Gems From My Collection: At Filmore East - The Allman Brothers (July 1971)

Recorded over two nights (12-13th March 1971), 'At Filmore East' was the first live album of The Allman Brothers and their third album release overall.

Some critics over the years have considered this New York recorded performance by The Allman Brothers as one of the greatest live albums in rock music ever. The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard Chart and was certified Gold in October 1971.

The band had a history playing at Filmore East. Their first dates at the NYC venue were supporting Blood, Sweat and Tears over three nights back in December of 1969. Promotor Bill Graham liked them so much he promised to get them back again. In January 1970 they opened for B.B. King and Buddy Guy at San Francisco's Filmore West and a month later they were back in New York supporting The Grateful Dead.

The March 1971 shows The Allman Brothers were actually the opening act for Johnny Winter but on the second night of the stand they were closing the show.

"the best damn rock and roll band this country has produced in the past five years" - George Kimball (Rolling Stone)

 Side One
    "Statesboro Blues" (Will McTell) – 4:17
    "Done Somebody Wrong" (Clarence L. Lewis, Bobby Robinson, Elmore James) – 4:33
    "Stormy Monday" (T. Bone Walker) – 8:44

Side Two
    "You Don't Love Me" (Willie Cobbs) – 19:15 ("Joy to the World" medley in the ending portions)

Side Three
    "Hot 'Lanta" (Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Berry Oakley, Jai Johanny Johanson) – 5:17
    "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" (Dickey Betts) – 13:04

Side Four
    "Whipping Post" (Gregg Allman) – 23:03

In October 1992 an updated version of the album was released and titled 'The Filmore Concerts'. "One Way Out", "Drunken Hearted Boy", "Mountain Jam" and "Trouble No More" were added (they were originally included on the 1973 follow-up album 'Eat a Peach'). The songs on the album were remixed and some alternate takes were used thus some of the songs sound a little different to the original release.

September 23rd 2003 saw a Deluxe Edition of the album being released. This time they went back to the Master Recordings from 'At Filmore East'. Only one additional track was added, 'Midnight Rider', but this version was actually taken from a show at Filmore East from 27th June 1971(this was the final show at Filmore East) and not the March shows from which 'At Filmore East' had come.

29th July 2014 saw the release of the complete recordings from the March shows in 1971. Now titled 'The 1971 Filmore East Recordings', it's a 6CD set, it's also released on Blu-Ray and also an edited 4LP set.

The tracklisting for 'The 1971 Fillmore East Recordings' is:

Disc One, March 12, 1971 – First Show

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. Trouble No More (previously unreleased)
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin' (previously unreleased)
4. Done Somebody Wrong (previously unreleased)
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (previously unreleased)
6. You Don't Love Me (previously unreleased)

Disc Two, March 12, 1971 – Second Show

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. Trouble No More
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin' (previously unreleased)
4. Done Somebody Wrong
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed (previously unreleased)
6. You Don't Love Me
7. Whipping Post (previously unreleased)
8. Hot 'Lanta

Disc Three, March 13, 1971 – First Show

1. Statesboro Blues
2. Trouble No More
3. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
4. Done Somebody Wrong (previously unreleased)
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
6. You Don't Love Me
7. Whipping Post (previously unreleased)

Disc Four, March 13, 1971 – Second Show, Part 1

1. Statesboro Blues (previously unreleased)
2. One Way Out (previously unreleased)
3. Stormy Monday
4. Hot 'Lanta
5. Whipping Post

Disc Five, March 13, 1971 – Second Show, Part 2

1. Mountain Jam
2. Drunken Hearted Boy (with Elvin Bishop)

Disc Six, June 27, 1971 – Fillmore East Closing Show

1. Introduction by Bill Graham (previously unreleased)/ Statesboro Blues
2. Don't Keep Me Wonderin'
3. Done Somebody Wrong
4. One Way Out
5. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed
6. Midnight Rider
7. Hot 'Lanta
8. Whipping Post
9. You Don't Love Me

The inclusion of the 27th June show is a good move because this final night at Filmore East was an invitation only event. Edgar Winter, Country Joe McDonald and The Beach Boys were on the bill. The Beach Boys were reluctant to play unless they were the headliners but Bill Graham stood his ground insisting that The Allman Brothers would be closing the show and if they disagreed then they were free to leave!

The 36 page Booklet with liner notes, historic photos, and essays is only available with the Blu-Ray and 6CD sets. The Blu-Ray will set you back just under £45 and the 6CD set about £47.99 (those prices are from Amazon UK).

"These shows — recorded in New York on March 12th and 13th, 1971 — remain the finest live rock performance ever committed to vinyl captures America's best blues-rock band at its peak " - Mark Kemp (Rolling Stone 2002)