Brothers and Sisters

May 1, 2023
Journalist Paul (One Way Out) spins a rollicking tale of the Allman Brothers Band’s 1970s ascent to rock stardom and swift decline. Formed in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1969 by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman, the band found its groove in 1971, when they released their now classic live album, At Fillmore East. Just as their star was rising, two band members were killed in separate motorcycle accidents—guitarist Duane Allman in late 1971, bassist Berry Oakley a year later. In 1972, keyboardist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams joined, making way for a new dynamic that gelled in 1973’s Brothers and Sisters; the album, which included such hits as “Ramblin’ Man,” heralded the birth of Southern rock and the rise of such bands as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Wet Willie, according to Paul. But by 1976, the group had parted ways without any public announcement—an “odd fate,” writes Paul, for a band that had once “elevated above their rock and roll peers to become an American institution,” though they reformed in 1989. Enriched by a cache of band interviews never heard before, Paul’s entry marshals encyclopedic detail and sterling prose for a vivid glimpse into a classic moment in music history. Rock fans will rejoice.

July 1, 2023

Paul (One Way Out: The Inside Story of the Allman Brothers Band) chronicles the years just before and just after the creation of the 1973 Allman Brothers album Brothers and Sisters, the group's biggest commercial success. In this extensive, thoroughly researched account, Paul captures the American rock scene of the 1970s, along with many of its players and personalities. The author conducted interviews with dozens of subjects, some just for this book, and some multiple times over a span of many years. These include band members and other musicians such as Robbie Robertson, James Taylor, David Crosby, Elvin Bishop, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Al Kooper. The book also incorporates interviews conducted by music photographer Kirk West and others, plus a variety of sources ranging from liner notes and magazine and newspaper articles to books and videos. Paul has written about the Allman Brothers for decades, and his interest and appreciation are apparent in this narrative. VERDICT Longtime Allman Brothers fans and readers who have only recently discovered the band will enjoy this in-depth treatment.--Carolyn M. Mulac

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2023
The author's second book on the Allman Brothers focuses on the early 1970s, when the band recorded the titular album. Rock journalist Paul draws on extensive interviews with band members and others from their circle, including tapes recorded in the 1980s by the band's archivist, Kirk West. The author begins with Gregg's and Duane's musical careers before forming the band, and he follows them through their early success. The deaths of Duane and bassist Berry Oakley in 1971 and 1972, respectively, might have ended the band, but Gregg and guitarist Dickie Betts took over leadership roles and brought the band--with new member Chuck Leavell on keyboards--back to the studio to record Brothers and Sisters, which was released in 1973. Paul diligently explores nearly everything involving the album and time period, including the band's encounters with the Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter; the drug problems of several members; the dishonest business dealings of their predatory record company; and domestic dramas, including Gregg's tumultuous marriage to Cher. The author also shows how Betts and Gregg had differing visions for how the band's music could evolve: Betts leaned in the direction of lyrical tunes with a country flavor, while Gregg adhered to the group's blues-band origins. At times, it seems a miracle that any album got made, let alone one that Paul credibly touts as central to the era. The author covers some of the Allmans' live shows, notably the 1973 Summer Jam at Watkins Glen concert, where they shared the stage with the Dead and The Band and played in front of 600,000 people. The book is full of trenchant observations by friends and contemporaries, creating a valuable perspective on the music scene in the early '70s. A warm, entertaining appreciation of a key period in the career of a vital American band.

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