Incredible. Though Stonybrook, 3 days later, is almost 4 minutes longer, and has better fidelity, I LOVE this version more. Thank God we have at least two live versions with Duane of this magnificent song by Dickie.
One of the most beautiful pieces of American music in the country’s history. I love America because of the music it has produced. I am an Englishman, btw
We all need to thank John DuBois who was like 16 when he recorded this show on his hidden reel to reel on stage ( was working the show ) it stayed in his garage for like 20 years when he answered an ad asking about Warehouse recordings and remembered he might have something like that !
@Whole Lotta Slatt Still my all time favorite group! Very strange circumstances surrounding these events. Duane almost died from an overdose in Nashville and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor said it was not looking good ,so Berry ran out into the parking lot, fell on his knees, and asked God to spare Duane for one more year. (A very strange plea indeed.) Duane died one year later to the day. I was at a dance in my hometown in South Georgia when we heard the news that Duane had been killed. A buddy and I spent the rest of the night sitting in the parking lot listening to the ABB on the radio. That’s all they played! They thought that Berry would be their new leader, but he just could not handle it. He died one year and thirteen days later. Both of their epithets will totally blow you away ! The band never was the same after their leader was gone. The magic and spontaneity disappeared although they continued on. The original lineup will always be the best! R.I.P Skydog and Berry!
THIS IS SO HISTORIC DUANE PLAYING ON BLUE SKY. THE ABB ONLY PLAYED THIS A FEW TIMES WITH DUANE. HOW SPECIAL DUANE WAS INTO A COUNTRY BLUES BASED SONG THAT DICKEY WROTE. THEY LEARNED FROM EACH OTHER THE WHOLE TIME. WE HAD A GIFT FROM THE HEAVENS AND THE MUSIC IS IMPERISHABLE FOR EVER. AMEN
Sometimes..Dickey sometimes burned and Duane sometimes laid back deep in the rhythm, too.. that is what made them so great, they could play every way..they could play difficult stuff like a jazz band but never sound like a science project. A lot of those jazz and fusion cats get real boring for the general public, after the first 30 minutes and only us guitarists wind up still interested.. Allman Bros. made it into music and made it fun, and interesting for everyone! That is hard to do!
This incredible version gets me every time I listen to it! Duane's double stops are a pure delight! Few guitarists build arcs of a solo as gracefully and powerfully as he did. These bootlegs are just further evidence of his unique, inspirational voice on guitar.
This song has a churning, burning feel to it, it rumbles on with a life of its own, when these original guys play it. None of the other lineups of this band, or any other ones, play Blue Sky like this.
I just blasted the Stony Brook version in my car last night and it made the ride home SWEEEEET! I was lucky enough to see the original lineup at the Fillmore East on 3/12/71 when they opened for the mighty Johnny Winter and both bands blew the roof off the joint. Duane would've turned 62 today. HAPPY BIRTUDAY, SKYDOG!!! We'll see ya when we get there. Wail on, brother!
No telling how many times I thought I was listening to a Duane solo only to find out 20 years later, it was Dickey lol. Duane couldn't read a note. Dickey knew it all. Together, they were the perfect match. Together they were The Allman Brothers Band. Nuff said.
Never heard this version before. Fantastic find and upload. Never has been, and never will be again, a better dual guitar combo than Duane and Dickey. Its like they were one brain with 4 hands and 20 fingers playing in utter harmony.
it's like being rocked in my Momma's rocking chair. This is just so awesome. Daune and Dickie and the rest of Brothers are on the mark. Thank you guys for this.
I will say that this was the greatest american band ever. At this time, they we're pretty much beyond everyone. I've always liked this band, and they're still good, but this was the greatest damn American band ever... The only band close was The Band... Where has all the good music gone...The corporations are totally ruining everything that is decent in the world with their greed. But maybe we can take it back from them Thanks for posting this great bootleg...
I like this "Blue Sky" better than the Stonybrook version. They are both TREATS, however. Thanks for the post! I'm going to the Central City Park,(Macon) Skydog Benefit/Tribute show this Sunday (23rd), it really rocked last year as usual! Peace...
Cool post, thanks. I saw Dickey play the other night. 66 years young, still playing circles around everyone. His bass player is really bopping, drives the groove almost like Berry.
Fantastic! What a great find, so good to hear the 5 versions of Blue Sky Duane was recorded playing, all different. And Berry's bass on this is out of sight! Master improvisers.
I grew up around Alexandria, La. I was 3 wks shy of 18 yrs old when this show happened. I had missed a few other opportunities to see the Brothers before this, mainly due to being a broke-ass teenager. I had saved my money for this show, and was going to hitchhike to NO for the show, some 215 miles; however, a hurricane called Edith blew in through Cameron about that time. No big blow, or damage, just not something you want to hitchhike in. I said, "Ok, I'll catch 'em next time". Hell, they were playing the Warehouse about every 3 months....Well, there WAS no next time for Duane, and I've kicked my ass ever since, for not nuttin' up and braving the storm. Caught them 12/31/71, tho, same venue. It was daylight when we stumbled out of the Warehouse on New Year's Day!!! Thanks for posting. Actually the best audio I've heard of this show/tune. You're my f---ng hero!
Thank you very much, bthoma1, for posting this. I was at that Warehouse concert many moons ago, and Duane did not use a slide. He had hands that were a gift from God. Anyone who saw him play live will never forget it. When you speak of those hands, you can only compare Duane Allman to people like Heifetz or Rubenstein. Yes, he was that good. And the Allman Brothers Band then were a great band. Nice to hear Berry Oakley on bass again. Have to stop. This Southerner can feel his heart breaking.
There should be statues of these men in every Southern town. Thanks so much for your posts bthoma. Just keeps on flowing Don't worry bout where it's going
Was there...Greatest mind-opening experience... The intro to 'Don't keep me wondering' sounded like a jumbo jet filled with honeysuckle sweetness taking off in front of you. The harmony, the power, the sublime syncrhronization of all parts playing together, soaring into heaven, not hell.... the ABB, with Duane were the voice of the Archangels. God bless the child.
@fcbtim I couldn't agree more with you that Duane seems to be "all over the map" in the SUNY solo as compared to this one. But that is the beauty of the Allman Brothers brother, you never knew what you'd get on any given night. It's a shame that so much talent was lost, beyond words that we lost such an artist. How many other bands do you hear playing the same songs so different anymore? This for me is as good as any other solo I've heard, with Fillmore East - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed)
@uncasist I have the Stonybrook CD recorded in 1971 and this is NOT a dub of the Blue Sky in it. Both Duane and Dickey play different guitar solos. And Duane's is a bit shorter and Dickey's is a lot shorter. I remember 1971 and saw them do Blue Sky a couple of times. I didn't noticed how different it was for an Allman Brothers song until the Eat a Peach studio version came out. A happy country/jazzy thing that just made you feel good. Different from most songs they had done except Revival.
Sad to think Skydog would be dead in a month, this was the last song he ever recorded, bless your little pea picking heart Dickie Betts for giving us one of THE MOST beautiful songs in the world.
There exist only five recordings of 'Blue Sky' with Duane Allman: the commercial recording on 'Eat a Peach', Academy of Music, NYC 8/15/71, this one at New Orleans Warehouse 9/16/71, Stonybrook NY 9/19/71, and one, performed on 11 September 1971 at Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson University in South Carolina.
The peak that starts at 2:14 is quite possibly the best thing I've ever heard, the entire band goes into an entirely different dimension dimension there.
I'm with you. He was always overshadowed by the legend of Duane. In my uneducated, unimportant, no-ear-for-music, usually wrong opinion, I think Dickey is the better guitarist.
I don’t think the dude laying down with the gold top is Duane. The guy in white at 5:00 is Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt, from Captain Beyond. That pic was from the Whiskey a Go Go in LA Oct 2, 1971, just a few weeks before Duane died. Great version of Blue Sky!
@sacrowley11 I'd have to agree that the greatest incarnation of this song was the Live at S.U.N.Y. sessions now available. Unbelievable and, as nice as this is, far better than any other version. There isn't a lick they don't execute with spell-binding perfection. GET IT !!
Yes, I recently begin logging onto youtube and it is funny, I agree with you dt2222A. Back in the day early 70's friends of mine we would listen to allman brothers on the turntable. Its not like it is today, cause all you have to do is log onto the internet to find anything, well back then it is called research and I think today a lot of people are lazy they don't want to research. I'm 54 and enjoy listening to allman brothers takes me back and I also know how to research. Thanks youtube.
I think they are talkin about smoking maybe? you can hear Duane say "you gotta respect it if you don't like it brother it'll do that to ya" and talks about it being about the same price as a drink.. I love at the very end of the G tapes brother Duane even mentions the Bible
It's such a shame that the vocals came out so low for the entire recording of this performance otherwise this would be great recording. With the low vocals though it is still a very good recording so I guess we are lucky.
As a Macon native who came up in the next generation listening to the Allmans thanks to my dad and his badass vinyl collection...Great post. Love hearing the Duane versions of this song. They're rare but so pure. It breaks my heart that Dickey isn't still playing this song with the people it belongs with. Long live 2321 Vineville Avenue.
I wish he never got on that damn bike. A brilliant kid, but too reckless. I was lucky enough to see him with the ABB at the FIllmore the weekend they recorded that classic live album and opened for the mighty Johnny Winter. Dem wuz da daze!
Used to think Stonybrook was the best live ''blue sky'' but Warehouse beats it . Is this recording availible cleaned up?Listen to Berry wow,Duane and Dickey. We got ripped when Duane and Berry left to soon
Sorry....But....Not a chance. Stonybrook was a true gift of His Grace....The Flow of Both axemen was simply divine inspiration at its finest, not to mention the recording...the Pure flow of Blue Sky at the Brook is Magic~ :)
I thought guitar in rage against the machine was amazing in 1990's...and my dad looks at me and goes "Dude, listen to this"....Popped in Eat A Peach, Track 8 (blue sky) and I have bought every Allman Brothers Band CD That has come out. Im 17. Fuck Rap.
no I think if Duane were alive now he would be like Duane Allman...there IS no one else like him.. Eric basically learned slide from Duane. He was a musical genius up there with Mozart he and Jimi made what rock is today,we learn from them now.
Although I adore Mr. Trucks ,and Warren, you my friend are so RIGHT!! Duane, and Dickey are the Pioneers of this Band. The only that came close in my mind is Dangerous Dan Toeler back in the early 80s. Sort of like the Original OUTLAWS line up. Those Guys... the Original Florida Guitar Army will always be the Founders. That goes for Tucker too, CDB.. etc.. Thanks for your insight here. Phal
@fcbtim I've heard it many, many times. Many drives home after a long day at work is cured by that solo. What a true gem. If you haven't listened to "Why Does Love Got to be so Sad?" by Derek and the Dominoes, find that on youtube. Duane will give you a little taste of that IMOER solo, but on another level! If you like the "says what needs to be said solo," you'll be blown away by what you hear in the first solo.
I would guess ebay or amazon might sell the DVD, but everything is on RU-vid now, so you could just watch them from the comfort of your computer! Some wonderful soul also posted the Gaitlinberg tapes which feature the original band working out "My Favorite Things" and Duane playing acoustic guitar singing (kinda) and joking around. He was just as funny as he was musically talented. Got to see him play, but I wish I got to meet him! SKYDOG FOREVER!!! Berry too!
Isn’t the pickup switch at 2:54 sounds like the bridge all up until 2:54 when it sounds like the neck. I’ve been learning this by ear and bridge pick up up until 2:54 sounds right. I could be wrong.
It's really sad to note what might have been with Duane. With every passing year their stuff gets better and better (in comparison w/ a lot of what's out there), and more young'uns realizing what a great legacy these guys have left.... please keep on posting and rocking!
@BrucePetty, you are correct that Duane passed before Eat A Peach was released. His work was still included on the album, and it was dedicated to him ("Dedicated To A Brother"). R.I.P.
A wonderful show. Too bad it was not professionally recorded. The mic stowed away in the ceiling does not capture the vocals very well. But just listen to the interplay between Dickey and Duane! just awesome. I have had this in the car for years playing the shit out of it! Can you imagine where they would have taken the solos had Duane lived?
@JustAintthatWay You got it right. I remember the original lineup and Duane always went first but not with slide that I can recall. Then they would do the harmony thing in the middle and Dickey would solo until he played the little riff at the end and Duane would jump on it and play it with him starting at the second time Dickey did it, then back to the vocals. It's the same way on the album cut (Eat a Peach). After you've listened to Duane and Dickey together for a few weeks....
