Artist: THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND
Album: THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (CD)

Year: 1969
Media type: CD

The Allman Brothers Band is the debut studio album by American rock band the Allman Brothers Band. It was released in the United States by Atco Records and Capricorn Records on November 4, 1969 and produced by Adrian Barber. Formed in 1969, the Allman Brothers Band came together following various musical pursuits by each individual member. Following his session work in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Duane Allman moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he led large jam sessions with his new band, one he had envisioned as having two guitarists and two drummers. After rounding out the lineup with the addition of his brother, Gregg Allman, the band played free shows in public parks and moved to Macon, Georgia, where they were to be one of the premiere acts on Capricorn.

The album was recorded and mixed in two weeks at Atlantic Studios in New York City. Much of the material presented was premiered live over the preceding months and combines blues, jazz and country music to varying degrees. It includes re-workings of "Trouble No More" and "Don't Want You No More," as well as notable originals such as "Dreams", which highlighted the band's jazz influence, and "Whipping Post", which soon became a crowd favorite. Although the group was arranged to work with producer Tom Dowd (whose credits included Cream and John Coltrane), he was unavailable, and they instead recorded with house engineer Adrian Barber. The album's artwork was photographed at various places in Macon and surrounding areas.

The record initially received a poor commercial response, charting in the lower levels of Billboard '​s Top 200 Pop Albums chart. Despite this, the album received critical acclaim from publications such as Rolling Stone, who called it "consistently [...] subtle, and honest, and moving." Following the release of the album, the band remained on the road for an extended period of time. They chose to remain in Macon, despite suggestions from label executives to move to larger cities for a better shot at commercial acceptance.

All songs written by Gregg Allman, except where noted.

TRACKLIST:

    "Don't Want You No More" (Spencer Davis, Edward Hardin)  – 2:25
    "It's Not My Cross to Bear"  – 5:02
    "Black Hearted Woman"  – 5:08
    "Trouble No More" (McKinley Morganfield aka Muddy Waters)  – 3:45

    "Every Hungry Woman"  – 4:13
    "Dreams"  – 7:18
    "Whipping Post"  – 5:17

LINE-UP:

    Gregg Allman – vocals, organ
    Duane Allman – slide guitar, lead guitar
    Dickey Betts – lead guitar
    Berry Oakley – bass guitar, backing vocals
    Jai Johanny Johanson – drums, congas
    Butch Trucks – drums, percussion