never Had, Come & Go Blues) plus a fascinatingly laid-back, 17-minute version of the classic instrumental In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed.

The Allman brothers had a stark choice before them, in the wake of the tragic losses of Duane and Berry: give everything up, sitting in Sackcloth & Ashes for the rest of their lives...or picking up the pieces and moving on! I'm exceedingly glad they chose the latter. Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil is NOT the boys attempting to recreate The Fillmore East...rather, it's the perfect complement to the ABB's landmark initial live album. Gregg & Co. very wisely decided not to even attempt to replace Duane with another guitarist ( at least not for a decade! ). Instead, they found a superb blues piano player in Chuck Leavell, also a wonderful complement to Gregg's B-3 organ. With the exception of Elizabeth Reed, there is no redundancy here: all new tunes, with a profoundly different "intensity"; yet faithful to that classic Allman Brothers Sound. While I respect bands such as Led Zeppelin deciding not to carry on after the loss of an original member, I am glad other groups do indeed live to fight another day...given an average longevity of three or four decades, it's inevitable that personnel changes will happen.

If you are a Dickey Betts fan like I am,I highly recommend this album.Dickey has always been overshadowed by Duanes legend,but here he gets a chance to shine in the spotlight alone.He is featured playing on spirited versions of many of the Allman Brother classics.This line-up would be the only time the ABB would feature one guitar player.Chuck Leavells piano work is a great counter part to Dickey on the longer improvisations.The versions of "Southbound","Ramblin Man","Dont Want You No More-Its Not My Cross To Bear",and "Jessica" show Dickey at his best and why he should be considered among the best lead players of all-time.

This is such a great recording! I've listened to it for years and what stands out the most to me, is THIS rendition of "Jessica".

As big an ABB fan as I have been since 10 years old, this "Jessica" is the definitive version. Chucky Leavell's piano part in this wonderful piece has NOT been replicated over the years.

This cd is worth the purchase price for that cut alone, but overall, is as good as the Fillmore release and stands head and shoulders above the two "Evening With..." discs.

It took me awhile to warm up to this collection. I guess my biggest problem was the comparisons I was drawing between this and the Duane Allman era live performances. Let's face it the Filmore East and live selections from Eat A Peach represent a high water mark not only for The Allman Brothers Band, but that goes for any Southern rock band. There never was and likely never will be another band that had the energy level, the creativity and intesity they had before the passing of Duane and Berry. Those extraordinary Fillmore concerts will forever stand as seminal performances.

With that said I'll try my best to assess this collection on its own merits. First off the Allman Brothers reached their peak popularity between 1972-75. Their biggest selling album ever was Brothers & Sisters, released in the spring of 1972. Five of the ten tracks on this live collection are drawn from Brothers & Sisters. The ABB was as tight and together as anytime in the post Duane/Berry era. Just listen to the interplay between Dickie and Chuck Leavell on "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed". Sure it's different from the Fillmore recording. But Chuck's electric keyboard and Dickie's tastful guitar licks add a nice jazzy texture to this fine old instumental. "Jessica", from Brothers & Sisters really cooks and shows off just how beautifully the new lineup had meshed. Gregg's voice is as strong and inspired as ever I've heard him on "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" and "It's Not My Cross To Bear". But Dickie!....Oh sweet Dickie Betts! Listening to his voice on "Ramblin' Man" makes me yearn for the days when drugs and alchohol had not yet ravaged his soul. His presence is sorely missed these days. Maybe one day we'll see a reconciliation between Gregg and Dickie. I sure hope so.

Yes these were peak years for The Allman Brothers Band. They had put their tragic past in the rear-view mirror. They were selling out giant arenas and in many respects they had climbed their second mountain. Much of the bad times and bad blood was still a long way down the road. So I guess we can best savor the moment here and appreciate the effort of a once great band. While it may not be their very best, Wipe The Windows.... still shines bright and even rivals the great Fillmore recordings. These guys still had it and their fans were still lovin' every minute they could catch them on stage. Wipe The Windows sure takes me back to those halcyon days when my buddies and I never passed up an opportunity to catch them live. We just couldn't get enough of The Brothers. So thanks for the memories boys and keep on keepin' on!