I love the B&S lineup and enjoy listening to their versions of the original bands songs as well as live versions of that era. I know some songs don’t translate well to this lineup but I think some might have, such as:
Dreams, Leave My Blues at Home, Please call Home, Don’t Keep me Wondering,Hot ‘Lanta, Stand Back, Jelly Jelly.
If any of these were played by the B&S lineup, I would love to hear them
I saw the B & S lineup a good number of times and never saw/heard any of those songs. Gregg did Dreams and Stanback on his 1974 tours.
Of course it was a reinvented Allman Brothers Band and the most commercially successful and they were the number one band in America selling out coliseums coast to coast. Duane and Berry were huge in putting the momentum behind that so it's a shame they didn't see the number one album in the US for 5 weeks in a row.
The lineup was perhaps more jazzy at times and definitely more western swing or country. Dickey's songs leaned it that way especially after they started doing Long Time Gone.
Long Time Gone by the Allman Brothers. Dickey and Chuck on vocals. The several times I saw it Chuck sang the second verse and would sing " On my way back to Alabama...instead of Georgia. Dickey's guitar is so unique. His tone and bends and major scales. NOBODY sounded like Dickey!
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I wasn't that crazy about that lineups Whipping Post because of one guitar solo but as I look back it was tight and jazzy. Nice solos from Chuck and Gregg and Jaimoe and Butch real fine drums as usual.
I think that one of the issues is that the B & S lineup only had one guitarist live, right? That changes things.
By contrast, the last few times I saw Great Southern, they had THREE guitarists, which enabled them to play songs with very rich guitar layers.
@jimsheridan Yes just Dickey on guitar. Gregg began playing electric guitar on Wasted Words and Must Have Done Somebody Wrong but Gregg played rhythm guitar. Dickey played slide on those two.
Supposedly Les Dudek was approached by Phil Walden to take Duane's place. Les played slide guitar real well. And Les had the impression Dickey was warm to the idea. They had just added Chuck on piano to share solo duties with Dickey but the band's famous twin lead guitar sound was lost. And Les played twin lead with Dickey on Ramblin' Man in the studio with Oakley on bass. Then Oakley was killed on another motorcycle crash. Jaimoe brought in his old friend Lamar Williams to replace Oakley.
Les Dudek apparently from his chat with Phil Walden thought he was replacing Duane and told some people in Macon such. But Butch and Gregg were strongly opposed. They insisted Chuck play Duane's parts on the old songs where there is twin guitar parts.
Butch and Gregg would not allow anyone to replace Duane Allman is the story the fans were getting in late 1972. It would be a one guitar band with most additional solos being piano from Chuck.
That changed the band probably the most of any lineup except the 1981 lineup with Mike Lawler on that wild soring machine he used. And as Masbama pointed out, the B & S lineup stopped playing several of the songs the original band played.
But the B & S lineup rose to the top selling 5 million copies of an album that was number one for five weeks and headlining sell out shows coast to coast.
Of course the five man band had Eat A Peach sell over a million copies and go to number 4 but Duane was on all but three tracks.
My hunch is Ramblin' Man being a top hit single getting tons of radio play added a bunch of fans on top of the big fan base they built up slowly with Duane and Berry and nonstop touring. The original lineup was contagious. They hooked a lot of new fans with their hot and unique live performances including me.
Supposedly when Les Dudek found out he would not replace Duane, he demanded Phil Walden let him out of his contract and he left Macon.
And talking about a surprising oddity, Les eventually replaced Gregg Allman. Not in the band but with Cher. Soon after Gregg and Cher split for good, Les Dudek moved in. I haven't a clue how that happened!
Here is Les Dudek in a club playing Ramblin' Man if you are curious.
I love the B&S lineup and enjoy listening to their versions of the original bands songs as well as live versions of that era. I know some songs don’t translate well to this lineup but I think some might have, such as:
Dreams, Leave My Blues at Home, Please call Home, Don’t Keep me Wondering,Hot ‘Lanta, Stand Back, Jelly Jelly.
If any of these were played by the B&S lineup, I would love to hear them
I would have loved to hear some of these tunes from the Chuck/Lamar lineup. We did get a few of them from Gregg's solo tours ("Dreams", "Please Call Home", "Stand back"). I can imagine Dickey just didn't want to touch "Dreams" since it was such a Duane showcase - he is on record as not really wanting to play Duane's slide parts. "Leave My Blues at Home" never got a lot of play even from the original lineup, I can't imagine an arrangement with just 1 guitar, it demands a funky back-and-forth.
"Jelly Jelly" was cobbled together from many different other songs and arrangements, but it's a shame it never saw the stage (as far as I know). But they continued to play "Stormy Monday" so makes sense they wouldn't play both.
I didn't think the Chuck/Lamar lineup ever played "Don't Keep Me Wondering" until I happened to stumble across this 1976 show that was just posted today. It's still a great song without the signature slide part, but can't help feel like something is missing. It's a surprisingly solid show considering how messy the 1976 shows typically were. Gregg still seems a little out of it.
EDIT: I don't see this show in the ABB Live Show database. Anyone know more about it? It definitely sounds like a '76 show (Dickey plays no slide).
@porkchopbob I saw four 1975 shows and the Roanoke, Virginia show in 1976 and Dickey didn't play any slide. Not even on Statesboro Blues. No slide in the 1975 and 76 shows I saw and maybe none of any of them. In 1973 and 74 as far as I know they began with Wasted Words with Dickey on slide everytime. Did each time I saw them and on the tapes I've heard. Then Must Have Done Somebody Wrong and sometimes Ain't Waisting Time and/or Statesboro Blues followed Wasted Words... then Dickey would switch guitars and play lead usually beginning with One Way Out (no side).
The Chuck/Lamar lineup was a tight solid and jazzy band with some country or western swing. If they had been the beginning of a band, they probably would have made it without Duane and Berry on the strength of Brothers and Sisters and perhaps Queen of Hearts on it too.
I was at one show, the last one I saw in 1975 and some guys together kept yelling " DON'T KEEP ME WONDERING!!!" Gregg could hear them because he finally said " We'll get to each and everyone of them. We are going to play everything we know unless they pull the plug". I thought to myself " That is likely not true. I bet they haven't played Don't Keep Me Wondering since Duane died". But who knows.
Going to listen to that show above now.
@porkchopbob I saw four 1975 shows and the Roanoke, Virginia show in 1976 and Dickey didn't play any slide. Not even on Statesboro Blues. No slide in the 1975 and 76 shows I saw and maybe none of any of them.
Hmmm...the 1975 shows I've heard featured Dickey playing slide on "Statesboro" and "Done Somebody Wrong". Not saying you're wrong about the 1975 shows you saw, but this late 1975 show in RI features Dickey playing slide on both of those tunes.
All of the 1976 shows I've heard, Dickey completely ditches playing slide. Always thought that was a sign of his apathy at that point (and how you can tell '75 and '76 shows apart).
@porkchopbob Yes the four shows I saw in 1975 including one in September at the beginning of the Win, Loose or Draw tour, Dickey didn't play slide. I remember because it was unexpected and it stuck out. I think I said Dickey didn't at the shows I attended and maybe he didn't at all in 1975. I apologize if I didn't type that correctly and obviously he did with the show you just linked as evidence. Also at that show I was disappointed Dickey wasn't playing the beautiful sunburst Les Paul with zebra pickups he used in 1974 and 73. In 1975 Dickey had a Goldtop which I figured was the same one Dickey began playing in the summer of 71. That is it on One Way Out on Eat A Peach.
The Goldtop he played in 1975 and 76 had a fatter and kinda deeper tone than the LP with Zebra pickups.
They took a break at that September 1975 show and I made my way over to the soundboard and asked the soundman why Dickey is using an older guitar? He said Dickey couldn't keep the one I liked with zebra pickups in tune and found this 1957 Goldtop at a Pawn Shop in New York City last year and made the switch on this tour. That guitar became Goldie which was Dickey's number one until 1994. In the early 80's Dickey did play an Ibanez Artist sunburst guitar here and there. Used it when he toured with Hank Jr in 1983 I think was the year. I forgot to ask the sound man about no slide from Dickey. I was all the way back at my seat in the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina when I thought about it. Didn't want to be moving around when the second set began.
Well I listened to your April 1976 show in Kentucky. Don't Keep Me Wondering replaced Long Time Gone. I enjoyed it. Enjoyed the entire show except Ramblin' Man was cut. All the shows I saw and have heard on audience tapes Long Time Gone was played in that spot then into Midnight Rider with the Laid Back solo album intro. In 75 and 76 that seemed to be the ABB's nod to Gregg and Dickey's solo albums.
Chuck to me, is always outstanding at every one of those shows back then. Dickey may be a little jaded on this 1976 show and Gregg is definitely way in the bag here which was usually the case in 1975 and 76.
1973's shows are the ones were everyone is rolling real good most nights. I saw them in Nashville in 1973 and later I heard Charlie Daniels comment on how hot, tight and powerful they were in Nashville that year.
I love the B&S lineup and enjoy listening to their versions of the original bands songs as well as live versions of that era. I know some songs don’t translate well to this lineup but I think some might have, such as:
Dreams, Leave My Blues at Home, Please call Home, Don’t Keep me Wondering,Hot ‘Lanta, Stand Back, Jelly Jelly.
If any of these were played by the B&S lineup, I would love to hear them
I would have loved to hear some of these tunes from the Chuck/Lamar lineup. We did get a few of them from Gregg's solo tours ("Dreams", "Please Call Home", "Stand back"). I can imagine Dickey just didn't want to touch "Dreams" since it was such a Duane showcase - he is on record as not really wanting to play Duane's slide parts. "Leave My Blues at Home" never got a lot of play even from the original lineup, I can't imagine an arrangement with just 1 guitar, it demands a funky back-and-forth.
"Jelly Jelly" was cobbled together from many different other songs and arrangements, but it's a shame it never saw the stage (as far as I know). But they continued to play "Stormy Monday" so makes sense they wouldn't play both.
I didn't think the Chuck/Lamar lineup ever played "Don't Keep Me Wondering" until I happened to stumble across this 1976 show that was just posted today. It's still a great song without the signature slide part, but can't help feel like something is missing. It's a surprisingly solid show considering how messy the 1976 shows typically were. Gregg still seems a little out of it.
EDIT: I don't see this show in the ABB Live Show database. Anyone know more about it? It definitely sounds like a '76 show (Dickey plays no slide).
Wow! Thanks so much! Love finding new stuff! Seems Hot Lanta would be a no brainer for this lineup. I know Dickey played on Dreams in the Warren years and killed it!
Wow! Thanks so much! Love finding new stuff! Seems Hot Lanta would be a no brainer for this lineup. I know Dickey played on Dreams in the Warren years and killed it!
Yeah, Gregg would play it with his solo bands in the 1970s and 80s. Loved the version with the full orchestra on Gregg Allman Tour, but I heard a few versions from the 1980s with just Dan Toler and as talented as Dan was, it just wasn't his song. Resurrecting "Dreams" for the 20th anniversary tour made it even more epic. Dickey always sounded great on it.
Judging by this performance of "Hot 'Lanta" from Sea Leavel, it would have been a good fit for the Chuck/Lamar lineup.
I think that one of the issues is that the B & S lineup only had one guitarist live, right? That changes things.
By contrast, the last few times I saw Great Southern, they had THREE guitarists, which enabled them to play songs with very rich guitar layers.
Always thought it was interesting that Gregg’s solo band mostly mimicked the B&S lineup while Dickey’s solo band was closer to the original lineup.
That Little Martha version with just Chuck is my second favorite after the original. So heartfelt.
Another song the B&S version never played that was perfect for them would be Melissa!
@masbama well it makes sense since Gregg never loved the guitar jamming, preferring a soul singer approach, while Dickey wrote songs that required harmonizing instruments. Find something that works, ya stick with it.
Also, Gregg’s bands in the 80s were probably about economics - why bring more personnel than you have to.
@masbama well it makes sense since Gregg never loved the guitar jamming, preferring a soul singer approach, while Dickey wrote songs that required harmonizing instruments. Find something that works, ya stick with it.
Also, Gregg’s bands in the 80s were probably about economics - why bring more personnel than you have to.
Great points! I still would have loved to hear how that arrangement sounded I have to admit.
Dan can still play, and the band is tight, but it misses that epic peak that only a few guitarists can hit.
@porkchopbob To me technically Danny Toler's solo on Dreams is very impressive. Clean, in tune, smooth and great bends and vibrato. I saw Gregg solo in the 1980's play Dreams several times and Danny was fine. During that stretch Danny was playing the Les Paul Dickey played on Fillmore East and Dickey gave Danny the guitar in the late 70's. I was disappointed when I read in the 2000's that Danny sold that Les Paul.
But you are right Porkchopbob. Danny's solo doesn't hit that off the chart crescendo we heard from Duane, Warren, Jack and Derek. Dickey gets there on his non slide solo on An Evening With First Set.
Here is Tommy Talton just three years ago!! That's Tommy on the Gregg Allman Tour album from 1974 and here he is just three years ago. Does Tommy hit it??
I have always thought that "Revival" was a great tune, and as far as I can tell, the B and S lineup never played it, or hardly played it. Certainly not in 1973 or the year after. I would have liked to hear their interpretation of it.
That lineup was so interesting-- more different than any other lineup IMO. Jazzy with the two keyboards, and Dickey was a bit "softer" in his tone but still killer. I know a lot of folks call this a country sound period for the ABB, but i see it as their jazziest period by far. Chuck and Lamar definitely took the band in a different direction and i was thrilled when they formed Sealevel, that was such an interesting and good band.
Great memories of this band and era-- so short a time period in retrospect but so great
@jonesy I saw a decent number of shows in 1973, 74, 75 and one in 76 and never noticed Revival. It could be it's another original lineup song this line up never played.
Dickey began using a light sunburst Les Paul with zebra pickups in late 1972 and 1973 and 74 that had a softer tone to me too. Dickey had his 1957 Goldie LP Goldtop after the summer of 1974. The LP with Zebra pickups was very pretty and sounded good on jazzy pieces. When Dickey stopped using it I was disappointed and made my way over to the soundboard and ask the guy what happened to the pretty guitar. He said Dickey couldn't keep it in tune.
Anyway Dickey did bring in more country/western swing flavor on somethings but the two instrumentals Dickey wrote during the Chuck/Lamar years were jazzy. Especially High Falls.
Here is a very jazzy version of Liz Reed from Nassau Coliseum and 1973. Especially during Chuck's solo. Lamar and Jaimoe seemed to already have Sea Level together because especially those three, are way into a groove together and it is really magical if you like jazzy.
jonesy. I don't know about now with the various custom shops being able to recreated old guitars and the latest thing in technology and apparently a run of many of the same custom guitar will all sound the same or close... apparently it wasn't that way years ago.
I still remember Dickey in the 80's I believe it was in a interview about guitars and how they sound saying " The best tones and necks come from the 1950's I think. A 1957 Les Paul for example is very good. The wood has completely dried out. But there is differences in them so play them without an amp first and see. I can take several Les Pauls or Stratocasters from the 1950's with the same pickups and they will sound different. Some noticably better that another one and it's the same year and electronics. It's how the wood turned out. Each guitar has a different block of wood of course and they are all different and that is why even from the 1950's some guitars of the same year and make sound better than another of the same year and make. So always pick and choose and try more than one".
Dickey apparently learned that through experimentation. Red Dog said when Dickey decided to go with a Les Paul because he liked what Duane was getting, his first one was bought in Detroit and Dickey didn't take to it well and didn't use it long. Red Dog mentioned another Les Paul Dickey threw across the stage, apparently it wouldn't stay in tune and the next day beat it into the ground and broke the neck off and Red Dog said he put it in a dumpster.
But in 1974 Dickey found a 1957 Goldtop Les Paul at a Pawn Shop in New York City and it was a Cadillac!! Played it as his number one for over 20 years. Stays in tune, killer tone and sustain.
The Gibson custom shop came out with the Dickey Betts signature series in 2001 and Dickey said they are a consistent run of guitars and just as good as his 1957.
Dickey's son Duane Betts uses the first one made at the custom shop for his number one electric plus he has Dad's 1961 ES-335 dot neck and 1956 Stratocaster hardtail for certain songs. And Duane was using the ES-335 more and more calling it his Les Paul killer:) But he is playing acoustic guitar this summer.
@jonesy "Revival" would be a good one. For whatever reason, the original lineup only played "Revival" a handful of times (introducing it sarcastically as their big "hit") but I wonder if the B&S lineup didn't play it because it's so dependent on twin guitar melodies.
@jonesy "Revival" would be a good one. For whatever reason, the original lineup only played "Revival" a handful of times (introducing it sarcastically as their big "hit") but I wonder if the B&S lineup didn't play it because it's so dependent on twin guitar melodies.
I thought the same thing about the twin guitar melodies; I would have liked to hear the B and S lineuup interpret it, but alas......
Fast forward to today, and who would have thought Chuck would be a long time member of the Rolling Stones?
This is a great thread. I sped though some of the posts and didn't see this mentioned, but the B&S lineup DID play some of those songs indeed. One of Chucks earliest shows was 12/31/72 and they played both Don't Keep Me Wonderin' AND Hot 'Lanta and they both smoked! It's an awesome show to listen to and readily available. They also played Ain't Wastin' Time No More that night and it is this version that made it to Wipe the Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas. Great Show!
I saw the ABB in Atlanta in 1975 for the WLD tour and Dickey DEFINITELY played slide on Statesboro and Nevertheless as well I believe.
@porkchopbob The crowd loved it. And they were rocking. Berry Oakley's bass is loud and hot. Sounded great. It is one of Dickey's best compositions to me. Sometimes I think Dickey may have been the best song writer in the ABB but then you think about some of Gregg's songs. The songs, sound, playing, uniqueness and creativity and how those six sounded. It is absolutely the foundation of the Allman Brothers Band. Heck they ARE the Allman Brothers. Other lineups were just keeping the legacy going, some better than others.
I saw the original lineup plenty and never heard Revival. Dimples just once with Duane singing.
On Porkchopbob's link it is clear they are all singing.
Idlewild South didn't provide a credit for harmony vocals for Revival. Not ever seeing it live, I often wondered which ones are singing there. Is it even band members? In 1986 Gregg and Dickey were playing a decent size club together. Dickey played a set, then Gregg, then they merged both bands for a seven song Allman Brothers set. The club billed and advertised it as an Allman Brothers show. Dickey immediately corrected that when he took the stage. " We didn't have anything to do with the advertising here. We don't call this the Allman Brothers Band. Butch Trucks and Jaimoe aren't here tonight."
I had a chance to speak to Dickey and asked him who was singing the harmony vocals on Revival? "I know it doesn't sound like it, everyone says it doesn't but that is everybody in the band. I remember us recording that. All of us laughing and clapping time with our hands". I said you mean even Butch Trucks and Jaimoe? ( I didn't know they had ever sung) Dickey said " Yeah all of them. That is all six of us".
I related that story about 10 years later to Butch on his blog and Butch said Dickey remembered correctly and it's also all six doing the chant on Black Hearted Woman with Berry Oakley cracking up at the end. Then Butch said you can hear him cracking up on the fade of Pony Boy on Brothers and Sisters. Said he and Dickey added some leg slapping at the end of that and Dickey changed it up on Butch throwing Butch a curve ball and Butch laughed on the fade.
Sorry if that is TMI for anyone. But for me after listening to those songs over and over, I wonder who is doing that!! 
@kcjimmy Thank you. I love finding out new information.
I've recently found several Win, Loose or Draw shows with Dickey playing slide. I saw an early September 1975 show at the beginning of the Win, Loose or Draw tour and Dickey didn't play slide. It was so unusual to see the Allman Brothers play Statesboro Blues and no slide guitar. I saw several 1975 shows and one 1976 and as I remember ( maybe I'm wrong. So many years) but no slide at any of them.
These Allman Brothers tours can do something different at any time I guess.
Here is Ain't Waisting Time No More from that show. It's a great version and hot slide from Dickey!!!
@kcjimmy yeah, most 1975 shows there was a block of slide songs - "Done Somebody Wrong", "Statesboro" and "Sweet Mama"
I want that NYE '72 show.
@porkchopbob Well if it sounds as good as Ain't Waisting Time from that show, it must be one of the best Chuck/Lamar lineup shows ever!! I saw an especially hot show in Nashville that Charlie Daniels commented about later as especially hot.
I clearly remember Statesboro Blues in September of 1975 with no slide. It stuck out as odd. Maybe Never The Less had slide and I forgot.
Even after Dickey switched to Goldie in late 1974 he usually played slide on a bright sunburst Les Paul with a pick guard and silver pickup covers. It's been a long time and I'm 75 now. Maybe there was some slide at those 1975 shows but not on Statesboro Blues several times. It was so noticeable.
https://images.app.goo.gl/GR6T4kYVSw3u4HZYA Here is the guitar Dickey used for slide just after Duane died until he switched to an SG in late 70's.
Here is the old 1956 Strat in 1977. I didn't know Dickey owned that guitar until Jack Pearson joined the ABB. It looks rough especially the neck when you're close to it. Bad road wear by someone way back. Like that apparently when Dickey bought it.
https://images.app.goo.gl/sAovjFjH71iYa2Ki6
Good picture of Derek and Dickey.
https://images.app.goo.gl/AghAtiMT6muoU6Rv8
@porkchopbob & Robertdee
I'ts one of my favorites. Dickey does one of his best extended solo's on Whipping Post that i have ever heard besides LAFE. I bet I could fix you up if you want to send me a PM. Here is the set list:
1 – Wasted Words
2 – Done Somebody Wrong
3 – Statesboro Blues
4 – Ain't Wastin' Time No More
5 – One Way Out - W/Elvin Bishop
6 – Stormy Monday
7 – Midnight Rider
8 – Ramblin' Man
9 – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed
10 – Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
11 – Hot 'Lanta
12 – Whipping Post
13 – You Don't Love Me ->
14 – Les Brers In A Minor
15 – Help Me Baby
16 – Drunken Hearted Boy
17 – Don't Lie To Me
Last 3 songs w/Elvin Bishop
@kcjimmy I'm 75 years old and getting shaky. What is a PM?
That whole show was apparently taped professionally but Ain't Waisting Time is the only track I've heard.
