The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers (1982): The Allman Brothers Band was one of the earliest and best of the Southern rock bands that flourished during the 1970’s and is also one of the original jam bands. While the band remains active to this day, two of the key founding members, guitar virtuoso Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley died in motorcycle accidents in 1971 and 1972, respectively. Besides his work with the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman was integral to the success of the sole album by Derek and the Dominos, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, considered by many to be the finest work by Eric Clapton. My brother Tom Winfree is a huge Duane Allman fan and is fond of pointing out that people who think they are hearing Clapton on guitar are often hearing Allman instead. For instance, the opening riffs on the hit song “Layla” are by Duane Allman. This EP called The Allman Brothers was released in England nearly a decade after the music was originally released. It is unusual in having Side 1 at 45 rpm, featuring three songs from their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters; while Side 2 at 33-1/3 rpm presents one of their most beloved recordings, the 1971 live version of “Whipping Post” at Fillmore East.
