The Allman Brothers Band – Trouble No More: 50th Anniversary Collection (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 06:34:51 minutes | 2,62 GB | Genre: Blues Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Island Def Jam
The Allman Brothers Band has announced the release of Trouble No More: 50th Anniversary Collection, a box set of rarities, unreleased tracks, live performances and classic songs. The box set, out February 28th via Island Mercury/UMe, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the rock band, and is available as a 10-LP or 5-CD box set or on digital.
The box set was produced by Allman Brothers Band historians and aficionados Bill Levenson, John Lynskey, and Kirk West, and collects 61 Allman Brothers Band classics, live performances and rarities, and includes seven previously unreleased tracks, including the original demo of “Trouble No More.” The songs have been remastered by Jason NeSmith at Chase Park Tranduction in Athens, Georgia, and the box set is arranged chronologically by era of the band.
Though it appears in the aftermath of their dissolution in 2014, and the deaths of both actual Allman brothers, Duane and Gregg, this 50th anniversary retrospective box set is arguably the only career overview of the band one can call representative. Arranged over ten LPs or five compact discs, Trouble No More examines in depth each incarnation and stage of the pioneering rockers. It convincingly formulates the argument that no other American band accomplished more musically (especially live) by seamlessly marrying rock, blues, jazz, and R&B to each other and to extended improvisation.
This set compiles 61 Allman Brothers Band classics, live performances, and rarities — including seven previously unreleased tracks — all painstakingly remastered, with and a hefty 88-page book full of photos and a lengthy historical essay by ABB historian John Lynskey that recaps all 13 incarnations of the band’s lineup. Lynskey co-produced the set with fellow ABB authorities Bill Levenson and Kirk West. Sequenced chronologically, the music and its accompanying visuals offer a detailed, rounded portrait of this legendary band at their best in all incarnations. It forever puts to bed the argument that after Brothers and Sisters in 1972 they were done creatively until Warren Haynes signed up for their second re-formation in 1989. The set is bookended by versions of the Muddy Waters-penned title track. Disc one is an unreleased studio demo from 1969, while disc five’s electrifying closer is taken from the farewell shows at the Beacon Theater. The demo is interesting, mainly for the brief, raw interplay between guitarists Dickey Betts and Duane Allman. Some listeners may be surprised to find only the studio version of “Whipping Post” here, but given how many long jams are included, it’s a small omission; besides, “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” from the same Fillmore East concerts is included. There is a previously unissued version of “Mountain Jam” from the Watkins Glenn Music Festival in 1973 that has never been issued before either. At just over 12 minutes, it’s nowhere near as long as the one from Eat a Peach, but it does offer the Chuck Leavell version of the band with Betts, Gregg, Jaimoe, Butch Trucks, and bassist Lamar Williams. at their best with three special guests: guitarists Robbie Robertson, Jerry Garcia, and Bob Weir! There are excellent choices from the albums Win Lose or Draw and Enlightened Rogues (otherwise spotty documents) that showcase Betts’ fine songwriting on “High Falls,” Crazy Love,” “Pegasus,” and “Can’t Take It with You,” co-composed with actor Don Johnson.
The final disc houses most of the unreleased material, all of it cut live during the Peach Records years, between 2000-2014. The ten-minute read of Fenton Robinson’s “Loan Me a Dime” with Derek Trucks and Jimmy Herring on guitars is one of two tunes with this lineup, who offer up their own take on the tune that Duane played on for Boz Scaggs’ self-titled debut in 1969. Likewise a 1999 show, with Betts and Jack Pearson on guitars, delivers a read of the latter’s “I’m Not Crying” and features the composer’s impassioned vocals. While Trouble No More is almost certainly for hardcore fans only (given its cost and [beautifully] assembled excess), it is also the only Allman Brothers Band compilation ultimately worth owning for those same enthusiasts.
– Thom Jurek
Tracklist:
1-1. The Allman Brothers Band – Trouble No More (Demo) (03:33)
1-2. The Allman Brothers Band – Don’t Want You No More (02:24)
1-3. The Allman Brothers Band – It’s Not My Cross To Bear (05:03)
1-4. The Allman Brothers Band – Dreams (07:21)
1-5. The Allman Brothers Band – Whipping Post (05:19)
1-6. The Allman Brothers Band – I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (Live At Ludlow Garage, April 11, 1970) (09:18)
1-7. The Allman Brothers Band – Midnight Rider (02:59)
1-8. The Allman Brothers Band – Revival (04:07)
1-9. The Allman Brothers Band – Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’ (03:32)
1-10. The Allman Brothers Band – Hoochie Coochie Man (04:58)
1-11. The Allman Brothers Band – Please Call Home (04:03)
1-12. The Allman Brothers Band – Statesboro Blues (Live At Fillmore East, March 13, 1971) (04:21)
1-13. The Allman Brothers Band – Stormy Monday (Live At Fillmore East, March 13, 1971) (08:51)
1-14. The Allman Brothers Band – In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (Live At Fillmore East, March 12, 1971) (13:06)
2-1. The Allman Brothers Band – One Way Out (Live At Fillmore East, June 27, 1971) (04:58)
2-2. The Allman Brothers Band – You Don’t Love Me / Soul Serenade (Live At A&R Studios, August 26, 1971) (19:26)
2-3. The Allman Brothers Band – Hot ‘Lanta (Live At A&R Studios, August 26, 1971) (06:08)
2-4. The Allman Brothers Band – Stand Back (03:25)
2-5. The Allman Brothers Band – Melissa (03:54)
2-6. The Allman Brothers Band – Blue Sky (05:10)
2-7. The Allman Brothers Band – Ain’t Wastin Time No More (Live At Mar Y Sol Festival, Puerto Rico, April 2, 1972) (04:45)
2-8. The Allman Brothers Band – Wasted Words (04:20)
2-9. The Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man (04:47)
2-10. The Allman Brothers Band – Southbound (05:10)
2-11. The Allman Brothers Band – Jessica (07:29)
2-12. The Allman Brothers Band – Early Morning Blues (Outtake) (09:26)
3-1. The Allman Brothers Band – Come And Go Blues (Live At Watkins Glen, New York, July 28, 1973) (05:02)
3-2. The Allman Brothers Band – Mountain Jam (Live At Watkins Glen, New York, July 28, 1973) (12:18)
3-3. The Allman Brothers Band – Can’t Lose What You Never Had (05:50)
3-4. The Allman Brothers Band – Win, Lose Or Draw (04:45)
3-5. The Allman Brothers Band – High Falls (14:28)
3-6. The Allman Brothers Band – Crazy Love (03:44)
3-7. The Allman Brothers Band – Can’t Take It With You (03:34)
3-8. The Allman Brothers Band – Pegasus (07:32)
3-9. The Allman Brothers Band – Just Ain’t Easy (Live At Merriweather Post Pavilion, July 19, 1979) (05:04)
3-10. The Allman Brothers Band – Hell & High Water (03:36)
3-11. The Allman Brothers Band – Angeline (03:44)
3-12. The Allman Brothers Band – Leavin’ (03:46)
3-13. The Allman Brothers Band – Never Knew How Much (I Needed You) (04:28)
4-1. The Allman Brothers Band – Good Clean Fun (05:08)
4-2. The Allman Brothers Band – Seven Turns (05:06)
4-3. The Allman Brothers Band – Gambler’s Roll (06:44)
4-4. The Allman Brothers Band – End Of The Line (04:39)
4-5. The Allman Brothers Band – Nobody Knows (10:59)
4-6. The Allman Brothers Band – Low Down Dirty Mean (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 10 & 11, 1992) (07:22)
4-7. The Allman Brothers Band – Come On Into My Kitchen (Live At Radio & Records Convention, Los Angeles, June 11, 1992) (05:06)
4-8. The Allman Brothers Band – Sailin’ ‘Cross The Devil’s Sea (04:56)
4-9. The Allman Brothers Band – Back Where It All Begins (09:10)
4-10. The Allman Brothers Band – Soulshine (06:44)
4-11. The Allman Brothers Band – No One To Run With (05:59)
4-12. The Allman Brothers Band & Jack Pearson – I’m Not Crying (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 13, 1999) (07:43)
5-1. The Allman Brothers Band – Loan Me A Dime (Live At World Music Theatre, August 26, 2000) (09:58)
5-2. The Allman Brothers Band – Desdemona (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 25, 2001) (13:09)
5-3. The Allman Brothers Band – High Cost Of Low Living (07:50)
5-4. The Allman Brothers Band – Old Before My Time (05:22)
5-5. The Allman Brothers Band – Blue Sky (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 21, 2005) (12:04)
5-6. The Allman Brothers Band – Little Martha (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 21, 2005) (02:14)
5-7. The Allman Brothers Band – Black Hearted Woman (Live At The Beacon Theatre, March 26, 2009) (11:57)
5-8. The Allman Brothers Band – The Sky Is Crying (Live At The Beacon Theatre, October 28, 2014) (09:18)
5-9. The Allman Brothers Band – Farewell Speeches (Live At The Beacon Theatre, October 28, 2014) (03:21)
5-10. The Allman Brothers Band – Trouble No More (Live At The Beacon Theatre, October 28, 2014) (04:18)
