The Allman Brothers are currently wrapping up their annual New York City Beacon Theatre run of concerts which have been highly regarded as a return to form for the band. I happened to read one of my favorite blogs the other night and had a chance to check out the band in HD via Moogis which seems to be a great concept but not cheap.
The Allman’s have dedicated the ’09 Beacon run to fallen legendary brother Duane Allman and many special guests have dropped in on various nights; most notably Eric Clapton, Duane’s band mate in Derek and the Dominos. I realized that I hadn’t heard the album in years so I managed to find a stellar remastered version in FLAC and gave it another spin.
Two words: Simply Awesome. The interplay between Duane and Eric is unbelievable and you can easily see how this album and group spawned a virtual who’s who of imitators and aficionados including the likes of the Black Crowes and others.
Rolling Stone Magazine recently devoted a whole issue to the 500 best albums of all time. I was stunned that this album did not appear at least in the top 10. It drives me to drink that there are millions of rock fans out there who don’t even know this music exists.
The original version of this album, even the re-released remaster, sounds a bit muddy. By that I mean you can hear vocals, bass, drums, and in the background the other guitar and organ.
This new remix changes all of that. You can hear everything clearly, including all of Clapton and Allman’s guitar parts.
Take for example the excellent song, “Why Does Love Got To Be Sad”. In the original mix,when Clapton comes in towards the end of Allman’s solo, it sounds like Allman stopped playing after a few notes. In this remixed version you can hear that he just moved lower on the neck, playing some very deep guitar lines. In the original mix this is buried under Clapton’s playing. Now you can hear how it was meant to be heard,with both Allman and Clapton playing leads.
Plus, on tracks like “Anyday” and “Key To The Highway”, you can hear Allman’s slide parts much clearer. They ring out much more than the original versions.
It is well known what the back-story is for this record. Clapton fell for George Harrison’s wife, Patty. They had a fling and then she turned her back on him. The resulting emotional devastation for Clapton wound up expressed as these songs. When the original album came out, we knew none of this. For the first couple of years, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs was overlooked not only because the public didn’t know the story but also because most didn’t even know Eric Clapton played on it. But on first listen, we knew “something” happened. For all we knew, some girl who worked in a teashop could have dumped him. It didn’t matter. Something real and wretched happened-this wasn’t show business.
Check out this rare Duane Allman & Clapton Jam which is available on the expanded remastered version of the Album:
Song Highlights:
“I Looked Away” is the nice, gentle quiet before the storm. It is deceptively a “light” beginning; but it immediately tells the listener what’s going on. “Bell Bottom Blues” is more dynamic but interestingly many dismiss it the first couple of listens. Upon repeated hearings one becomes aware just how much this song “cooks”. Thematically, I would argue that Clapton’s story is first summed up here. “Keep On Growing” seems to a positive, exciting “rave-up” except a few notes of self-doubt which seep in. The end of the first LP side of the album is wrapped up with “Nobody Know You When You’re Down And Out”. Compared to “Keep On Growing”, “Nobody Knows You…” is more somber. It is a blues musing on how as times are good and bad friends come and go and after a while one is no longer so certain what those “friends” are worth.
“I Am Yours”, an acoustic pleading that in spite the of the loved one’s coldness the singers love still flows from the heart. This followed by “Anyday”. I am surprised how many people do not care for this song; but you would have to have a heart of stone not to feel the combination of hope and anguish as the refrain is repeated.
Then a long version of “Key To The Highway” and continues with “Tell The Truth”. These two songs may seem to have little to do with the main story until one recognizes that both deal with “leaving”. The album then continues with “Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad”. While good in its own way, this version seems to be a mere blueprint to the extended one which appears on the In Concert album: one of the all too few examples of where the “live” version is much better than the original. The third side concludes with “Have You Ever Loved A Woman”. A sort of mediation and prayer over a love in which “the water is wide…I can’t cross o’er”. It seems it’s all over.
But there’s more- “Little Wing”. Clapton worshiped the ground Hendrix walked on and he cried at Hendrix passing not because he left but because Hendrix didn’t take Clapton with him. So it has been all the more surprising and delightful that Clapton took Hendrix’ sad, quiet and gentle song and made it raw, emotional and thunderous. It is a successful example of two contrary emotions being expressed at the same time: the lyrics are worshipping and loving while the music is heartbreaking and cries of desperation. “It’s Too Late” is a relatively simply and “clean” realization that “that one last chance” is gone. It is a little gem.
Then we end with “Layla”. “Layla” restates the story of the whole album and begs the lost love to take the singer back. “Layla” ends with a dreamy, grand instrumental suggesting a sweet reconciliation of the two lovers. The time of distress and torment is over.
But with “Thorn Tree In The Garden” we realize that dreamy reconciliation existed only in the hopes of the singer. It is a new day and our lover is still gone.
This is one of the greatest rock and roll records ever made. Do yourself a favor and get it. Listen to it a lot. Make it yours. You will love it. And then maybe after twenty years you’ll begin to understand it. May you never have to experience something like it for yourself someday.
Track List
Disc One
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (The Original Album)
01. I Looked Away 3:03
02. Bell Bottom Blues 5:00
03. Keep On Growing 6:20
04. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 5:00
05. I Am Yours 3:34
06. Anyday 6:33
07. Key To The Highway 9:41
08. Tell The Truth 6:37
09. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad 4:43
10. Have You Ever Loved A Woman 6:54
11. Little Wing 5:34
12. It’s Too Late 3:48
13. Layla 7:05
14. Thorn Tree In The Garden 2:52
Disc Two
Alternate Masters, Jams And Outtakes
01. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (Alternate Master #1) 5:54
02. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (Alternate Master #2) 4:59
03. Tell The Truth (Jam #1) 9:38
04. Tell The Truth (Jam #2) 13:47
05. Mean Old World (Rehearsal) 14:55
06. Mean Old World (Band Version / Master Take) 3:36
07. Mean Old World (Duet Version / Master Take) 3:50
08. (When Things Go Wrong) It Hurts Me Too (Jam) 1:56
09. Tender Love (Incomplete Master) 2:42
10. It’s Too Late (Alternate Master) 4:05
Disc Three
The Jams
01. Jam I 19:59
02. Jam II 12:24
03. Jam III 13:22
04. Jam IV 12:21
05. Jam V 18:24