Number 37: Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers Band
Release: February 12th, 1972
Genre: Southern Rock
Favorite Tracks: Mountain Jam, Les Brers In A Minor, Blue Sky
Where I heard it:
For quite a while in my life, I made sure to go out of my way so that I wouldn't hear anything even remotely related to country music. To this day, it's the genre I'm least fond of. However, there did exist breakthroughs in the form of southern rock, a genre that merged the feisty bite of rock & roll with the mellow ballads of country. Most prominently, my introduction began in 2010 with staples like Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special that regularly found themselves on classic rock radio stations. Even with their twangy vocals and honky-tonk attitudes, I was able to look past all that as a teenager to marvel at the remarkable guitar work in tracks like Caught Up In You and, of course, the mother of all rock anthems Free Bird. That was about it for my southern rock intake until I began expanding my vinyl record collection, where my search for great classic rock albums reawakened my interest in the genre. I stumbled upon the Allman Brothers Band during that pursuit, having been recommended Idlewild South and At Fillmore East on internet forums for must-haves in my library. I promptly ignored that advice and my first Allman Brothers Band record was instead Eat A Peach, an album that contained songs like Melissa and Blue Sky that I'd heard during my days of radio exclusivity. Well, I got a whole lot more than I bargained for when I spun the double LP on my turntable for the first time. Right from the start of opening the gatefold to reveal the intricate inner artwork, I should have known I was in for a wild ride.
Don't fly, mister bluebird
I'm just walkin' down the road
Early morning sunshine
Tell me all I need to know
You're my blue sky
You're my sunny day
Lord, you know it makes me high
When you turn your love my way
~ Blue Sky
What to expect:
The Allman Brothers Band were riding an all-time high during the early 70's, coming off a successful tour capped with an iconic live performance At Fillmore East in New York City. Headed by brothers Duane and Gregg, the six-piece were excited to be back in the studio for their next album. The band recorded three tracks (the final three featured on Eat A Peach) before a crippling addiction to heroin took hold of Duane and bassist Berry Oakley, halting production for a short stint in rehab. Right when the band planned to begin recording once again, Duane Allman collided with a flatbed truck on his motorcycle, tragically taking his life at the young age of 24. Shook to their core, the Allman Brothers Band seriously considered disbanding after not only the loss of an incredible guitar virtuoso, but the heart and soul of the band on stage. Perhaps most directly affected, Gregg Allman quickly came to the conclusion that his brother would not have wanted the music to end in his absence. Instead, the band rallied together even stronger in tribute to their fallen comrade, dedicating their in-process album to the memory of Duane. That album's title, Eat A Peach, specifically references a quote from Duane about his response to the Vietnam War, which includes the line, "Every time I'm in Georgia, I eat a peach for peace." The songwriting from Gregg Allman was much more reflective and solemn in songs like Ain't Wastin' Time No More and Melissa compared to the band's initial recording session. Most importantly, Eat A Peach features three outtakes from At Fillmore East that didn't make the cut, including the 33-minue long instrumental epic Mountain Jam that contains lengthy solos from each member, reprises of musical verses, and undeniable chemistry between the lineup as a final ode to Duane's soulful spirit on guitar. In fact, I'd consider the majority of Eat A Peach to be comprised of long-winded blues-style jam sessions that scale back the lyrical density and let the emotions of the music shine through brightest. This is achieved with fantastic string harmonization between Gregg and Duane in songs like Blue Sky, heavy bass notes from Berry Oakley that give tracks like One Way Out the rockabilly feel, and of course the percussive duo of Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson that tag team remarkable solos like the one in Mountain Jam that provides surprising depth for an instrument that lacks discernable pitch. The Allman Brothers Band possess far superior skills as a whole than the sum of its parts, bringing music to life every time they lay it down together. Eat A Peach signifies a turning point in both the lives and careers of the Allman Brothers Band that triumphs in the face of tragedy.
Last Sunday morning
The sunshine felt like rain
Week before, they all seemed the same
With the help of God and true friends
I've come to realize
I still have two strong legs
And even wings to fly
And I ain't wastin' time no more
'Cause time goes by like hurricanes and faster things
~ Ain't Wastin' Time No More
Why it's my favorite:
The lamentable tale of the Allman Brothers Band really resonated with me when looking into the history of the band in early 2017. In fact, the devastation didn't end after Eat A Peach - a year into touring the album, Berry Oakley was killed in a motorcycle accident eerily similar to Duane's, also at age 24. Once again, the Allman Brothers Band persisted through the decades all the way up to the year 2000 when they finally decided to quit studio work. In 2017, both Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman passed away just four months apart at the age of 69. It's safe to say that even the band's resiliency towards past losses could not withstand this one. However, the passionate products that these musicians left behind offer me a potent emotional connection to remember them by. These songs have imparted me my own good memories to associate with, like listening through Mountain Jam with some of my best friends in a cozy Colorado ski lodge around Thanksgiving of 2018. I'll be honest, a large part of the reason why Eat A Peach is so high on this list is because of Mountain Jam. My friends make fun of me for enjoying songs that are over a half hour, but I cannot disprove them because I adore this track. From beginning to end, this monumental movement is an absolute masterclass on live jams that rivals all-time greats like the Grateful Dead and the Dave Matthews Band. It's so long, the vinyl pressing is split between two different sides of the record. I couldn't believe it when I first made the realization that these halves were not individual songs, but instead a continuation of one another. Mountain Jam began my fixation on sensationally long songs, and I formed most of my current music taste thanks to it. It just so happens that the rest of Eat A Peach is modelled so beautifully as well, from its composition to its surrounding influences that swayed the direction of the album to honor Duane. If you gather anything from this entry, please give Mountain Jam a listen sometime. I think the patience required to sit and listen through it in one sitting is absolutely worth it given the right mindset.
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