I've been spinning that latest versions of "Dreams" from Fillmore West /71. Duane created the blueprint for the instrumental portion, but it's been interpreted by many different soloists/combos through out the years it got me to thinking about my favorites.
1. JACK PEARSON
Sacrilege, right? Jack takes "Dreams" to the moon and back. Lots of great moments from him over the decades, but Jack's 2004 Fox Box is my "go to" version of the song.
2. DUANE ALLMAN
Duh. It's amazing that Duane, according to what we've all read, crafted the "Dreams" solo in the studio without really knowing exactly what he was going to do at first. The Stonybrook version is mind-melting, but there is such perfection to the studio version it's hard to pick.
3. DEREK TRUCKS
Derek managed to take so many of Duane's slide parts, whether its "Dreams" or "Statesboro Blues", and infuse new life into it while retaining the core of what Duane created.
4. DICKEY & WARREN
I've always preferred the "Dreams" solo be performed by a singular artist, but there was something about the way Dickey and Warren complimented each other that fit perfectly. It was almost weird to think of Dickey tackling the song at all, but he nailed it during the first half of the 1990s. Playing to their strengths, splitting it up made a lot of sense.
5. HORNS
Always loved when a horn would jump in on "Dreams" (or "Liz Reed", etc). Whether it was Randy Brecker or Maurice Brown or Ron Holloway or Branford Marsalis, the result might not have always blow you away, but it almost always worked. I revisit the 3/14/09 "Dreams" with Randy Brecker pretty often.
7. DICKEY & JACK
Jack was killing the second half of "Dreams" during his tenure, but Dickey had kind of settled into his solo without really exploring at this point. It just made you want to hear Jack take the whole damned thing.
6. WARREN HAYNES
For some reason, I love what Warren did in tandem with Dickey during the early 1990s - the band played everything with a little more epic power with Warren and Allen in the band. But Warren alone never raised the roof on "Dreams" on his own for me.
Honorable Mention:
Chuck Leavell was maybe the first musician to solo on "Dreams" after Duane. Always loved when he'd sit in on "Dreams" later in the years, it added a pretty cool spin.
[Edited on 9/13/2019 by porkchopbob]
This is a young Warren Haynes just blistering on this version of Dreams.
His slide playing is tops.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
This is a young Warren Haynes just blistering on this version of Dreams.
His slide playing is tops.
Yeah, those early 1990s "Dreams" with Dickey and Warren were intense
My favorite Dickey solo is on the 1992 live album An Evening With First Set. It's actually better to be than Warren's slide solo which is a bit repetitive to me.
Gregg said in his book Jaimoe thought Jack Pearson was closer to Duane's slide sound than anybody who was in the band.
I've often wondered if Dickey was suppose to solo on Dreams on the first album. The part Duane doesn't use the slide. Gregg said in his book Dickey doesn't appear on Dreams and the story years ago was he refused to work in a studio with no windows.
I has heard that years ago about the Atlantic Sound Studio in New York City. But we old fans said Duane went out to where Dickey was outside and eventually he got Dickey to record by placing roadies where one was outside and another was closer and another just outside the door so they could gets the heads up If there was some reason to bail out which one couldn't do in a huge hurry if there was no window to go out. But so many places in Manhattan are many stories in the air si going out a window 75 floors up would work.
I understand Dickey isn't on Please Call Home either which was recorded un a New York City studio. The only one recorded there on Idlewild South.
One of the archive live albums (CDs) I bought around 2003 has a version of Dreams live and Berry Oakley does a long solo before Duane plays.
Duane's playing on Fillmore West is pedal to the metal. And just as I remember from the original band Dickey is too. All six came to play and that is how it was with the original six.
5. HORNS
Always loved when a horn would jump in on "Dreams" (or "Liz Reed", etc). Whether it was Randy Brecker or Maurice Brown or Ron Holloway or Wynton Marsalis, the result might not have always blow you away, but it almost always worked. I revisit the 3/14/09 "Dreams" with Randy Brecker pretty often.
I like the horn interpretations. This is a whole nother thing.
We know Gregg always liked horns. The orchestra tour featured horns, and the last version of his band had a trumpet player along with 2 saxes.
Dreams with Branford Marsalis Walnut Creek 2003 is quite good. Also enjoy Oteil's playing on Dreams especially when he would tease 'All Blues'
1. Duane
2. Duane
3. Duane
4. Derek
For me, Dreams was the quintessential Duane song. I think the Stony brook version is my favorite.
1. Duane
2. Duane
3. Duane
4. DerekFor me, Dreams was the quintessential Duane song. I think the Stony brook version is my favorite.
Agreed, esp the second sentence - 20 minutes of emotion in music - the boys are so relaxed & locked in - takes it further out there from 2/28/71 Brewer Fldhse
Dickey’s playing on a 1998 Beacon-show Dreams I have, is a thing of beauty - those random series of notes, so melodic
Good mention of Chuck too, the 2005 Great Woods show, he shines on Dreams - just as all these musicians did at one time or another
I love the ABB
Duane studio version and nothing else is even close
Live versions would be Derek.
I sure wish Duane had a Live version on a high quality recording like Fillmore East.
I enjoy the various opinions & suggestions.
Live versions would be Derek.
I love the Jazz Fest 2007 version, Derek absolutely cooks on it, and just as he is reaching for his slide and hitting some feedback, Gregg cuts him off with the 2nd verse. Total blue balls.
I sure wish Duane had a Live version on a high quality recording like Fillmore East.
The Atlanta Pop version is pretty stellar with Berry and Gregg's hammond both clear. The Fillmore West versions are pretty solid (particularly the 31st) even if the sound isn't as slick.
Duane- Stony Brook version is amazing. I haven’t heard the FE 70 version (from video)ideo for s while but that one always got me. Every one of his is great.
Otherwise Derek. I was at the Penn State 08 show and that’s still my favorite. Warren goes 1st, then Ron Holloway, then Derek on slide. Derek just goes into outer space while maintaining the spirit of the song. There is an audience recording around.
