Allman Brothers - Soul Serenade [In Memory Of King Curtis]

This album was recorded live at A&R Studios, New York, on August 26, 1971 and broadcast in stereo on WPLJ-FM. The objective of the broadcast was to promote their "Live At Fillmore East" album. The show was recorded two weeks after the death of King Curtis, who was a great friend, and a huge influence to the late, great Duane Allman, who also, tragically lost his life in a motorcycle crash in Macon on October 29, just two months after this show. During the broadcast, Duane pauses to reflect on his late friend: About King Curtis - that was one of the finest cats there ever was. He was just right on top of getting next to young people, you know? Its a shame. If yall get the chance, listen to that album he made out at Fillmore West Boy, its incredible, its unbelievable, the power and the emotional stature the man had. Hes an incredible human being". A little over eight minutes into the song, You Dont Love Me", Duane slows the band, leading everyone into his own version of Soul Serenade. When Duane repeats the melody of the song , the audience begins clapping along to the lovely tune. Suddenly, Duane jumps in and absolutely cuts the melody to shreds with one of the most emotional and passionate solos you will ever hear, taking it to another amazing level. This is an incredible powerful, graceful, and loving musical eulogy for his lost friend.
The group was founded in 1969 by Duane Allman (b. Nov. 20, 1946-d. Oct. 29, 1971) on guitar; Gregg Allman (b. Dec. 8, 1947) on vocals and organ; Forrest Richard ("Dickey") Betts (b. Dec. 12, 1943) on guitar; Berry Oakley (b. Apr. 4, 1948-d. Nov. 12, 1972) on bass; and Claude Hudson ("Butch") Trucks (b. May 11, 1947) and Jaimoe (Johnny Lee Johnson) Johanson (b. July 8, 1944) on drums. Duane Allman began working as a session guitarist at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL, and it was there, appearing on records by Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, John Hammond, and King Curtis, among others, that he made his reputation. In 1969 Allman gave up session work and began putting together a new band — Jaimoe came aboard, and then Allman's longtime friend Butch Trucks and another Allman friend, Berry Oakley, joined, along with Dickey Betts, with whom Oakley was playing in a group called Second Coming. A marathon jam session ensued, at the end of which Allman had his band, except for a singer — that came later, when his brother Gregg agreed to join. They were duly signed to Walden's new Capricorn label. The band didn't record their first album until after they'd worked their sound out on the road, playing heavily around Florida and Georgia. The self-titled debut album was a solid blues-rock album and one of the better showcases for guitar pyrotechnics that year. The Allman Brothers Band impressed everyone who heard it, and it attracted good reviews and a cult following with its mix of assured dual lead guitars by Duane Allman and Dickey Betts, soulful singing by Gregg Allman, and a rhythm section that was nearly as busy as the lead instruments.
Their second album, 1970's Idlewild South, recorded at Capricorn's studios in Macon, GA, was produced by Tom Dowd. By this time, the band's concerts were becoming legendary for the extraordinarily complex yet coherent interplay between the two guitarists and Gregg Allman's keyboards, sometimes in jams of 40 minutes or more to a single song.They played a series of shows in March at The Fillmore East that were recorded for posterity and subsequently transformed into their third album. It became an instant classic. At Fillmore East was certified as a gold record on October 15, 1971. Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident 14 days later. The band had been midway through work on its next album, Eat a Peach, which they completed as a five-piece, with Dickey Betts playing all of the lead and slide guitar parts.
Then tragedy struck again on November 12, 1972 when Barry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident only a few blocks from Allman's accident site.
Bruce Eder, allmusic.com

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[AimNFireProductions]

THIS IS EDITED. GRRR im so pissed. Duane Allman did great (prehaps better) in the 8 minutes 47 seconds. No offense to the uploader.

[clayopalstar]

@AimNFireProductions,

None taken... the upload time limit was eleven seconds on youtube when I made this one.

Point taken... I should reupload the unedited version. I did the same thing with "Only You Know and I Know" by Delaney and Bonnie with Duane. By the third version, I was able to upload the full eightween minute plus song.

[JasonHunt74]

I'm sorry kids, but no one played with the same sound or skills as Duane. God must have needed him pretty bad to call him so soon. I'd give up my nuts to have him around today. Massive talent, glad to hear what I've been given.

[Leald1]

love it man, I listen to this song every night before I go on shift. It just gets better! It's all good man, everybody has their time and I believe it's all about the journey. When I listen to The Brothers, I remember the journey just a little bit better, like I can taste it! Glad to be here Bros

[12889414]

@boblackey1 oh excuse me I didn't know what you read was the bible of guitarist , i also read in this same article larry the cable guy was better than gary moore so excuse me. sorry mr guitar genius.

[boblackey1]

@Required365 I agree with that Required365. Eric Johnson, to me, is as good as Gary Moore technically but he doesn't have the SOUL that Gary Moore had. Gary was like Duane Allman in that department except he had the technical chops of the best guitar players. But the "soul" is what really counts for an emotional experience to the listener.

[Required365]

@boblackey1 Derekcan't touch the soul Duane had.

[boblackey1]

@12889414 Hmmm. I just read an interview with Butch Trucks & he said his nephew Derek Trucks can play circles around Duane Allman. And I hold that Gary Moore can play circles around Derek Trucks! I have yet to hear a guitar player who can touch Gary Moore.

[12889414]

@boblackey1 All of them are better than Dickey but your nuts to think anybody compares to Duane.

[12889414]

@dlm9293 you tell him dude there is nothing wrong with you, why can't everyone just be nice.

[12889414]

@wc4dblues 24

[12889414]

@dlm9293 I love the fact a 16 year old kid was smart enough to know how great he was, I have a 14 month old grandaughter who will set in my lap and listen to him and you can see in her eye's that this is something special.

[12889414]

@colorod0 he became one with his guitar, he was just unreal.