The 2 original albums ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (January, 1970) and IDLEWILD SOUTH (October, 1970) are also available seperately on 2 remastered CDs.
Allman Brothers Band: Gregg Allman (vocals, piano, organ); Berry Oakley (vocals, bass); Duane Allman (acoustic & slide guitars); Dickey Betts (guitar); Thom Doucette (harmonica, percussion); Jai Johnny Johanson (drums, percussion, congas, timbales); Butch Trucks (drums, percussion, timbales, maracas).
Producers: Tom Dowd, Adrian Barber, Joel Dorn.
Engineers include: Adrian Barber, Ron Albert, Howie Albert.
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND recorded at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, New York. IDLEWILD SOUTH recorded at Regent Sound Studios, New York, New York; Capricorn Sound Studios, Macon, Georgia; Atlantic South-Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida. Includes liner notes by Jean-Charles Costa.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
Originally issued in 1973, BEGINNINGS was a two-record set that repackaged the Allman Brothers' first two releases, 1969's THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and 1970's IDLEWILD SOUTH. When the compilation was issued on CD, both albums fit on a single disc, making BEGINNINGS something of a bargain, and a good starting point for new fans.
The music captures the Allmans at their early stages and features soon-to-be deceased members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley. Highlights include the jam-fest "Whipping Post" (which would soon take on an onstage life all its own), as well as the slightly psychedelic "Dreams," the soaring "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," and the road anthem "Midnight Rider." The roots of Southern rock can be minutely inspected on BEGINNINGS.
