Band : Dickey Betts And Great Southern
Album title : Ramblin' Man
Label : Steamhammer
Distributor : SPV - Suburban
Release date : 19/07/2010 (Ger= 25/06/2010)
Release : Double CD

Who..whoa there, stop press...we're in the presence of greatness here, don't you know!? Because Forrest Richard Betts (surname “Dickey”) was, in 1969, one of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band, in which he displayed his guitar prowess alongside co-lead guitarist Duane Allman (until the latter died in late 1971 – he then became the band's sole guitarist and got a bigger share in both songwriting and singing).

Even before ABB's band split in 1976, Dickey had already released a solo album (1974) titled Highway Call, and after the split he didn't take long to start his own band, with which he would express his love for Southern-styled Rock to a greater extend than he was able to with ABB. 1977 saw the release of Dickey Betts And Great Southern, which had the band tour all over the US and Europe. A stop at the Rockpalast studios in Germany seemed to be almost a must in those days (good thing too, because those shows were somewhat of a staple at Casa Tony) and that's where the first of the two discs of this album was culled from. In 1978 DB & GS released their sophomore album Atlanta's Burning Down (the album including the hit song “Bougainvillea”, co-written with later Hollywood star Don Johnson).

ABB reformed in 1979 for that year's Enlightened Rogues album, only to dissolve again after two more albums in 1982. Dickey recorded some of his more personal styled music, starting with the 1982 sessions for the Country-styled album Night which remains unreleased to date). In 1988 he started the Dickey Betts Band to release the Pattern Disruptive album in early 1989. In '89 ABB again reformed but around the mid-'90s (in spite of still being very active on the live circuit) ran into a dry spell concerning album release...which led to some of its members starting Gov't Mule as a side project, then quitting ABB in favour of that band in 1997. In 2000 Betts' continuous attendance issues with ABB led to the 3 other original members firing him. Which led to Betts suing the other guys and to a permanent split from ABB! So that same year Betts rekindled his Dickey Betts Band, first for touring purposes, then for the 2001 album Let's Get Together. After that, he started touring again as Dickey Betts And Great Southern, also comprising his son & lead guitarist Duane Betts (since then also an ABB collaborator). In 2005 Betts released the DVD Back Where It All Begins: Live At The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and one year later saw the release of the live The Official Bootleg album. In 2008 he again performed with his band for Rockpalast...a recording of which would make up the second disc of this album. Well, actually the concerts were first issued as a double-disc DVD on June 16 of last year, but this is the first time any of the two was featured on CD!

As far as the material on the two discs goes, the oldest recording has no less than 3 ABB songs with “In Memory Of Elisabeth Reed” (extended to almost 12 minutes' length), the instrumentals “Jessica” (extended to just over 12 minutes) and “High Falls” (expanded to last just over 29 minutes) and the album/ concert closing “Ramblin' Man” (arguably one of ABB's biggest hits)...songs which Betts wrote for his old band. In essence, there's only 3 songs off Betts' “solo” albums, being the concert opening “Run Gypsy Run” (off the self-titled debut), plus “”Good Time Feelin'” and “Dealing With The Devil” (both off Atlanta's Burning Down). Funny...although Betts is hailed in ABB for his contribution of his melodic Country-esque lead guitar style, I find there's some resemblance to early Amboy Dukes (which had one Ted Nugent as their guitarist), albeit less psychedelic...and in other instances I felt he plays a great hybrid of Southern Electric Blues styles. I guess there's some truth in that assessment after all? The second disc again holds versions of “In Memory Of Elisabeth Reed” (this time including a longer “improv” passage, to make for a near 20-minute song), and of course “Ramblin' Man” as concert closer.Earlier on the album you've got “Nothing You Can Do” off the aforementioned 1977 album...but then things become sketchy. I mean, although album opener “Statesboro Blues” and the song “Get Away” were both featured on the 2005 live album, and “No One To Run With” was featured on the 2006 live album, I haven't found any of these on the studio albums (not on those of ABB either) and the origins of “One Way Out“ and “”Havin' A Good Time” are even more mysterious.

Ach, no matter what, this is still a very nice document, and ample backing for the fact why this guitarist (along with ABB) were introduced in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995. Nice stuff! To hear some samples of all tese songs, you'll have to check up the album's page at Amazon.com (or any of the other trustworthy online sales websites), because I found out there' no MySpace page (no more), and at dickeybetts.com you'll only get to hear other songs. Oh well, although I haven't checked perhaps those are representative for the man's music after all. Live album(s), so no rating. And for once nó addition to my year-lists! Although I like what the guy does, it simply is not among the stuff I cannot do without with!

Tony.