Record collection revisited: Gregg Allman "Low Country Blues"

The blues as a form of music (as I have explained briefly in this blog) is a very widespread form of music in terms of where it comes from, whether it's the delta in Mississippi, the hill country of Tennessee or throughout Texas, as well as the boom of Chicago urban blues in the '50s and '60s.  These ideas pertain to the album I am reviewing in this entry.  Gregg Allman (earlier this year) recorded a solo album (a rarity from him these days because of having a heavy touring schedule with the Allman Brothers which has lightened over the past couple years).  Allman was apparently given a list of thousands of songs in a hard drive to listen to by the record's producer (the well known T Bone Burnett) and chose twelve numbers to record.

The players on this album do their best to resurrect a sound that these songs could easily have had when they were originally recorded, relying heavily on guitar (obviously) (played by T Bone Burnett and Eric Clapton band/Arc Angels alum Doyle Bramhall II.), as well as Allman's signature Hammond B3 licks.  But, what is interesting is the use of upright bass (played by Dennis Crouch) and the drum arrangements by Jay Bellerose.  Bellerose plays with expert timing and right in the right spots, but his sound is so ancient and earthy almost.  Apparently, the secret of sorts is that he plays these vintage drum kits that have a certain sound because of being played and worn, that newer, more modern drum sets don't deliver.

Plus, Allman recruits the one and only Mac Rebennack (a.k.a. "Dr. John"), of "Right Place, Wrong Time" fame, to play piano on a lot of the songs if not the entire record.  He and Allman are good friends.  So, naturally, it had to work out.  There is one original song on the album in addition to all the blues covers.  It is a tune entitled "Just Another Rider" which Allman co-wrote with his band mate, guitarist Warren Haynes (who's newest record has also been featured here). 

This is a record that people who are not just Allman Brothers fans, but also, blues purists should truly check out, because it covers a lot of different eras and celebrates many artists, not to mention, truly showing Allman's capability as a singer which has been revived in the last decade or so since the Allman Brothers came back to life and toured heavily throughout the decade.  People argue that Allman is one of the greatest white blues singers of his generation, and (not to be biased, but I know I might be), I would agree with that claim.

This is a record definitely worth checking out.  Here's the track listing with the writing credits.

1. Floating Bridge (John Adam Estes)
2. Little By Little   (Melvin London)
3. Devil Got My Woman (Nehemiah "Skip" James)
4. I Can't Be Satisfied (McKinley Morganfield a.k.a. Muddy Waters)
5. Blind Man (Don D. Robey & Joseph Wade Scott)
6. Just Another Rider (Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes)
7. Please Accept My Love (B.B. King & Sam Ling)
8. I Believe I'll Go Back Home (Public Domain)
9. Tears, Tears, Tears (Amos Milburn)
10. My Love Is Your Love (Samuel Maghett)
11. Checking On My Baby (Otis Rush)
12. Rolling Stone (traditional)