Peakin' at the Beacon [LIVE]

Allman Brothers Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B000051XW6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #202,832 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Classic Rock > Live Albums > Southern Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Recorded over 13 nights in March 2000, at New York's Beacon Theater--and marking the Allman Brothers Band's 30th anniversary--this disc captures the ABB at a crossroads. Guitarist Jack Pearson embarked on a solo career a year earlier (and was replaced by Derek Trucks) and, three months later, founding member Dickie Betts departed amidst reports of the proverbial "creative differences." You might think this turmoil would seriously detract from the ABB's Southern-rock supremacy, but while this recording can't match the legendary At Fillmore East, it's nevertheless the work of a band that's going strong. The selection of lesser-known tracks dominated by Gregg Allman compositions might leave longstanding fans feeling shortchanged, since some have been better preserved on previous live recordings. Still, there's plenty to recommend, not the least being the rousing, epic jam on Betts's "High Falls" that closes out the disc. And despite the occasional lapse in recording fidelity, you've still got Trucks's stupendous slide, the inclusion of some relative rarities (including "Every Hungry Woman"), and an opening medley of "Don't Want You No More," "It's Not My Cross to Bear," and "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" that plants one foot in the Allmans' illustrious past while pointing toward more years of crowd-pleasing virtuosity. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hypocrisy at its finest, November 17, 2000

By	D. McDermond "lonoman" (US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Over the summer I read about the bootin' of Dickey out of the band. The reason stated was his playing was not up to par. According to one member, "just listen to the Beacon tapes." If that is so (and I read that in interviews with a couple band members other than Dickey) then why would you put something like this out if it isn't up to snuff? Perhaps they needed to fulfill a contract obligation or they needed more cash. Live ABB always seems to sell pretty good, eh?

I bring all this up for a reason. Upon listening to this, my first reaction was the music was OK. The sound isn't that great. They should have had Mr. Tom Dowd more involved with the process. He is a master behind their recorded sound and it shows here that his touch is badly needed. The song selection was kind of, eh. Live versions released before. It's not bad but after 3 new albums in the 90's, how about some obscure tracks from them.

My other peeve with the track selections, is 8 out of 10 songs are Gregg's. I'm going to say since Dickey is out of the picture, he had nothing to do with the song selection so they threw on as many Gregg songs as they could. Yes, his vocals are good, albeit somewhat muddied. But, that doesn't hilight much of the band, or I dare say, the brotherhood.

All in all, it's an OK album. More for completists than for the casual fan. I put this on the level of the notorious Wipe the Windows... live album from the 70's after their first split. My comments are what I think but the diehards, such as myself, will probably be dismayed by all this. O.T.F.W.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware..., November 26, 2000

By	smokeyjoe "smokeyjoe41" (Portland, Oregon United States) - See all my reviews

Anyone expecting "Peakin'" to join the ranks of "Live At Fillmore East", the live portions of "Eat A Peach", or even the often very solid two sets of "An Evening With The Allman Brothers" released in the mid-90s will have to look elsewhere. "Peakin'" is poorly mixed, the song selection is rather dull, and the lead work by Dickey Betts is very often shockingly bad. I'm talking out of tune, incorrect key, meandering to the point of incoherence bad. This set appears to be a contract filler, and though I would hope that the organization would not resort to a tactic that rips off their fans, proof that Mr. Betts was indeed forced out of the band for legitimate musical reasons.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A word to the wise...., December 5, 2000

By	"bigboyben" (Metro NYC United States) - See all my reviews

As a huge Allmans fan, I was anxious to hear the newest entry in the string of live discs they've done. What a disappointment! The sound quality is horrible. I really can't believe that a major label released it. It's truly an embarrasment quality-wise. You know what it reminded me of? When I sat second row at the Beacon last year, off to the side, right in front of the speakers. I literally had to wear ear plugs.....and that's exactly what this disc sounds like. Like listening through ear plugs. The song selection is pretty good, especially if you like the early bluesy Allmans. But it's really hard to get past the crappy sound. If you own (and enjoy)either of the last 2 live Allmans discs, you'll be mighty disappointed with this baby.