Review: The Gregg Allman Band, ‘Great As Ever: Live In Philadelphia (1/11/1986)’ – And Yes He Was

“You people are as great as ever, I tell you…” – Gregg Allman, Great As Ever

One of our all time favorite rock n roll/blues rock/blues singers, Gregg Allman, has recently released another in a string of three archival live LPs under The Gregg Allman Band moniker, this one is Great As Ever – Live In Philadelphia ’86. And while Gregg starts the performance with the words quoted above, I think he was the one who was as “great as ever.”

I’ve been meaning to post about this live album but between Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs releasing a new single and Record Store Day sneaking up on me, I’ve had to keep delaying this…

This live album, recorded on January 11th of ’86, follows the 2024 release Uncle Sam’s which was recorded in June of ’83 and last year’s release One Night In D.C., recorded in the nation’s capitol in May of ’84. This series of live vault releases cover a very interesting time in Gregg’s career which may be best described as “the lost years” for the rock legend.

The Allman Brothers, due to drug abuse and internal strife had broken up in 1976 after helping campaign for Jimmy Carter. They reunited in 1979 but the earlier magic didn’t seem to be there. They released a series of albums Enlightened Rogues (’79), Reach For The Sky (’80), and Brothers Of The Road (’81) before breaking up, this time seemingly for good.

Of those late ’70s/early 80s albums, only Enlightened Rogues went gold. By the last album, Brothers Of The Road founding member drummer Jaimoe had quit the band. It was their only album he doesn’t play on. The Allman Brothers Band would be sadly gone from the world until their much more successful reunion in 1990.

From a solo career perspective, Gregg’s last solo album up to that point was Playin’ Up A Storm in 1977, also billed to the Gregg Allman Band. If you are a music streamer and you want to find some of this music it’s important to search under the Gregg Allman Band vs just Gregg Allman.

Of course, 1977 saw the release of the disastrous Two The Hard Way album that Gregg recorded with his celebrity wife, Cher. The album was billed under the name, “Allman And Woman.” Is there anyone who still thinks that was a good idea? That LP likely cost Gregg a lot of credibility with the rock n roll crowd. Cher owns the rights and even she won’t re-release it.

He hightailed it back to the Allman Brothers in ’79, as mentioned, but by ’81 the band was broken up again and Gregg apparently had no solo recording contract as a fallback. He was basically at loose ends and out of the spotlight from 1981 until 1987 when his next solo album I’m No Angel came out.

I’ve read that during this period Gregg was crashing at the homes of his various friends. I’ve also read he moved in with his mom but that rumor might have come from my mother… never say die on me moving home, ma! I’ve also read that he would show up and sing a harmony or backing vocal for free pizza and beer. He was drinking a fifth of vodka every day. I like vodka but even I have limits.

That’s what makes these live albums so fascinating to me. Here we have a rock legend, down on his luck, bottoming out if you will, but he’s still going out and putting on these bluesy, soulful concerts. He’s playing small theaters. Even at this low point he was still making fabulous music albeit not in a studio. The man lived the blues he was playing.

He still had his compatriots in the Gregg Allman Band – Dangerous Dan Toler (guitar) who had actually briefly been in the Allman Brothers, David Toler (Dan’s brother, drums), Bruce Waibel (bass), Tim Heding (keyboards), Charles “Chaz” Trippy (percussion). That last name has to be a stage name right? Of course Gregg still played organ and acoustic guitar.

This new vault live album, recorded in early ’86 is toward the end of that “lost weekend” era of Gregg’s career. At this point, weary of his financial woes, Allman recorded a few demos which was enough to get him a record deal with Epic. He was already starting to record his comeback, I’m No Angel and we get to hear that title track here, a full year prior to its actual release.

Of the three of these live vault releases, Great As Ever is now my favorite. The band just sounds better here. Maybe it’s the fact that they had a record deal and were working on an album, but the performance here just feels more confident. Not that Gregg ever lacked confidence on a stage. Dangerous Dan Toler on guitar and Tim Heding on keyboards both jump out at me as exceptional players.

The album, after Gregg’s warm greeting above, launches into the combo “Don’t Want You No More” and “It Ain’t My Cross To Bear” which were the first two tracks on the Allman Brothers Band’s debut album, and frankly it’s the way every Allman related show should start in my opinion. Gregg’s vocal is anguished in a wonderful way… and his organ is fabulous here.

Next up is Allman’s “Old Time Feeling” which was called “Sweet Feeling” on Playing Up A Storm, and I like this live version much better than the studio version. Dan Toler’s lead is sizzling on this track. That leads us to the Allman Brothers’ “Hot’lanta,” a great instrumental that Gregg seems to have in the setlist of all his shows. When that organ hits, you know you’re headed south…

Not shying away from the latter day Allman albums, Gregg and the band do a great version of “Need Your Love So Bad,” a down and dirty blues thing from Enlightened Rogues. He also does “Things You Used To Do” which was from, I believe, Brothers Of The Road, although Allman says he wrote it “back in ’78,” so I’m probably wrong. It’s a great, “Honey, sorry I done you wrong” kind of song.

Between those Allman does Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More” which was the first track the Allman Brothers’ played at the rehearsal when Gregg joined the band. Its significance in the lore of the Allman Brothers looms large… it was the final track played as a band at their Final Concert.

For me, the emotional heart of this performance, is the track from Gregg’s first solo album, Laid Back, the bluesy epic “Queen Of Hearts.” It’s always been a favorite and it soars here at almost 8 minutes. After that there’s a great acoustic set, where I think just Gregg and Dan strap on the acoustic guitars.

During the acoustic interlude they play “Melissa” which Gregg dedicates to “Dickey Betts, wherever he is,” and of course a fan favorite “Midnight Rider.” From there it’s back to Enlightened Rogues for a track I’d completely forgotten about “Just Ain’t Easy.”

Gregg wraps with the title track of his next solo album, “I’m No Angel.” He says the album will be out “this year,” but it wasn’t until 1987 that the new album was to see release. Hell, I’d have included that track on my Playlist: Rock Songs of 1986… I like this version of “I’m No Angel” as it sounds less, well, 80s, if you know what I mean.

This is a great encapsulation of Gregg’s career from the early Allmans, to Live At The Fillmore to the latter day, lesser records to his solo career. All that in just over an hour… I’m guessing this was edited to get it onto one disc.

Hearing Gregg regain his confidence and take control of his life and career again is a thrilling experience. I’m on record as loving live albums, but this is great listen. Anytime you can hear a legend like this stretch out live, it’s worth a listen. I recommend any fans of blues, blues rock or the Allman’s to turn this one up loud with a little Southern Comfort… or something better if you’re so inclined.

Cheers!