Searching for Simplicity

by Gregg Allman

Overview

In his initial solo recordings, Gregg Allman tried for a more eclectic pop approach than the Southern blues-rock of his day job with the Allman Brothers Band. His later solo work, done during breaks in the Brothers' career, was much closer to the traditional ABB sound. On his first solo album since the Allmans' re-formation in 1989, he again makes what is essentially an Allman Brothers Band record without the other members, except new guitarist Jack Pearson, whose Duane Allman/Dickey Betts-style slide work is all over the disc. Allman signals the same-but-different approach by opening the album with an "unplugged" version of the Allmans' signature song, "Whipping Post," and though he adds horns to some tracks for a more R&B feel, the rest of the album finds him growling through standard-issue blues-rock, some of the songs originals, some covers, among them an excellent version of "Dark End of the Street" and an arrangement of John Hiatt's "Memphis in the Meantime" that makes it sound like a Betts country-rocker. Recovering from personnel changes, the Allman Brothers Band didn't release an album in 1997; this record should help tide their fans over. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	11/11/1997
Label:	550 Music
UPC:	0074646714324

Tracks

1. Whipping Post
2. House of Blues
3. Come Back and Help Me
4. Silence Ain't Golden Anymore
5. Rendezvous With the Blues
6. Wolf's A-Howlin'
7. Love the Poison
8. Don't Deny Me
9. The Dark End of the Street
10. Neighbor, Neighbor
11. I've Got News for You
12. Memphis in the Meantime
13. Startin' Over

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gregg Allman   Primary Artist,Organ,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Organ (Hammond)
Jim Horn   Guest Artist,Sax (Baritone)
Hank Crawford   Guest Artist
Jimmy Hall   Guest Artist,Harp
Gary Armstrong   Trumpet
Jay Wilson   Piano
Mark McGee   Guitar
Carla Russell   Vocals
Jessica Boucher   Vocals (Background)
Bill Stewart   Drums
Mickey Buckins   Maracas,Tambourine,Congas,Shaker
George Soule   Vocals (Background)
Kelvin Holly   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Harvey Thompson   Sax (Tenor)
Topper Price   Harmonica
Robert Mason   Cello
Ava Aldridge   Vocals (Background)
Jack Pearson   Dobro,Guitar,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Cindy Richardson   Vocals (Background)
Clayton Ivey   Clavinet,Wurlitzer
Charles Rose   Cello,Trombone
Chalmers Davis   Organ (Hammond)
Derek Trucks   Slide Guitar
David Hood   Bass
Vinnie Ciesielski   Trumpet
Johnny Sandlin   Guitar (Rhythm)
Sam Levine   Sax (Alto)
Roger Hawkins   Congas,Timbales
Scott Boyer   Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Tommy Miller   Bass

Technical Credits

W. Wilson   Composer
Chris Carroll   Second Engineer
Ray Alfred   Composer
Kirk West   Photography
Dan Penn   Composer
Chips Moman   Composer
Gregg Allman   Composer
John Hiatt   Composer
Jeremy Stephens   Assistant Engineer
Roy Alfred   Composer
Jimmy Hall   Composer
Tom Dowd   Mixing,Producer
G. Nicholson   Composer
Bunky Anderson   Assistant Producer
J. L. Williams   Composer
Jack Pearson   Composer
Charles Rose   Horn Arrangements
Vincent Wojno   Engineer
Huey P. Meaux   Composer
Johnny Sandlin   Engineer,Producer
Johnny Douglas   Composer
Darron Weasler   Engineer