CoronaVinyl Day 167 (A): Laid Back by Gregg Allman

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Today's CoronaVinyl category is "A," and I'm going with Gregg Allman's 1973 solo debut album, Laid Back.

Though he was still very much a part of The Allman Brothers Band when he recorded and released Laid Back -- they were recording Brothers and Sisters around the same time -- Gregg Allman wanted to do a solo album for the same reason many musicians want to do solo albums -- to make music that might not necessarily fit within the confines of their current band.  

Given how closely I associate The Allman Brothers' sound with Gregg Allman's voice, it's tough for me to think of the songs on Laid Back as songs that couldn't have been Allman Brothers songs.  But then stepping back, the songs are more introspective and ballad-esque, with both more of a Southern rock/country rock feel and soul feel that a typical Allman Brothers offering.  It certainly has a sad feel to it, no doubt driven by Allman's still-fresh wounds from the death of his brother Duane in October 1971.

The album did pretty well on the charts, reaching #13 on the Billboard album chart.  Allman's reworking of "Midnight Rider" was also a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #19.

Favorite song from Side 1:  "Midnight Rider"

Even though I like the original Allman Brothers version better, I still enjoy Allman's remake of his own song.  This version is intentionally "swamp-like," and has a creepier and funkier air to it than the original.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "These Days"
Before today, I hadn't realized a few things about this song.  First, I didn't know that anyone other than Velvet Underground chanteuse Nico recorded it.  Second, I had no idea that a 16-year-old Jackson Browne was the songwriter.  I immediately recognized the the first line -- "Well, I've been out walking / I don't do that much talking these days."  The original version -- which you will likely recognize if you're a Royal Tenenbaums fan -- was haunting, thanks to Nico's distinctive monotone voice.  Allman's version is very country rock, with a slide guitar and all, and it's more of a heartfelt ballad.