Ramblin’ Man – IOTW Report

Ramblin’ Man

WFB: For those of us who came to the Allman Brothers Band late—not contemporaneously during their brief, indisputable reign as the hottest and coolest rock ’n’ roll band in the 1970s, but rather as the children of Boomers listening to classic-rock radio in the car—their “Ramblin’ Man” is the ultimate ABB song. It name-checks Southern geography, chugs along with a bouncing beat and a singalong chorus, and closes with an infectiously twangy guitar solo from writer and lead singer Dickey Betts.

But at the time Brothers and Sisters was released in 1973, the track was considered so different, even radically so, from the blues-based jam-band rock the Allman Brothers had at that point recorded that there was a question about releasing it as the lead single from the group’s new album. “‘Ramblin’ Man’ was a departure not only in its country composition but also in its polished commercial sheen,” writes Alan Paul in Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the ’70s.

According to Paul, the band’s label Capricorn pushed both “Ramblin’ Man” and “Wasted Words” to radio stations in Boston and Atlanta to test the waters. The latter was a more familiar ABB tune, written and sung by Gregg Allman, with a bluesy groove and Betts playing the slide guitar in a way that recalled the band’s late leader, Duane Allman. “Wasted Words” is a jam and a perfect opener for Brothers and Sisters, but the public reaction to “Ramblin’ Man” made it an easy call for the next single. more

18 Comments on Ramblin’ Man

  1. One of my favorite bands. First stop in a Time Machine: Fillmore East to see Duane playing on Stormy Monday. However, my favorite happy song of all time is Blue Sky.
    Saw them play several times without Duane. Would have been great if Gregg wasn’t so F’d up every time!

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  2. @Ulysses Toole: Elijah Blue, child of Cher Bono and Greg Allman, isn’t a member of the Allman Betts band. The kid is following in his dad’s footsteps, he has his own band. Elijah and Cher have been estranged for many years now. Maybe he’s got a problem with his step-sister Chaz.

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  3. Goldenfox:
    Devon Allman is the son of famous deceased American singer-songwriter Gregg Allman and Shelley Key Winters. His parents separated shortly after Devon’s birth in 1972 due to Gregg’s drugs issues and alcoholism.

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