Last Albums: The Allman Brothers Band - Hittin' The Note (2003)

Hittin' The Note is the only album by The Allman Brothers Band without the services of original member Forrest Richard (Dickey) Betts. 

Think back. The band was going to die along with Duane Allman in 1971, right? Fortunately, it didn't, and Betts was a major reason why. Then, after he was unceremoniously fired in 2000 fans once again questioned the future of the great band from Macon, Georgia. Well, not only did Greg Allman revitalize his group after Betts' departure he made sure they were very much alive and kicking butt.

On this album the septet sounds like Duane is still alive because the dual lead guitars were brought back courtesy of Warren Haynes - the leader of Gov't Mule - and the addition of Derek Trucks who also leads his own band with wife Susan Tedeschi. They, and the three remaining original members who recorded this gem - Greg Allman and drummers Jaimoe and Butch Trucks (Derek's Uncle) - almost qualify the band as a supergroup. Mark Quinones on percussion and Oteil Burbridge on bass round out the seven man lineup.

Haynes shares lead vocals with Allman and their collaboration on highlights such as "Desdemona" - a mid-tempo blues/jazz workout - is astounding. A twelve minute jam, "Instrumental Illness," makes the listener believe he's watching the band back at The Fillmore in 1971.

There is also an excellent cover of "Heart of Stone" that for my money is better than The Rolling Stones original.

Hittin' The Note serves up some blues, rock, and jazz, with a little acoustic slide work thrown in for good measure. What is missing from the album, are the country-blues sounds Betts often added to the stew.  I'm not taking anything away from Betts. I'm a fan of his playing and I've followed him through the years.  He deserves his place on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of all time great guitarists - he came in at #58 - but in this setting the one-two punch delivered by Haynes and the younger Trucks superbly compensate for his absence.

For those of you who are interested in this sort of thing the album was recorded with Trucks playing in your right speaker while Haynes was always assigned the left side.  It's a cool way to compare and contrast their styles.

Hittin' The Note is the extraordinary outfit's best album since Brothers and Sisters way back in 1973. You need to check it out because Greg Allman and Butch Trucks have both passed away, meaning there isn't going to be another one.
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Last Albums discusses music that was recorded as new material and intended to be released to the public as a complete album but not necessarily the last one. Live albums, greatest hits or "best of" collections and compilations do not count, nor do posthumous releases of leftover tracks cobbled together to make a final album.

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