At Fillmore East (2014)

At Fillmore East is the first live album by American rock band the Allman Brothers Band, and their third release overall. Produced by Tom Dowd, the album was released on July 6, 1971, in the United States, by Capricorn Records. As the title indicates, the recording took place at the New York City music venue Fillmore East, which was run by concert promoter Bill Graham. It was recorded over the course of three nights in March 1971 (only two nights were used for the album) and features the band performing extended jam versions of songs such as "Whipping Post", "You Don't Love Me" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed". When first commercially released, it was issued as a double LP with just seven songs across four vinyl sides.

At Fillmore East was the band's artistic and commercial breakthrough, rapidly increasing the band's exposure and garnering them a new legion of fans. It has since been widely regarded as one of the greatest live albums of all time and the start of the band's association with the jam band school of music (although members of the band have repudiated the label, stating instead they are just "a band that jams"). It has also been ranked as one of the best albums of all time and continues to be a top seller in the band's catalog, becoming their first album to receive a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2004, the album was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress by the National Recording Registry, deemed to be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Background

Shortly after completing recording of their second album, Idlewild South, in July 1970, the Allman Brothers were playing a show in Miami. British supergroup lead guitarist Eric Clapton had formed an intentionally anonymous new band – Derek and the Dominos – and begun recording what was to become the iconic double-album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs there. Stalled, Clapton had indicated to album producer Tom Dowd that he was interested in meeting Allman, whose session work on Wilson Pickett's 1968 cover of The Beatles' "Hey Jude" he particularly admired; in turn, Allman was a huge fan of Clapton's playing with the band Cream. The pair were introduced after the August 26 show, and jammed together until the next afternoon. "Instant soulmates", Clapton invited Allman to join the "Layla" sessions, with Allman ending up contributing memorable guitar licks to all but three songs on the album. Afterwards, Clapton invited Allman to join the Dominoes and tour with them; according to band biographer Alan Paul Allman considered it, and indeed Allman appeared in a few concerts with the band, but in the end returned to Allman Brothers after missing a string of several shows.

Mirroring the band's initial 1969 release, The Allman Brothers Band, Idlewild South failed to achieve strong commercial success, though the band's popularity and reputation began to increase due to their live performances. The band played continuously in 1970, performing over 300 dates on the road traveling in a Ford Econoline van and later, a Winnebago, nicknamed the Wind Bag. During this time, the group began struggling with drug addictions. With the exception of the brothers, everyone in the group was barely making a living. Vocalist Gregg Allman received additional money from songwriter royalty payments and Duane from session work, but conditions on the road were difficult for everyone. In a dispute over withheld band pay, tour manager Twiggs Lyndon stabbed and killed a promoter. Their fortunes began to change over the course of 1971, where the band's average earnings doubled.

The Allman Brothers Band had first played Fillmore East in December 1969, opening for Blood, Sweat & Tears for three nights. Promoter Bill Graham enjoyed the band and promised to have them back soon. In January 1970, the band opened for Buddy Guy and B.B. King at San Francisco's Fillmore West, and one month later at Fillmore East supporting the Grateful Dead. According to biographer Alan Paul, "these shows were crucial in establishing the band and exposing them to a wider, sympathetic audience on both coasts." Drummer Butch Trucks considered their performances at the Fillmore East to be the launching pad for their success. In 1970, Duane Allman told disc jockey Ed Shane, "You know, we get kind of frustrated doing the [studio] records, and I think, consequently, our next album will be ... a live recording, to get some of that natural fire on it." "We were not intentionally trying to buck the system, but keeping each song down to 3:14 just didn't work for us," remembered Gregg Allman. "And we realized that the audience was a big part of what we did, which couldn't be duplicated in a studio. A lightbulb finally went off; we needed to make a live album."