Was a huge mistake back then to not release this. The Dreams box set was a big success and so was their reunion tour in 1989. Seven Turns was a fine return to form. The music bizz was in the mids of the huge Unplugged craze. Would have been a big seller.
I agree. This would likely had out sold the studio albums they did for Epic. But Epic was skeptical the ABB would sell well in this format.
Eric Clapton's Unplugged live show was released with Chuck on piano and sold millions. Eric's biggest selling album and the acoustic version of Layla was a hit single.
Epic did have a special release of a Los Angeles show the ABB did in 1992. But Butch and Jaimoe were not there. Only Dickey, Gregg, Warren and Woody. I bought it and it came in the mail in a cheap sleeve so it was not a front line release. Last I heard it sold about 14,000 copies.
Liz Reed from this show was released on Second Set in 1995 and features a great bass guitar solo from Allen Woody.
[Edited on 6/15/2020 by blackey]
I agree. This would likely had out sold the studio albums they did for Epic. But Epic was skeptical the ABB would sell well in this format.
Eric Clapton's Unplugged live show was released with Chuck on piano and sold millions. Eric's biggest selling album and the acoustic version of Layla was a hit single.
Epic did have a special release of a Los Angeles show the ABB did in 1992. But Butch and Jaimoe were not there. Only Dickey, Gregg, Warren and Woody. I bought it and it came in the mail in a cheap sleeve so it was not a front line release. Last I heard it sold about 14,000 copies.
Liz Reed from this show was released on Second Set in 1995 and features a great bass guitar solo from Allen Woody.
[Edited on 6/15/2020 by blackey]
I also purchased a copy of that CD when it was released. It was and still is one of my favorite ABB releases. I probably wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't seen it mentioned in an article in one of our local newspapers. As I recall, it was a limited release with the proceeds going to a charity.
Distinctly remember watching this. That was fun to revisit. Loved seeing all the off-camera banter.
Amazing how great bands are able to make being out of their typical comfort zone seem so comfortable.
Hindsight about putting a record out there at the time or not is bliss. If you would've told me to pick between a record or a dedicated MTV spot in primetime, I would've chosen door B all day. But I have no idea if that choice was an either / or.....???
The ABB got half of an hour episode when they performed. I'm not sure MTV was offering the ABB more than that even if they had wanted to do more. MTV Unplugged show was just a year old and featured two acts per episode. I think only Aerosmith and Elton John had gotten an hour prior to that. Clapton and 10,000 Maniacs had huge success with hour long recordings that turned into albums from 1992 performances.
The ABB weren't doing acoustic sets in their shows in 1990 so it took special rehearsals to work up these 5 songs (and 4 aired).
I too had wished the ABB had performed another 4 songs or so and released a proper album. If they had the 1992 acoustic Elizabeth Reed, Going Down the Road Feeling Bad, Southbound ready along with 1-2 more...it could have been released as a legit album and I agree it would have done really well. When you listen to the best of the acoustic takes from MTV Unplugged, the IRSA June 1992 recording, First & Second set....it's some of my all-time favorite Allman Brothers music....and what I often use to turn new fans on to.
And thanks for posting that video. Somewhere in my stack I have a soundboard recording.
That specific take on Seven Turns is one of the most beautiful country songs I've ever heard. Dickey sings strong! The slide guitar and harmony vocals Warren delivers are great. Johnny's piano is just gorgeous & his harmony vocals are spot on too. The 3 of them sounded darn near like CSN. Butch & Jaimoe ad some nice percussion flavor. Woody delivers a fat bass sound. Gregg comes in for his response vocals and sounds great.
Criminal this version never ended up on an official release of any kind...but maybe the band doesn't have the rights to it.
Always loved the acoustic ABB sets, but really appreciated Jaimoe & Butch's subtle percussion on the MTV Unplugged performance. Maybe my favorite "Midnight Rider" performance.
Unplugged was still pretty fresh in 1990, and so was this version of the Allman Brothers. It I had to guess as to why this wasn't released, I imagine the band was still trying to re-establish themselves. They were typically purposeful in their releases, never ones to flood the market with releases. A live acoustic album might not have fit their plan compared to new studio albums.
I also purchased a copy of that CD when it was released. It was and still is one of my favorite ABB releases. I probably wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't seen it mentioned in an article in one of our local newspapers. As I recall, it was a limited release with the proceeds going to a charity.
15,000 copies released in aid of the International Rett Syndrome Assocoation (IRSA).
Recorded 11 June 1992 in LA, it's 43 mins long, excellent and better than the Unplugged video imho.
I doubt that Epic had anything to do with it. Their name doesn't appear anywhere on the disc.
[Edited on 6/15/2020 by Shavian]
