by Robert Wilkinson
Today would have been the 66th birthday of the amazing guitar slinger Duane Allman.
As with RFK, I just don’t have the time to compose a thorough tribute to this amazing master of the guitar and founder (with his brother Gregg) of the Allman Brothers Band, one of the first integrated bands in modern rock. He's generally considered one of the greatest electric guitarists in history, and today I’ll post just a few of his more amazing pieces of guitar work.
At this juncture, I’ll share that I saw them in early 1969 in Merritt Island, Florida, before they broke nationally. They were touring the SE US, getting tight on stage before the release of their first album. There were already absolute masters of their instruments, and gave me one of the more exciting shows I’ve ever seen!
For your enjoyment, Duane “Skydog” Allman!
First, from their amazing Fillmore East concert in 1970, a live video performance featuring Duane in the blistering “Whipping Post”
From the same show, here are the Allman Brothers live doing “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”
Here’s the entire one hour live performance set to stills of The Allman Brothers “Live At the Fillmore East” album
Here’s an audio-only 8 minute live performance from 1971 by the Allman Brothers of the leadoff tunes on their first album “Don’t Want You No More” and “It’s Not My Cross To Bear.”
Also from 1971 at Stony Brook, an audio-only live performance of the Allman Brothers doing “Blue Sky”
From 1970, an audio-only recording of Duane Allman and the Grateful Dead live at the Fillmore East doing “Dark Star” and “Spanish Jam”
Here’s an audio-only unreleased bootleg from 1970 of Duane Allman and Eric Clapton Studio Jams 1-6
We’ll finish this short birthday tribute with THE song that let the world know something huge was up! For your enjoyment, here’s Duane Allman, Eric Clapton, and “Derek and the Dominos” in the original studio version of one of the most beautiful and well known love songs on Earth. Enjoy Duane’s slide work as you take in the awesome “Layla”
Sorry you died so young at 24, Skydog. Motorcycles will do that to ya....
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson
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