At the top of the stack today is the Allman Brothers Band ninth studio album "Seven Turns" from 1990 (EK 46144). I recently picked this up at the thrift store for $2.99, and while personal expectations might be admittedly low, I was very curious to hear what an early 90s ABB offering might sound like. Prior to plunking down my change, I was immediately reminded of the track "Evidence of Love" from Gregg Allman's 1987 solo album "I'm No Angel." Heavy on the synthesizers, gated reverb, and not to mention Miami Vice's Don Johnson providing some vocals as well. Yikes. Would this be the same? Or would time be kind to this release? Looking at the back of the cd, two things jumped out at me:
1. The album sees longtime ABB producer Tom Dowd back at the helm. Dowd produced the majority of the best ABB albums. Can his magic touch work once more? I guess we will have to listen to find out.
2. Bassist Allen Woody is rocking a sleeveless Batman T-shirt. Just in case you needed a reminder as to how huge Tim Burton's Batman movie was in 1989. Which poses the question: If Batman exists in the world of the ABB, does the ABB exist in the record stores of Gotham City? We may never know.
"Seven Turns" serves as a "comeback" album for the recently reunited ABB. The band broke around 1981 and regrouped in the summer of 1989 for a 20th anniversary tour, which also coincided with their retrospective box set "Dreams." The tunes from "Seven Turns" serve as the fruits of the touring together.
Does it stand as tall as some of the monoliths in their back catalogue? Yes and no. For it me, it does rank higher than some of their albums from the mid to late 70s. Thankfully, the production is solid, and it doesn't "sound" like the late 80s. It does however lend itself to the production of a Stevie Ray Vaughn record, who admittedly, for better or worse, carried mainstream blues through the 80s. It's an enjoyable listen, and a good deal of these tunes like "Gambler's Roll," and "Good Clean Fun," often showed up during the middle of the ABB live sets well into the early 2000s, a personal favorite of mine being 9/5/2004.
Truth be told, the "Seven Turns" is a southern blues rock ABB album. Bringing Warren Haynes into the fold rejuvenated the ABB, and not only gave the band some songwriting chops, but filled the void on slide and solos left by Duane. Haynes helps elevate "True Gravity," and finds the band back in familiar territory with an instrumental track allowing the band to stretch out for almost 8 full minutes. Haynes and bassist Allen Woody would go on to perform as jam band festival favorites, Gov't Mule, in the mid nineties.
The album is not without a few clunkers. "Shine It On" seems to steal the Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) riff. The song really goes nowhere, there's two solos, for the sake of soloing. "Loading Dice" is another tune that is a throw away. It reminds me of every time I've happened upon a local "blues band," playing the local street fair. "We're going to play one of our originals!" It's full of blues tropes and double entendres, gambling references, a bar along a dusty highway, rattle snakes...oh yeah, and a couple guitar solos.
"Seven Turns" would prove the ABB still had more gas in the tank. Due to the success of the album and the subsequent touring they would continue to perform live and record throughout the 90s, standing as elder statesmen of the jam band scene. Had the band not taken a hiatus in the early 80s, I fear they would have fizzled out. The break was what they needed, and ultimately the decade off gave them two and half more. The legacy of "Seven Turns" solidifies the lyrics of "Midnight Rider."
"The road goes on forever."
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