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Blues Underground Network |
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Gregg Allman "Low Country Blues"
Before starting this review, I first went to Billboard to check out the week's top-selling blues albums. Once again I found Gregg Allman's "Low Country Blues" at #1, the same position the Album debuted in, which of course was no surprise, nor should it be for anyone whom knows the music that Gregg has been responsible for putting out over his career, both as a solo artist and his continuing relationship with the Legendary Allman Brothers band.
"Low Country Blues" is Gregg Allman's first solo recording in over 13 years and it is a recording that almost did not happen. With the passing of his producer, Tom Dowd, Gregg did not spend much time at all in the Studio over the last few years, and if it wasn't for the timely introduction to the Grammy winning T-Bone Burnett, it may have certainly been a lot longer, if ever, before he had a new solo release. Skeptical at first, Gregg Allman's mind was but at ease once he found out that T-Bone was a huge fan of Tom Dowd and that he "patterned a lot of my stuff after that gentleman".
Friendship between Allman and Burnett quickly grew and the project that became "Low Country Blues" was sparked when T-Bone gave Gregg 20 old blues songs from a hard drive someone had given him which contained an amazing 10,000 "obscure blues songs" on it. From that point on, the project with renewed excitement from Gregg Allman, moved along quickly and by early 2010 they pretty well had the Album complete and ready for release by the middle of 2010, but that was not to be, which was not because of bad news, but because of great news. You see, Gregg was notified that he was a candidate for a donor liver and in June of 2010, he underwent a transplant at the famed Mayo Clinic. The rest, as they say, continues to be history.
"Low Country Blues" consists of 12 Tracks, 11 of which are Covers of some of the finest old blues to be found, from a literal who's who of Legends whom have carved a deep crevice into the history of the Blues, which include Sleepy John Estes, Junior Wells, Skip James, Muddy Waters, Bobby Bland, BB King, Amos Milburn, Samuel Maghett, and Otis Rush. Two of the 11 Covers are credited simply as Traditional. T-Bone's job for Gregg was to take these very old songs and interpret them into a more present feel. This was a task that Gregg took like a fish takes to water, and in doing so he managed to dust off 11 great old songs and give them a brand new coat of paint. Besides the 11 Covers, Gregg Allman, along with his longtime Allman Brothers Band Guitarist Warren Haynes, wrote 1 original called "Just Another Rider".
Besides Gregg Allman, the other performers on "Low Country Blues" include T-Bone Burnett (Guitar), Doyle Bramhall II (Guitar), Dennis Crouch (Upright Bass), and Jay Bellerose (Drums). "Low Country Blues" also included a Brass Section featuring Darrell Leonard as arranger and composer. In addition to all that great talent, there was one whom was the icing on the cake, as far as Gregg was concerned, and that was none other than his very dear friend, Dr John (Mac Rebennack), on of course, the Piano.
There are certainly a lot of words that can describe the making of "Low Country Blues", but one that was perhaps a little foreign to Gregg Allman was "spontenaity", a word not overly cherished amongst perfectionist, but one that all those around him pushed for, hence a lot of the tracks were either 1 or 2 takes. Gregg did try to take time perfecting or at least thinking he could perfect some of the Tracks, but it always came back to the original first or second take, that he simply had to admit, he could not improve on.
A lot of people are saying that "Low Country Blues", is yet another highwater benchmark in what has already been a legendary career. In one review I seen that even Gregg himself says, "among the best things he has ever recorded", and I certainly agree. From the opening track called Floating Bridge (Sleepy John Estes) to Blind Man (Bobby Bland), these first 5 Covers set the tone for what you can expect for the remainder of the Album, and the last 6 Tracks from Please Accept My Love (BB King) to Rolling Stone (Traditional) completely seal the deal, leaving no doubt in your mind that not only were all the Covers done magnificently, but that they may have also turned out as being better than the original, and I doubt there would be few that would disagree. Lets also not forget that in the middle of it all, there is the one original, Just Another Rider, that not only sounds perfectly written for "Low Country Blues", but it is also very much at home on this Album, taking us back to the late 60's early 70's, with the feel of a great Allman Brothers song.
If there was any atonement that Gregg Allman had to make for perhaps a few ebbs from previous releases, "Low Country Blues", has put those critics to rest. It is certainly a milestone for Gregg and it could not have come at a better time, for all of us. "Low Country Blues"will find itself at the very top of a lot of the awards when they are dealt out for this years releases. It is a very special Album from a very special Artist, whom has not forgotten his roots or his fans.
I enthusiastically give "Low Country Blues" my highest rating of 5*****. Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed. "Low Country Blues" is a must have Album for any blues lovers collection.
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
Additional Info
Tracklist
1. Floating Bridge (Sleepy John Estes)
2. Little By Little (Junior Wells) 3. Devil Got My Woman (Skip James) 4. I Can't Be Satisfied (Muddy Waters) 5. Blind Man (Bobby Bland) 6. Just Another Rider (Gregg Allman & Warren Haynes) 7. Please Accept My Love (BB King) 8. I Believe I'll Go Back Home (Traditional) 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) Listen To Samples Here... Websites: http://www.greggallman.com/ http://www.facebook.com/GreggAllman http://www.myspace.com/greggallman9
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