Jessica - The Allman Brothers Band | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION! 

100k any Day Now 🙌🏾🗣Let’s Goooooo!

We named our daughter Jessica Paige after this song. I would listen to this when I was pregnant with her, knowing that her name was going to be Jessica. Funny enough, when she was around 5 I would play it for her and she would dance and twirl in one of her favorite dresses. That little girl just got married in 2018, wearing a dress that she could dance and twirl in to this song. Full circle moments...

Another great song from them: Melissa! Beautiful song!

"Jessica" is my favorite rock instrumental, by a country mile, and one of my very favorite rock songs of all time. This song has been with me, and encouraged me, in happy times, and very hard times, and everything in between. I can't even express how much I love it. Absolutely, an S-tier song for me.

He was inspired to write this after watching his daughter, Jessica Betts, playing in the backyard. She was one year old.

To me, Jessica & Blue Sky are ultimate 'feel good' songs. They never get old.

This is forever for me a “drive in your car with the top down and volume blasting” song. Be it a highway or country road, just enjoy the ride!

I can describe the feeling of this song with just one word: Joy.

The great Chuck Leavell on keyboards. Closely associated with both the Allman Bros and The Rolling Stones, he's been in-demand for both studio and touring work seemingly forever with the likes of Clapton, George Harrison and many many others.

Pure Prairie League, Amie, is a great song as well.

Dicky Betts is by far the most underappreciated guitarist in the last 40+ years!

An instrumental y’all should definitely check out is “Green Onions” by Booker T. & the M.G.s.

Everyone knows this song now from Top Gear! It still hasn’t ruined it for me, though. Still love it. Whiskey in hand...

You: "I'm sorry officer, I was listening to The Allman Brothers - Jessica, and didn't realize how fast I was going." Officer:"Oh, that I can totally understand. Try to be more careful next time. Move along."

Watching you guys react to this song, just proves what I've always said about "Jessica". Its just a JOYOUS song! You can't help but bop and nod your head and smile when you listen to it!

A 7-minute _instrumental_, and that grin didn't leave Andy's face for a _second_. So much sauce, and so much *fun*. Such a great song!

Ahh... Jessica. If that’s not one of the best road songs ever, then I don’t know what is. I don’t know if you ever saw the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams, but there’s a scene where he’s traveling across the country in his 1969 VW bus, and this song is playing. Perfect! Great movie by the way about baseball. The original drummer in the band Butch Trucks has a nephew named Derrick Trucks who is an amazing guitar player that has had his own band for several years and played with the Allman Brothers as well. He’s very at home with a glass slide on the guitar. Check him out. Thanks for that one guys. That song just has that vibe that starts your day off right! 🎸

Dickie Betts wrote the song and named it after his daughter Jessica because she would bounce around the room when he played. He tried to capture the child’s enthusiasm and rhythm.

Gents, your next Allman Brothers reaction should be something from the Eat a Peach album, which many consider their best album, but I don't think you've heard anything from it yet. I'd go with either "Blue Sky" or "Melissa", but "One Way Out" is also a reasonable option.

I liked watching the smiles come out during the piano solo. IMHO, one of the more joy-filled passages in all of rock music.

From Wikipedia - "Written by guitarist Dickey Betts, the song is a tribute to Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, in that it was designed to be played using only two fingers on the left hand. Betts wrote the majority of "Jessica" at the band's farm in Juliette, Georgia. He named it after his daughter, Jessica Betts, who was an infant when it was released. She had bounced along to the song's rhythm, and Betts attempted to capture her attitude with its melody."

Some might argue that this is the greatest instrumental of all time, past, present and future. I would be among them.

S tier no question... this song hits differently

Certainly has earned it's place in the Perfect Song category. Betts is probably the most melodic guitar soloists ever. Pure Joy.

Some say this is the Stig's favourite record.

FYI This is the 1st Album they did after Duane Allman's Death, Dicky Betts did a nice job filling in for Duane. From this Album Brothers And Sisters "Rambling Man" is a Favorite.

I so miss listening to music live. Can you imagine an Allman Bros concert and this is what they play to give the leads a vocal break and to show off some musician craftsmanshift.. Very good stuff to bob your head to.

For me, this song is the "Stairway To Heaven" of 1970's Southern Rock.

Nope it's actually about his daughter. She was 1 or 2 at the time. She was bopping about the room playing while was noodling on his guitar and he came up with the main riff and most of the tune.

It’s been mentioned but Blue Sky has a great solo, beautiful lyrics. Eat A Peach.

My daughters name is Jessica, this is my ringtone for her calls.

Some songs you just say “And there it is” get up and walk away in amazement.

I do a great air guitar and air piano to this... it has to be done...it’s the law.

This is one of the greatest instrumental songs of rock and roll. This is a song you put on when you are on a road trip and it's a long drive to the next stop. An absolute masterpiece. It needs no lyrics just enjoy the music and that is music at it's best.

Such an amazing song I’ll never forget the first time I heard it and being swept away by the solo’s

It’s great that something so familiar to my generation is getting some attention! Every guitar lick has been implanted in my brain since I was a teenager. Currently 66 and still in love with this band

One of Dicky Betts' greatest instrumentals. You must check out In Memory of Elizabeth Reed from Fillmore East!!! 👍🏻✌🏼💯

Dickie B set the bar on a song with no lyrics. At age 63 there’s not been a single time in my life, where I’ve heard these first dozen notes, and didn’t sit, smile, play air guitar, and wish I was in my room in the fraternity house with my buds, partying to this classic. One of the best ever.

It was mimicking her moves while she was playing and the joy she had doing it.

"Jessica" always puts a smile on my face. My older brother introduced me to the Allman Brothers band back in the 1970's. Took me to my first concert to see them, and I have loved them since. "Jessica" was a Dickey Betts creation, a kind of tribute to master jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, in that is was designed to be played using only two fingers on the left hand (Reinhardt has severely damaged his left 4th and 5th fingers and used his 2nd and 3rd fingers of the left hand to play guitar), and Dickey attempted to emulate or capture the jovial play and movement of his young child Jessica with his melody. Betts is a truly underrated song-writer and guitarist. Please do yourselves a favor and listen to "Blue Sky" written by Dickey about his ex, a native American named Blue Sky, a really excellent to great tune. "Melissa" sung by Gregg Allman, was Duane's favorite song written by brother Gregg, and is hauntingly beautiful and oh so melodic. Review the instrumental to which all other rock instrumentals are compared, the Allman Brothers 'In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed", also written by Dickey Betts. It was your favorite tune on the Live at the Filmore East Album, but I prefer the studio reversion off theJournalandLeavell, played piano and Les Dudek played the guitar bridge section on the Brothers and Sisters Album. A version of "Jessica" performed on An Evening with the Allman Brothers band, won a Grammy for best Rock Instrumental at the 38th Annual grammy Awards.

The Allman brothers have had a long line of great guitarist, I think I've seen them live with a half dozen combinations and they're all phenomenal. The first time I saw them was with Duane & Dickey Betts last time I saw them was with Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. They never disappointed me, the concerts were one great song after another and they were a band that performed better live than their studio work.

It’s just a beautiful song. You get lost in the sauce in the first 30 seconds and don’t want to snap back to reality. Jessica was a special song and woman.

Here's the thing...if a guy feels like this about a girl, that girl is pretty freakin amazing! Love this!

This song is just so much fun! I always turn it up when I hear it. I'm glad you guys liked it so well.

Classic tune. The live album holds a special place in my heart, and a top spot in my vinyl section..good to see you enjoying it.❤

on the other side of this, "sweet melissa" is an achingly lovely song.

My birthday is today. I'm 63. This is how we keep this great music alive is young people like these guys getting exposed to it and then sharing it with others. Gives me encouragement

Used to work for Gateway Computers. The Company hired The Allman Brothers to play our Christmas Party in 94. They had released their "Where It All Began" LP earlier that year. What a party.

This song makes you feel so good you hardly realize the talent being displayed. It is the only song that prompts me to play "Air Piano".

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I've been asking reactors to react to this for a long time. My band in the 90s covered this. Challenging but fun. You can't be in a bad mood listening to this!

That’s an old fashioned classic southern rock eargasm right there folks 🔥😎🎧

Blue Sky. Andy, if Jessica is S tier, you’ll have to invent another one.

I think “Brothers and Sisters” is their finest album and I’m a huge ABB fan. “Jelly Jelly” and “Southbound” are both essential songs, Dickey’s soloing is phenomenal. I think we need a bit of Marshall Tucker on this channel :)

Can’t beat two drummers. Plus a great piano solo. Greatest instrumental rock blues song of all time. Boy how I miss the Brothers.

Chuck Leavell on piano joined the band after Duane Allman's death. Blue Sky off the Eat A Peach album is another Dickey Betts tune similar to the feel of this song that also features him rather than Gregg Allman on vocals. One of the last songs that Duane was on prior to his death. Great guitar work by both.

The background music was just cookin'. So many levels of that song, love the depth of that song. Thanks for the reaction to such iconic, influential and diverse music.

This song, like Linus and Lucy, expertly captures childhood in music.

I was born an raised in the north. I spent twenty years in north Georgia. I grew tired if some of the southern fried rock bands, but never grew tired of the Allman Brothers Band. As a matter of fact, I named my daughter Jessica, partly because of this song.

Dickie Betts is an amazing country guitarist who managed to keep his identity while playing in a blues-rock band. His guitar work is incredible - his songwriting every bit as much so!

Great song! It’s definitely about the mood. Saw the Allman Bros live twice in the ‘90s and they were spectacular.

Jessica was one of the most popular female names of the 70's, we Jessica's can blame this song 😆

Dickey Betts was inspired to write this instrumental while watching his daughter Jessica play, there are many other excellent instrumentals like In Memory of Elizabeth Reed and Hot 'Lanta that should be heard. I'm pretty sure that a live version of this song won a Grammy

Back from New Orleans and no Nawlin's music? 1)The Funky Meters- Cissy Strut 2) Radiators- Like Dreamers Do 3) The Neville Brothers- Fire on the Bayou 4) Dr John- Right Place Wrong Time All New Orleans Legends, and perform there regularly to this day.

Jessica is IMHO one of the all time great instrumental pieces. The signature riff never, ever fails to put a smile on my face.

Damn hadn’t listened to this for a minute. Thanks for bringing it back for me. Before our Canadian friends get too upset April Wine is a must check out. I Like To Rock is a good place to start. Canada is much more than just Rush.

If you ever lived up north, this is springtime music.

My son has like 43 now but he called this the Peanuts song cuz it reminded him of the Charlie Brown theme song

Classic. About the best feel good, driving song ever! I’m so glad this was the music of my generation!

Do "Melissa" next. Or Midnight Rider. They had a lot to choose from.

The British "Top Gear" show used "Jessica" as their theme song. Jeremy, Richard & James

Well now we need Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson. The live version where he is in the marching band coat is the best in my opinion.

I've always felt this was THE best song to throw on when driving or especially starting a long drive (assuming you're not going to a funeral or to the hospital). The soaring guitar, the honky-tonk piano and an infectious gliding rhythm that makes it impossible to not tap a foot on the floor makes this THE song start a journey in a positive mood. In the movie, Field of Dreams, this was the soundtrack over a montage of road trip scenes through several states so at least one other person in this world agrees with me. On a side note, I was surprised neither Andy or Alex mentioned the incredible bass line that made this song's rhythm so fluid.

Would love to hear you do "Blue Sky" next. Similar feel to "Jessica", but with lyrics. Alex might like it more.

okay, so now that you've done with fun and upbeat "Jessica" you guys should really do "Sweet Melissa" It has emotional lyrics, gusty vocals, and smooth guitar solo that takes you 'there'.

Melissa, top-notch ballad w/top-notch Gregg Allman vocal. Also Don't Want You No More/It's Not My Cross to Bear, definite banger with (what else?) a top-notch Gregg Allman vocal.

It has fantastic energy and groove. The melody is compelling. The arrangement unfolds to a fantastic improvisation on piano then guitar. All the while the bass and drums drive the song forward. Then together the whole band brings the song back to the opening theme to bring Jessica home. After all it's The Allman Brothers Band. They kick ass.

How can one not like this Song? It's a great Instrumental!

"Jessica" was the theme for the widely popular TOP GEAR TV show. No one hates on Jessica, simply impossible to do.

Please do Duane Allman and Boz Scaggs Loan Me a Dime. Another incredible long sauce, with an incredible story about the recording of it. Plus it has Boz vocals.

Dicky Betts solo is so crisp and clear, amazing. And the piano flows so smooth. Great song, definitely an S .

Loved checking this out!! If you missed us doing a full album dive for their Filmore East Live record here’s the link, it’s on Patreon for free! www.patreon.com/posts/42045196

I don’t think it gets much better than this. This is the definition of music. My vote as the best band ever as well as this song. Thank you for spreading the word or in this case the notes, feelings.and musicianship. Any and all Allman Bros anytime.

Skynyrd and The Allman Bros can't really be judged against each other as part of the same genre. Lynyrd Skynyrd is and has always been a Southern Rock Band. Period. They were good at what they did, and that was all they did. The Allman Brothers, on the other hand, were more of a rock/jazz fusion band with leanings toward Western Swing, and southern folk influences. A better comparison for them, I think, would be the Marshall Tucker Band.

I used to love to play this song back in the late 70s while cruising down a Florida country road on a beautiful spring day in my jeep with the top off, and sharing all this with some friends. Time goes by like a hurricane as they sang in another song!

Always a fave. Never feels like 7 minutes, no matter how many times you hear it. Nice choice.

This is one of the best pieces of music ever written.

I love this song! Hadnt heard it in so long. Definitely a favorite! Thank you

I lived in a bachelor pad in my post-college days in the 90s. We used to have parties every few months and had upwards of 100-120 people there, mostly dancing to disco or just "dance music" of the time. I'll never forget putting this on and watching everyone just boogie down to some southern rock! Priceless! Definitely an S-tier moment and I'll take this over FREEBIRD! any day. :)

One of my favorite instrumentals ever.

Thank you for that reaction. As a fan of “the Brothers” since their inception, the death of Duane Allman had many thinking the magic would be gone. This album, and the addition of Chuck Leavell added to their sound and maintained their leadership of the Southern Rock genre.

Tonight at Top Gear: I am Driving a Car, Richards says ahhh „ahhh“ and James is in a shop.

S-tier! This is, for me, one of my defining Lost In The Sauce songs. If this song can't put you in a good mood, not much can!

Humble Pie Rockin' The Fillmore+

Still one of the greatest songs ever written. I feel sorry for those who didn't get to hear it at the time it was written.When you heard this from a passing car, or coming from a neighbor's house, man, everything was right in the world.

S for sure! Great call, Andy! This song feels very jazzy to me, but also unmistakably Southern. Doesn't the guitar work remind you a lot of fiddle?

Love Jessica. Want to take this time to thank you guys for not stopping the music & waiting until it's over to critique. Makes the reviews more enjoyable!

You MUST DO Blue Sky

A Top Ten driving song for sure. Still sounds great. Here's another: Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon.

Yes! Andy!!! Next by ABB Southbound PLEASE!!!💛💛💛

Hell Yea. Congrats! I know my fellow Cajuns treated you right! Also, congrats, y’all are the first to react to Jessica!