The Allman Betts Band - 'Bless Your Heart'

There’s more to this splendid album than that to be honest. It’s a high quality blend of Down South Jukin’ plus Blues, Soul and Americana and possibly has more in common with contemporary bands like the Drive-By-Truckers, Tedeschi Trucks and Blackberry Smoke than the early 70’s output from the original Allmans.

Opening song “Pale Horse Rider” starts with a melancholic refrain but quickly moves up through the gears with some fantastic guitar work and ends up in a real Crazy Horse type freak out at the end. The soulful “Carolina Song” is even better with wailing slide guitar and a bit of gospel from the ladies on backing vocals and then there’s “King Crawler” with its saxophone and good-time honky tonk vibe.

It’s a seven piece band featuring Devon Allman, Duane Betts and Berry Duane Oakley with shared vocals. In the world of horse racing you have to pay a lot for premium DNA but of course these guys got that for free from the Allman’s extended royal family and they perform like thoroughbreds throughout. As if that wasn’t enough, they recorded this at Muscle Shoals and got a whole bunch of A-listers in as band members, song writers and guests and the quality shows. The one big nod to their fathers’ style is the 12 minute instrumental “Savannah’s Dream” which lets them open up and show their class “Jessica” style.

Elsewhere, you get a Tom Petty flavour on the fantastic “Southern Rain”, Country vibes on “Rivers Run” and a Southern Gothic tale in “Airboats & Cocaine” but the best in breed award might go to “Magnolia Road” which traces the band’s roots all the way back and then brings it rambling home in fine style. There’s some lovely Billy Powell style piano on the closer “Congratulations” too.

All in all, it’s a very enjoyable album that might make you want to kick back, drink moonshine, wave your Stars & Bars (in a non-racist way) and squeal like a pig. Yee haw!