Dickey Betts was of course a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, and his interplay with Duane Allman was a highlight of the essential early albums. After Duane’s untimely death Betts became even more of a key figure, writing and singing “Ramblin’ Man”, their highest charting single. He released his first solo album in 1974, and after the band broke up (for the first time) in 1976, he formed Dickey Betts & Great Southern with whom he recorded two albums before TABB reformed. This album was recorded by that outfit at The Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead, New York on August 11, 1978, and simulcast on WLIR-FM. The line-up that night was Betts (guitar, vocals), “Dangerous” Dan Toler (guitar), David “Rook” Goldflies (bass), Michael Workman (keyboards), David “Frankie” Toler (drums), Doni Sharbono (drums), and Mimi Hart (background vocals). Interestingly, when TABB reformed, pianist Chuck Leavell and bassist Lamar Williams decided not to return so they were replaced by guitarist Dan Toler and bassist David Goldflies.

This is a good, although not great, recording which has now been made available on vinyl for the first time by Liberation Hall, and a mighty fine romp this is too. Betts was arguably as his peak in terms of writing and as a performer, and he knew what the crowd wanted so as well as material from his solo albums we also get plenty of classics, which with the twin-guitar, twin-drum line-up comes across very nicely indeed. It is hard to pick a favourite as there is so much going on, but while I am sure diehard fans of the band will call out “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, “Blue Sky” and of course “Ramblin’ Man”, I find I could listen to the drum battle of “High Falls Part 2” all night. However, that still doesn’t make it to the top spot, which surely has to go to the nearly eighteen-minute long “Jessica”, which was written as a tribute to Django Reinhardt as it is designed to be played with just two fingers of the left hand. TABB never gained as much kudos in the UK as they did in the States, but every car nut will recognise this as a cover version of this song was used as the theme for Top Gear.

This is not just a historical “nice to have” but is also well worth hearing in its own right, and anyone into this style of music will find a group whose leader was cooking that night.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://greatsouthernofficial.com/
http://www.liberationhall.com/