A complete Allman Brothers Set, early days to latter days

As a big fan of Southern rock and the Allman Brothers Band, I found it only appropriate to purchase the 4-disc box set "Dreams" and began celebrating one of music's greatest acts. It costs just as much as any other normal box set, approximately $50.00. Released in 1989 by Polydor records, this box set is one of the most comprehensive on the market for any band.

Covering 4 full music discs and lasting a total of 55 tracks, this is the most complete and excellent set you can purchase by the Allman Brothers. It begins recordings on disc 1 by the "Allman Joys" and "Hour Glass", some of the bands early roots. "The 31st of February" and "The Second Coming" are also featured early on in the set. Let's look at a breakdown of each cd.

Disc 1

Featuring music by "The Allman Joys", "Hour Glass", "31st of February", "Second Coming", "Duane Allman" and the "Allman Brothers Band" the first disc contains 17 tracks. Many songs on this particular cd have been un-heard by most casual fans because they were written and recorded before the Allman's were formally formed. However, you will not be let down by this first disc as all of the tunes are great and well recorded. Not to mention the exquisite guitar playing.

Disc 2

Coming in at 10 tracks you may think that there is not as much music as on the first cd which clocked in at 17 tracks. However, Disc 2 contains only Allman Brothers tracks and they are respectively much longer and more blues/southern rock-oriented. The pride and joy of this cd is the sprawling 22:52 live version of "Whipping Post" an Allman Brothers staple. Other notable lengths are a 12:57 version of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and a 9:21 version of "I'm Gonna move to the Outskirts of Town". Even though the rest of the tracks may not be of unusual-notable length, they are still great cuts.

Disc 3

Clocking in at 12 tracks, this cd contains music from "The Allman Brothers Band", "Gregg Allman", and "Dickey Betts". If anyone is a little unfamiliar with the group, Dickey Betts was another guitarist that often dueled with Duane onstage. He was also a phoenomenal guitarist. The disc starts off with a 19:26 version of "You don't Love me/Soul Serenade". This disc features a lot of Allman Brothers singles. Including "Melissa", "Ramblin' Man", "Jessica", and "Midnight Rider". Of course there are other tracks available, those are just the notable singles that many people would recognize.

Disc 4

Disc 4 closes the box set very well, offering some music after the untimely death of guitarist Duane Allman. It has some "after-thoughts" of related bands. It includes "The Allman Brothers Band", "The Gregg Allman Band", "Dickey Betts and the Great Southern", "Allman and Woman", and "The Dickey Betts Band". With a total of 16 tracks, it not only closes the particular cd well, but it closes the entire box set well. It closes with a strong tune by the "Dickey Betts Band" called "Duane's Tune". It features some great guitar work by Mr. Betts himself.

The Booklet

Now what is a great box set without a great booklet available to look at while listening to the great music?
Not a very good one. This set features a 32 page book. This particular book is more than a mere booklet as it is quite large. The pages are not made out of normal paper, but it seems like an upgraded paper and very high quality. The pictures that are contained are absolutely stunning as many Allman Brothers pictures have never been viewed. It also has some very well-written words about the band and their existence.

I would highly recommend this box set for any big fan of the Allman's, Southern Rock (The way it originally was), or just good ol' rock and roll. You will not be dissapoined by the sheer volume and great music given to you in this set.