Duane Allman - 1972 [2008] "An Anthology Vol. II"

Along with more session work ( Come On in My Kitchen Delaney & Bonnie; Push Push Herbie Mann; Dirty Old Man Lulu; It Ain't Fair Aretha Franklin; You Reap What You Sow Otis Rush; Matchbox Ronnie Hawkins), Vol. 2 has Duane's Happily Married Man; No Money Down , and Going Up the Country ; Allman Brothers gems (including an unissued live Midnight Rider ), and more!

The session work with other players here isn't quite as good as the material on the first anthology, but An Anthology, Vol. 2 does feature a live cut by Delaney & Bonnie, plus a pair of what were then previously unissued Allman Brothers Band live tracks (among them "Midnight Rider" from the Fillmore East in June 1971). There's another good Duane Allman solo number and a good Hour Glass track ("Been Gone Too Long"), more session work with Aretha Franklin and King Curtis, Ronnie Hawkins ("Matchbox"), Wilson Pickett ("Born to Be Wild"), Johnny Jenkins, Boz Scaggs, Sam Samudio, and Otis Rush. The annotation here isn't as thorough as it was on the first volume, but anyone who owns the first double-CD set will almost certainly have to own this one as well, and for a mid-priced set there's a lot of very good music.

It's rumored that Duane once said, while watching and listening to a Johnny Winter concert, I can cut him anytime. Duane was a highly sought session man, as you will hear in volume II. He blended in and then he stood out. You'll hear the 1969 nucleus of the Allman Brothers Band yet to come on the first cut. From Ronnie Hawkins to Aretha Franklin to King Curtis to Boz Scaggs, to Delaney and Bonnie, Duane backed them all and sounded good. Try it, bet you'll like it, and if you do, get Duane Allman Anthology, you'll definitely enjoy the jam "Loan Me A Dime" with Boz Scaggs on this one as well as the ballad "Please Be With Me" with "Cowboy".

The Duane Allman Anthology Volume 2 brings together an eclectic mix of musicians and Allman's superior guitar skills. The range of music on this two-disc set displays Allman's versatility. Blues, Motown, southern rock, straight rock 'n roll, funky jazz, Creole rock - all manner of R&B - you find it all here.

In addition to his work with the Allmans Brothers Band, Allman was a session musician. Most of the songs here feature someone other than Allman such as King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Mann, Otis Rush, Dr. John Creaux, Wilson Pickett, Lulu, Boz Scaggs, Delaney & Bonnie, and Ronnie Hawkins.

(Pickett's 'Born to be Wild' was one of the anthems of a generation - looking back from middle-aged parenthood I can only imagine how thrilled my parents were to hear that song blaring!)

The album goes from one triumph to another. 'Walk on Gilded Splinters' featuring Dr. John is worth the purchase price all by itself. Likewise, 'The Weight' by King Curtis and 'Push Push' by Herbie Mann.

There's also plenty to satisfy Allman Brothers Band aficionados. 'Done Somebody Wrong' and 'Midnight Rider' (live from the Fillmore East) as well as 'Leave My Blues at Home' all feature the full band.

Allman's carefree nature is on display in 'The Happily Married Man' (refrain: I ain't seen my wife in 2 or 3 years, I'm a happily married man) and 'No Money Down', a Chuck Berry song about trading in his 'broke-down raggedy Ford' for a Cadillac with a nuclear reactor, railroad air horn, and psychedelic strobe spot.

Blistering good music. Highest recommendation.

Credits - Track listing:

CD 1
01     –Duane Allman     Happily Married Man     2:40
02     –Aretha Franklin     It Ain't Fair     3:20
03     –King Curtis     The Weight     2:48
04     –Otis Rush     You Reap What You Sow     4:54
05     –Ronnie Hawkins     Matchbox     3:06
06     –Wilson Pickett     Born To Be Wild     2:44
07     –Duane Allman     No Money Down     3:25
08     –Hourglass*     Been Gone Too Long     3:10
09     –Arthur Conley     Stuff You Gotta Watch     2:12
10     –Lulu     Dirty Old Man     2:18
11     –Herbie Mann     Push Push     9:55

CD 2
01     –Johnny Jenkins     Walk On Guilded Splinters     5:23
02     –Boz Scaggs     Waiting For A Train     2:40
03     –Ronnie Hawkins     Don't Tell Me Your Troubles     2:14
04     –Sam Samudio     Goin' Upstairs     5:06
05     –Delaney And Bonnie*     Come On In My Kitchen     3:36
06     –The Allman Brothers Band     Dimples     5:05
07     –The Duck And The Bear     Goin' Up The Country     2:35
08     –The Allman Brothers Band     Done Somebody Wrong     4:05
09     –The Allman Brothers Band     Leave My Blues At Home     4:15
10     –The Allman Brothers Band     Midnight Rider     2:56