The musical legacy of Gregg Allman continues with Great As Ever: Live In Philadelphia ’86, a previously unreleased concert recording from the Gregg Allman Band, arriving April 10 via his posthumous label, Sawrite Records. Pre-orders and pre-saves are available now.
Recorded in Philadelphia at the height of Allman’s solo years, the album captures a band locked into its stride, with a newly released take on “Don’t Want You No More” foregrounding his fluid work on the Hammond B-3.
Recorded January 11, 1986, before a sold-out crowd at Philadelphia, PA’s intimate Chestnut Cabaret, Great As Ever: Live In Philadelphia ’86 marks the latest in an ongoing series of electrifying live concert recordings from Allman’s personal archives. Despite the frigid temperatures outside the historic venue, the Gregg Allman Band brought the heat that night, as four years of steady touring had turned the group into a taut, well-oiled machine.
The road-hardened line-up of Allman (lead vocals, Hammond B-3, and acoustic guitar), the Toler Brothers (Dan on lead guitar, Frankie on drums), Bruce Waibel (bass), Tim Heding (keyboards), and Chaz Trippy (percussion) hit the stage with a purpose, unleashing a 13-song setlist stacked with unforgettable performances of Allman Brothers Band favorites and more, including a nascent version of what would prove Allman’s biggest solo success, the chart-topping “I’m No Angel.”
Among its many unforgettable standouts are a rousing take on “It’s Not My Cross to Bear” marked by Allman’s world-weary vocal and a fiery Dan Toler solo, a touching version of “Melissa” (dedicated by Gregg to his then-estranged ABB bandmate Dickey Betts), and a stellar performance of “Queen of Hearts,” Allman’s lament from his 1973 debut solo album, Laid Back.
The GAB’s ceaseless roadwork would pay off with the RIAA Gold-certified success of 1987’s acclaimed comeback album, I’m No Angel, but on stage in front of their devoted fans was where the group truly were at their best. This remarkable recording affirms that, night after night, the Gregg Allman Band were indeed Great As Ever.
In addition, this summer will see the premiere of the eagerly anticipated new film, Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul. Directed by GRAMMY® and Golden Globe Award-winning filmmaker James Keach, the full-length feature documentary traces Allman’s journey through profound personal tragedy and hard-won redemption, revealing how his raw honesty and blues-soaked power permanently reshaped American music.
Told through never-before-seen interviews and rare performance archives, Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul weaves an intimate portrait of Allman, candidly reflecting on the death of his brother and bandmate Duane, his battles with addiction, and the personal demons that shaped both his life and his music. The film is anchored by electrifying, rarely seen concert footage that captures the Allman Brothers at their creative peak, offering audiences an immersive, front-row view of one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most powerful live bands.
Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul will arrive in theaters across North America via Subtext, the recently launched new U.S. independent film production and distribution company, this coming summer.
