Brothers and Sisters (album)
Encyclopedia
Brothers and Sisters is the fifth album by The Allman Brothers Band
, released in 1973.
The group's first album recorded completely after the death of leader Duane Allman
, and mostly after the death of bassist Berry Oakley
, Brothers and Sisters saw the Allmans reach a commercial peak. The album logged five weeks at #1 on the U.S. albums chart
, and moreover contained their only hit single, Dickey Betts
' country
-tinged "Ramblin' Man
", which climbed to #2 on the U.S. singles chart
. Betts, billed as Richard on this album, came to the forefront by also writing the album's other most prominent tracks, the buoyant instrumental "Jessica", the FM radio
-friendly "Southbound" (sung by Gregg Allman
), and the country blues
hybrid "Pony Boy". The group's sound was also somewhat different, with new pianist Chuck Leavell
acting as the other lead instrument instead of the band's former trademark dual lead guitars.
The front album cover features a photograph of Vaylor Trucks, the son of drummer Butch Trucks and his wife Linda. The back cover features a photograph of Brittany Oakley, the daughter of bassist Berry Oakley
and his wife Linda.
The album's inner gatefold cover art featured a large photograph of the extended Allmans family — band members, roadies, wives, girlfriends, children, dogs, all in a seemingly idyllic, long-haired, multi-racial Southern setting — a setting that would be rent asunder by internal frictions and outside developments over the next few years.
Early pressings of the album were confused about the contents, with the label listing "Jelly Jelly", the album insert listing "Early Morning Blues", and the album cover listing neither.
Additional musicians:
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, released in 1973.
The group's first album recorded completely after the death of leader Duane Allman
Duane Allman
Howard Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
, and mostly after the death of bassist Berry Oakley
Berry Oakley
Raymond Berry Oakley III , was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Biography:...
, Brothers and Sisters saw the Allmans reach a commercial peak. The album logged five weeks at #1 on the U.S. albums chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, and moreover contained their only hit single, Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
' country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-tinged "Ramblin' Man
Ramblin' Man (Allman Brothers Band song)
"Ramblin' Man" is a 1973 song by The Allman Brothers Band, featured on their album Brothers and Sisters. It was written by Dickey Betts, who also sang lead vocals....
", which climbed to #2 on the U.S. singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Betts, billed as Richard on this album, came to the forefront by also writing the album's other most prominent tracks, the buoyant instrumental "Jessica", the FM radio
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
-friendly "Southbound" (sung by Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman
Gregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
), and the country blues
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
hybrid "Pony Boy". The group's sound was also somewhat different, with new pianist Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
acting as the other lead instrument instead of the band's former trademark dual lead guitars.
The front album cover features a photograph of Vaylor Trucks, the son of drummer Butch Trucks and his wife Linda. The back cover features a photograph of Brittany Oakley, the daughter of bassist Berry Oakley
Berry Oakley
Raymond Berry Oakley III , was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Biography:...
and his wife Linda.
The album's inner gatefold cover art featured a large photograph of the extended Allmans family — band members, roadies, wives, girlfriends, children, dogs, all in a seemingly idyllic, long-haired, multi-racial Southern setting — a setting that would be rent asunder by internal frictions and outside developments over the next few years.
Side one
- "Wasted Words" (Gregg Allman) - 4:20
- "Ramblin' Man" (Richard Betts) - 4:48
- "Come and Go Blues" (Gregg Allman) - 4:54
- "Jelly Jelly" (Trade MartinTrade MartinTrade Martin is an American musician, songwriter, and producer.Martin worked with Johnny Power in the late 1950s, recording as Johnny & the Jokers and together launching the label Rome Records, active from 1960 to 1962. The label signed the groups The Earls, Del & the Escorts, and The Glens...
) - 5:46
Side two
- "Southbound" (Richard Betts) - 5:11
- "Jessica" (Richard Betts) - 7:31
- "Pony Boy" (Richard Betts) - 5:51
Early pressings of the album were confused about the contents, with the label listing "Jelly Jelly", the album insert listing "Early Morning Blues", and the album cover listing neither.
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Billboard Pop Albums | 1 |
Personnel
- Gregg AllmanGregg AllmanGregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
– lead and background vocals, organ, rhythm guitar - Richard BettsDickey BettsForrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
– lead vocals, lead and slide guitar, dobro - Berry OakleyBerry OakleyRaymond Berry Oakley III , was an American bassist and one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Biography:...
– bass (first two tracks) - Lamar WilliamsLamar WilliamsLamar Williams was an American musician, most known as the bassist for The Allman Brothers Band and Sea Level....
– bass (remaining tracks) - Chuck LeavellChuck LeavellChuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
- piano, electric piano, background vocals - JaimoeJai Johanny JohansonJai Johanny Johanson , frequently known by the stage name Jaimoe, is an American drummer and percussionist. He is best known as one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band.-Early years:...
– drums, congas - Butch Trucks – drums, percussion, tympani, congas
Additional musicians:
- Les DudekLes DudekLes Dudek is an American guitarist.-Early years:Les Dudek's father, Harold, was born in Campbell, Nebraska, and was a World War II veteran in the United States Navy. His mother, Alma, born in Brooklyn, was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette. Les has one older sister, Sandy, who was born in...
– co-lead guitar on "Ramblin' Man", acoustic guitar on "Jessica" - Tommy Talton - acoustic guitar on "Pony Boy"