The original Allman Brothers Band really had two brothers in it: Duane, the bandleader, on guitar, and Gregg on keyboards and vocals; however, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident in October 1971, mere months after this recording (from March 1971), and bassist Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle accidents just block away about a year later. The band's line-up at Fillmore East had two guitar players, with Dickey Betts being the second lead guitar player, and two drummers, Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, a line-up that allowed them great musical flexibility.
I discovered The Allman Brothers Band through Frank Zappa, who had a cover version of Whipping Post on his Them or Us album from 1984 - and he played it frequently live as well with Bobby Martin on vocals. Then I heard You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 - The Helsinki Concert - and the audience keeps asking for Whipping Post. That concert was from 1974, and knowing som of Zappa's sense of humor, I am assuming that playing it in 1984 was more of a joke to him than anything else - but it doesn't matter, because the version was great. Then Ken DeLong, one of my very esteemed faculty colleagues at MCC let me listen to Eat A Peach, their first album after Duane's death, and that's when I decided I needed to listen to At Fillmore East - and that brings us to today. Their version of Whipping Post is more than 20 glorious minutes long. Now, when I say that, there are moments in here where they seem a little off - but that is the danger and allure with a great jam, as everything is spontaneous, and when it works it really works - but when it doesn't... It's not always that great. However, despite a few moments of losing concentration, this is indeed a great version of Whipping Post.
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