Wednesday, February 5, 2014

"Straight from the Heart" by the Allman Brothers Band

Song#:  0705
Date:  08/08/1981
Debut:  79
Peak:  39
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Southern Rock



Pop Bits:  The early 80's were not a great time for the band. After splitting in 1976, they reformed and released an album in 1979. Along with inner-group turmoil and financial issues, their label collapsed. Arista picked up the band and their first album for the label, "Reach for the Sky," was a disappointment after their previous LP went Top 10 and gold. They fired original member Jaimoe Johanson (drums) and issued their last album for Arista "Brothers of the Road." Although this first single reached the Top 40 (their third to do so and their last chart single), the album sank and the group just called it quits. Nine years later they would return to recording (with Jaimoe back on board) and start another era of the group.

ReduxReview:  Really? This is the legendary Southern rock jam band that did such classics as "Ramblin' Man" and "Whipping Post" (live)? Whoo boy. Signing with Arista may have been a major mistake as I'm sure Clive Davis was pushing them to get a pop-sounding hit. Frankly, if some new pop/rock group came along and pushed this out on their debut disc, I'd think it not too bad of a song. But since it is from ABB with Dickey Betts co-writing, it just makes me cringe. Fish out of water.

ReduxRating:  3/10

Trivia:  Gregg Allman famously married Cher in 1975. Their up-and-down relationship ended in 1979. They had one child together Elijah Blue, who went on to form his own late-90s band Deadsy. In 1977, the couple recorded and released an album called "Two the Hard Way." They were credited as Allman and Woman. The album was critically reviled and it failed to even chart. It's never been reissued on CD and since Cher holds the rights, it is probably not likely to see the light of day again.

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