Sarasota's Dickey Betts celebrated in new Allman Brothers Band book 'Brothers and Sisters'
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All the cool kids were listening to country rock in the 1970s, and no album did a better job of melding those two styles of American music than the Allman Brothers Band's '73 release, "Brothers and Sisters."
It features the irresistible smash hit "Ramblin Man," written and sung by longtime Sarasota and Bradenton area resident Dickey Betts. In fact, the underrated guitar hero from here in Florida composed every original song, except two, on the album that propelled the band to superstardom.
It was this thrilling era of the Allman Brothers, when they were the biggest band in America, that helped inspire Cameron Crowe's classic 2000 film "Almost Famous" and is now the focus of Alan Paul's excellent book "Brothers and Sisters," which is being published July 25 by St. Martin's Press.
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Allman Brothers book 'Brothers and Sisters' out July 25 is latest by Alan Paul, author of the outstanding ABB oral history 'One Way Out'
Yes, this summer marks the 50th anniversary of "Brothers and Sisters," and to commemorate the occasion, we have Paul's book with the same name as the LP and subtitled: "Brothers and Sister: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the 70s." Few, if any, journalists are more qualified to write about the Allman Brothers than Paul. His previous book, "One Way Out," is a fascinating oral history written with the band's participation, capturing various highs and lows from the 1960s right up to the years just before their final show in 2014. Paul's latest Allman Brothers book, though, is even more rewarding.
It's a traditional narrative featuring Paul's clean, smart, conversational prose, which he uses to make a strong case for "Brothers and Sisters" indeed being the definitive album of the 1970s. The book also explores how the Allman Brothers played an important role in getting their Georgia governor, Jimmy Carter, elected president and delves into the band's relationship with the Grateful Dead, leading to one of the largest rock festivals of all time, Summer Jam at Watkins Glen. The "Brothers and Sisters" book utilizes previously unheard interviews with key figures, including Betts and Allman, conducted by Allman Brothers archivist, photographer, and "tour mystic" Kirk West in the mid-1980s, during the band's second hiatus.
Unlike Scott Freeman's Allman Brothers book, 'Midnight Riders,' which was published in 1995 and based on interviews he conducted with the band members in the '80s, Paul's latest work mostly avoids delving into the darker aspects of the band's drug-addled past and internal conflicts. However, it would be incomplete for any book about the Allman Brothers in the 1970s to disregard the federal drug charges, Gregg Allman's marriage to Cher, or Betts' marriage to Sandy Bluesky Wabegijig and later to Cher's assistant, Paulette Eghiazarian. Even in these sections, though, Paul maintains a tactful approach, providing necessary information without sensationalism.
"Brothers and Sisters" at Amazon for $29
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Moreover, Paul's "Brothers and Sisters" book celebrates one of the most underrated guitarists in rock history. The Allman Brothers created a distinctive fusion of rock, blues, jazz, and country, highlighted by the groundbreaking twin lead guitar playing of Duane Allman and Betts. Their exceptional chemistry is best experienced on the band's seminal 1971 live album, "At Fillmore East," which features Betts' epic instrumental "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed." However, despite Betts' equal skill as a player and his more prominent role as a songwriter and singer, Duane Allman is often primarily remembered as the main guitarist of the Allman Brothers.
Following the tragic death of Duane Allman in '71 and bassist Berry Oakley in '72, Betts emerged as the de facto leader of the group. He showcased his songwriting and vocal talents on "Ramblin' Man," the Allman Brothers' first and only Top 10 pop hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the U.S. Cashbox Top 100. "Brothers and Sisters" also includes notable Betts compositions such as the propulsive "Southbound," sung by Gregg Allman, and the ebullient instrumental track "Jessica," which also climbed the Hot 100 upon release before becoming a staple of classic rock radio. Paul cites "Brothers and Sisters" as the Allman Brothers' best-selling album, with more than seven million copies sold.
Rather than replace Duane Allman, the Allman Brothers recorded "Brothers and Sisters" and toured behind the album with a new lineup consisting of Betts as the sole lead guitarist. New member Chuck Leavell played keyboards, with singer Gregg Allman switching between keyboards and rhythm guitar. Original drummers Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson provided the rhythm section along with Jaimoe's longtime friend Lamar Williams on bass, replacing Oakley. Leavell and Williams injected fresh energy into the band with Leavell in particular contributing integral parts to songs such as "Jessica." By and large, though, when the Allman Brothers Band peaked in popularity in the summer of '73, with the biggest album and hottest concert tour in the country, it was Betts at the helm.
"In this new lineup, any combination of players could lock into grooves with one another at various times," Paul explains, before further elaborating: "Betts, an absolutely monster guitarist playing with confidence and creativity, stood atop this musical juggernaut."
Paul's celebratory "Brothers and Sisters" book, complemented by the Allman Brothers' brilliant studio and live recordings from the 1972-75 era, sets the stage for a long and glorious weekend of pure Allman Brothers bliss. It's an experience that is sure to entertain while cultivating a newfound admiration for Dickey Betts' exceptional guitar skills, songwriting, and singing.
Just make sure you have the four-disc "super deluxe edition" of "Brothers and Sisters" with the complete Winterland '73 show, and a copy of Paul's book "One Way Out" handy. Because right after finishing "Brothers and Sisters," I immediately dove back into my worn copy of "One Way Out" and read about Betts reviving the Allman Brothers again in the '90s before acrimoniously, and unfairly, parting ways with the band he carried for so many years in 2000.
Betts made beautiful music with his own bands for nearly two more decades and reconciled with his old pal Gregg Allman before his passing in 2017. Today, the legendary musician enjoys retirement with his wife, Donna, at their handsome waterfront home in south Sarasota County. While he rarely performs on stage, Betts continues to inspire countless musicians including his gifted son and former bandmate, Duane Betts, who recently released his impressive debut solo album "Wild & Precious Life."
"Brothers and Sisters" at Amazon for $29
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Wade Tatangelo, who has written the liner notes for Dickey Betts' last two albums, is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.??????
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Allman Brothers book Brothers and Sisters celebrates Dickey Betts
