Laid Back [Remastered]

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2001)
• Remastered ed. edition
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Polydor

Editorial Reviews Gregg’s 1973 solo debut also became his biggest hit, a 13 LP featuring hisTop 20 classic Midnight Rider . Remastered from the original master tapes! By the end of 1973, the Allman Brothers Band seemed to have it all naileddown. They’d proven their mettle with a fine synthesis of blues, jazz, folk,and country influences; expanded upon it with the definitive _Fillmore East_set; and moved forward after the separate losses of guitarist Duane Allman andbassist Berry Oakley. The group’s myriad strengths, in fact, might’ve been thereason that one of their most obvious gifts–Gregg Allman’s pained, growlingvoice–was sometimes overlooked. _Laid Back_, Gregg Allman’s first solo disc,seems in part an effort to gain a little more recognition. It worked,particularly given the strong radio response to its opening track, a lopingremake of “Midnight Rider.” Likewise, much of the album’s remainder findsAllman tweaking the band’s blues (“Queen of Hearts”) and country sides (acover of Jackson Browne’s “These Days”); horns and gospelish backing vocalsadd to the personal, often mournful feel. Much more coherent than its datedcover art (an either childlike or blasted-out-of-his-gourd Gregg ignoring ablazing volcano) indicates, _Laid Back_ is an often convincing version of theman’s music. For Allman, it would get much, much worse before it would be thisgood again. _–Rickey Wright_