Actually I think Can't Lose What You Never Had is the one with the entire band at the studio in Macon. And it's a good as anything on Brothers and Sisters. Sounds as if it was recorded during Brothers and Sisters. Gregg then flew to Los Angles and wouldn't return. Gregg was into Cher and after Duane and Berry died, just couldn't deal with the ABB. Gregg was still irritated the guys voted not to record Queen of Hearts. But Gregg was very happy and proud the rest of his life of Laid Back and Queen of Hearts is one of the highlights of that album. A joy to hear.

Dickey got tired of waiting for Gregg, so he showed up at the studio one evening demanding Johnny Sandlin record the two songs he wanted to do. Chuck, Lamar and drummer Bill Stewart were there so they recorded Louisiana Lou and Three Card Monty John and Sweet Mama with Johnny Sandlin and Bill Stewart on drums playing in a style that would remind one of Butch and Jainoe. They recorded Just Another Love Song with Butch on drums some days later. Then with Jaimoe and Butch, they recorded Nevertheless, Win, Lose or Draw and High Falls without Gregg. They had rehearsed those some months earlier when Gregg was in Macon. In order to finish the album, Phil Walden rented studio time in Los Angles, got a promise from Gregg to show up and a promise to tour that fall. So Johnny Sandlin flew out to Los Angeles with the tapes and Gregg came in and recorded his vocals on Nevertheless and Win, Lose or Draw and added some organ parts. So there are several tracks Gregg isn't on and two without Butch and three without Jaimoe as I understand it.

It's amazing in the wake of becoming the number band in America and a multiplatinum album that held the number one position out of 200 albums on the Billboard album chart for FIVE WEEKS....the band in general and Gregg Allman in particular lost interest in keeping that momentum going. Phil Walden became exceedingly frustrated and worried. He was positive about Gregg's solo tour and Laid Back album which sold well for Capricorn. But as they got into 1974 and Gregg was going to tour again and Dickey wanted to tour, it was like pulling teeth he and Johnny Sandlin said about getting to the B & S follow up album then like hurding cats to get everyone there to record.

I caught a few of the fall 1975 shows and they were good. Chuck Leavell sang Dickey's Lone Time Gone and they played part of Midnight Rider the way it sounds on Laid Back. That tour stretched into 1976 and after a show in May at the Coliseum in Roanoke, Virginia, Dickey and Butch quit so Chuck, Lamar and Jaimoe did too over the Scooter Herring thing. But Butch later said that was just an excuse. The waisted all the money they made on that tour, even the roadies had roadies, each member had his own limo and they rarely spoke to each other and all of them were miserable and looking for an excuse so they could tell Phil Walden it was over.

I watch this go down from 1973 to 1976 and it was the biggest collapse of a band that had just become so successful I had ever seen. Actually I'm an original band guy and like the crowd size they had then. It was good but not Rolling Stone or Pink Floyd size like it was in 1973 and 1974.

Thanks for the information blackey. I got interested in the band in 1975 and I remember reading several mixed reviews on the W,L,OD album. I later saw the ABB and solo bands 50 times from 1979 thru 2013.

I always thought the title cut was a beautiful song - showcased Gregg's vocals well and Dickey's sweet sounding guitar especially the climb ups at the end.

Then there was this 2014 version done at the the Gregg Tribute with the big band and background vocalists - just the way Gregg liked things similar to the orchestra tour in mid '70's. Eric Church sang this & did a passionate job. Features Jack Pearson on lead guitar. Love the background singers.

Gregg was definitely in the studio for "Can't Lose" rehearsals. Here is a demo that was included on One More Try that includes everyone except Dickey

"Can't Lose What You Never Had" was also the last new real blues cover that they did with any frequency until "Come On In My Kitchen" in 1991. It's really the only one they added after Duane until Warren was in the band. I always thought it was the best song that line-up did after Brothers and Sisters (except maybe "High Falls), and wondered why they didn't keep adding old blues songs if good new material wasn't coming. Obviously, I like their original stuff from the first few albums, but I would have gone to an ABB show of entirely blues covers in a heartbeat. The "Can't Lose..." on Check the Oil... is unbelievably good.

"Can't Lose What You Never Had" was also the last new real blues cover that they did with any frequency until "Come On In My Kitchen" in 1991. It's really the only one they added after Duane until Warren was in the band. I always thought it was the best song that line-up did after Brothers and Sisters (except maybe "High Falls), and wondered why they didn't keep adding old blues songs if good new material wasn't coming. Obviously, I like their original stuff from the first few albums, but I would have gone to an ABB show of entirely blues covers in a heartbeat. The "Can't Lose..." on Check the Oil... is unbelievably good.

They did Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad" on Enlightened Rogues.

"Can't Lose What You Never Had" was also the last new real blues cover that they did with any frequency until "Come On In My Kitchen" in 1991. It's really the only one they added after Duane until Warren was in the band. I always thought it was the best song that line-up did after Brothers and Sisters (except maybe "High Falls), and wondered why they didn't keep adding old blues songs if good new material wasn't coming. Obviously, I like their original stuff from the first few albums, but I would have gone to an ABB show of entirely blues covers in a heartbeat. The "Can't Lose..." on Check the Oil... is unbelievably good.

They did Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad" on Enlightened Rogues.

My bad, too often I forget that Enlightened Rogues, Reach For the Sky, and Brothers of the Road ever actually happened. And, I know it is harsh to lump Enlightened Rogues in with the other two, but I just don't listen to it enough for it to stay in my memory that well.

It’s easy to do - they’re all Allman Brothers records - ER musically is a lot closer to its 1977-78 DB&GS predecessors than to the 1981-82 ABB followups on the new label & w/new musicians etc

They did Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad" on Enlightened Rogues.

My bad, too often I forget that Enlightened Rogues, Reach For the Sky, and Brothers of the Road ever actually happened. And, I know it is harsh to lump Enlightened Rogues in with the other two, but I just don't listen to it enough for it to stay in my memory that well.

I don't listen to Rogues often either, probably only "Just Ain't Easty" with any regularity. To be fair, "Need Your Love So Bad" is kind of a forgettable cover as Allman Brothers blues covers go. But your point stands, the band didn't add any other blues covers in the 1980s and didn't really need to in 1989/1990 since they were relaunching.

It's funny you say that, Porkchopbob. "Need Your Love So Bad" is maybe my favorite blues cover by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, but it doesn't rate high on my list of ABB covers. I'd have to re-listen to it to figure out why that is. Maybe it's a little slick.

However, turnabout is fair play. Green's line-up of Mayall's Bluesbreakers did "You Don't Love Me" in 1068, and the ABB version wins THAT contest for sure.

It's funny you say that, Porkchopbob. "Need Your Love So Bad" is maybe my favorite blues cover by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac, but it doesn't rate high on my list of ABB covers. I'd have to re-listen to it to figure out why that is. Maybe it's a little slick.

Yeah, I think this came up here recently, but I'm not sure why the Allman Brothers chose "Need Your Love So Bad" when Peter Green had already done such a heartbreaking version of it. The Allman Brothers' version is fine, a nice slow blues, but just pales in comparison.

I got to see the Derek/Warren lineup do Need Your Love So Bad once at the Beacon (and separately got to see them do Just Ain't Easy). Considering I only saw about 16-17 total Beacon shows, that would was pretty good luck.