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Albums Of The Week: Allman Brothers Band | Down in Texas ’71 (Live)

Taped a month before Duane Allman's death, this gig finds the ABB in peak form.

THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Renowned for their rousing and mesmerizing live performances, The Allman Brothers Band have released another historic show — Down In Texas ’71, recorded on Sept. 28, 1971 at the Austin Municipal Auditorium in Austin. The nine-track collection features Statesboro Blues, In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Stormy Monday, among others.

Down In Texas ’71 captures a special snapshot in time during the pivotal year of 1971 for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame group. Coming two months after the release of At Fillmore East in July and occurring one month before the death of Duane Allman in October, the Austin show presents the original ABB lineup — Duane Allman, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jaimoe — at the peak of their creativity. An innovative You Don’t Love Me and the jazz-inspired Hot ’Lanta give hints of where the group may have taken their music if Duane had lived. In addition, Down In Texas ’71 features saxophonist Rudolph “Juicy” Carter sitting in on six out of the CD’s nine tracks, which is the most extensive guest appearance available with the band’s first incarnation. Juicy and Jaimoe had played together with Percy Sledge, and it was Juicy who coined the moniker Jaimoe for the drummer born as Johnny Lee Johnson.”