Chapter 14 TOURING AND RECORDING WITHOUT DUANE (NOVEMBER 1971–NOVEMBER 1972)
So soon the five-man Allman Brothers began to play again — what else could they do? Tony Glover
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Spirits were high in Macon in fall 1971. As At Fillmore East stormed the charts, the group had begun to lay down tracks for its next album. Duane’s accident on October 29 happened just after his return from a rehab stint for heroin. The band’s fourth album, Eat a Peach, is the epilogue to Duane Allman’s remarkable career and the final chapter of the original era of the Allman Brothers Band.
Duane’s devastated bandmates honored him with an enduring commitment to his vision. They channeled their grief the only way they knew how: through music. On November 1, they played at Duane’s memorial service. Three weeks later, they embarked on a ninety-date nationwide tour as a quintet the following February released Eat a Peach. from Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East
Eat A Peach
My own “personal” playlist that includes an alternative mix of “Blue Sky” with Gregg’s Hammond B3 really prominent. The “regular” version doesn’t sound right to me ever since I first heard it. The 5-man band completed and released this within 4 months of Duane’s death. It’s three distinct versions of the Allman Brothers Band:
1. What remained: 5-man band in the studio (side A)
2. What could have been: the original band in the studio (half of side D)
3. What was: the original band live at Fillmore East (sides B/C/D — “Mountain Jam” takes up B and C)
Every bit of it is wonderful and sad at the same time, what was, what could have been, and what remained.
I love that they started off the album with the latter: three entirely new tracks, all of them among their best. The Fillmore tracks, particularly “Mountain Jam” are essential to understanding the band’s music. “Stand Back” and “Blue Sky” feature two of Duane’s finest solos, the latter a masterpiece, and Dickey’s first vocal. “Little Martha” is Duane’s only songwriting credit.
Macon City Auditorium 2/11/72
This is the album release show for Eat a Peach, to date the only full 5-man band that streams. It is a powerful representation of a band grieving deeply.
Music obsessive. History Geek. Southerner. Guitar Player. Public Historian. Teacher. Writer. Fan, Bob Beatty grew up devouring his mom’s Beatles’ and dad’s Hank Williams and bluegrass records. Throughout his life he’s interwoven his love of punk rock, the Allman Brothers Band, and the Jam Depression collective as a historian, fan, and musician and it was only a matter of time that enduring passion culminated in a Ph.D. and publication of Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East available at www.atfillmoreeastbook.com.
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