This 1973 2-disc reissue of Gregg Allman’s debut solo album is a vintage mix of (as the title says), laid back southern country blues. It came out during the time of the Allman Brothers classic Brothers and Sisters and preceded his disastrous duet with Cher Bono.
For this album, Allman only brought a couple of guys from the band, Chuck Leavell, Jamoie and Butch Trucks as well as adding some jazzers like David “Fathhead” Newman on horns and drummer Bill Stewart. The feel is casual and folksy, with a perfect blend of blues, gospel and late night at the Moose Lodge. Laconic, Allman delivers a definitive version of his own “Midnight Rider” that is like a lonely wolf howling at the moon, while is cover of Jackson Browne’s “These Days” is dripping with mournful regret. He sounds like a member of the Carter family with a rich take of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and gets avuncular on “Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing.”
The collection also include early mixes of each tune as well as a bunch of demos, outtakes and alternate recordings. Most rewarding are the solo guitar and vocal demos of “Rollin’ Stone” and “These Days” which take you to Allman’s front porch. A 1974 concert take of “Melissa” has him as personal as one could be at this stage in his career. Still as tasty as dry rub ribs.