Friday, September 9

September 9, 2016 - The Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man (1973)



An icon of American country rock, Ramblin Man, for me, conjures images of the open road, mountains, rivers, forests, it's all about the freedom of ramblin around the country.

There are only two verses, but they are both about being on the road. They mention Georgia, Nashville, New Orleans, and being born in the backseat of a Greyhound Bus, rollin down highway 41. The chorus is so absurdly catchy it's no reason there are only two verses. Writer Dickey Betts sings and shares lead guitar duties with Les Dudek. Their combined solos go on for the last two minutes plus, as the rest of the band keep the groove heading on down the road, with a big Georgia peach sun sinkin low in the west.

Ramblin Man is from the Brothers and Sisters album, and it's one of the last songs Berry Oakley played on before he died. The song reached #2 on the US charts. It was kept out of the #1 spot by Cher's stupid 'Half-Breed'. Gregg Allman was probably thinking, 'If I can't get a #1, then I am going to get involved with the woman who kept me from it. And piss Dickey off at the same time. Perhaps Cher and I will record an album together as Allman and Woman. Yeah, that's a great idea!'
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