Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 16 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
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.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Album, January 30, 2001
By A Customer
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.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Back in good form - 5 star effort, March 7, 2006
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.
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