Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective

I have been waiting for this since the release of the Allman Brothers Band box set "Dreams" in 1989. While this, "Dreams", and Eric Clapton's box set "Crossroads" were all produced by Bill Levenson this one is a true labour of love due to the involvement of Duane's daughter Galadrielle. It all comes in a box designed to look like the inside of a Gibson guitar case with the individual CD's in reproductions of the paper sleeves that electric guitar strings come in and there is a "Skydog" sticker and a Duane Allman Special guitar pick. The front cover of the box has a picture of Duane's guitar case and the front and back covers of the liner booklet have pictures of the front and back of Duane's tobacco sunburst Gibson Les Paul guitar.

There are two essays, one by Scott Schindler and the other by Galadrielle Allman. Schindler's is not terribly extensive but this set is aimed at fanatics who already know the story of Duane and the band. For those who don't, there are several excellent books on Duane, brother Gregg, and The Allman Brothers Band. Galadrielle's is a lovely tribute to a father she barely knew.

While only a relatively small percentage of the 129 tracks are previously unreleased much of this has been almost impossible to find for years. Examples are the tracks from Johnny Jenkins "Ton Ton Macoute" and John Hammond's "Southern Fried" albums, although a few of them were released on various anthologies over the years including the two Duane Allman anthologies. Some of the real finds among the truly unreleased tracks are three tunes recorded by Duane and Gregg when they were in The Escorts and are probably the first tracks either of them ever made as well as a track of Duane jamming with The Grateful Dead live at the Fillmore East in April of 1971.

This just might be the best rock box set ever released.

It is the most comprehensive, well put together retrospective ever! All the little special touches do not go un-noticed and are appreciated.

Après avoir écouté les 7 cd de ce remarquable coffret consacrer à DUANE ALLMAN on ne peut qu'être impressionner par la qualité de son oeuvre. Les ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND sont évidemment présent mais ce sont les nombreuses sessions avec une foule d'artistes. Du rock, du country, du r & b, du jazz ...beaucoup beaucoup de guitare.