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Reunion Albums
Old time rockers love to put on reunion albums. It seems to be result of two circumstances: 1) They need to head back into the studio because they love the music or 2) They have run out of money and need to sell some more albums. On many instances, the reunion albums can be down right embarrassing (Jefferson Airplane's attempt in 1989 immediately comes to mind). Sometimes they are classics: The Byrds Reunion Album The Byrds made their stamp on American rock during the late 1960s with classics such as covers of Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Positively 4th Street." In addition, their psychedelic anthem "Eight Miles High" helped define the counterculture movement. As the 1960s moved into the 1970s, the band began to break off: David Crosby went on to Crosby, Stills and Nash while Chris Hillman and Graham Parsons formed the Flying Burrito Brothers. In 1972, the boys in the Byrds got back together again and released the critically bashed reunion album. Forget the critics, for the album has some classics. Most notably are covers of Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "See The Sky about to Rain" and Joni Mitchell's "For Free." Traffic: When The Eagles Fly Traffic was one the best groups of the 1960s. The band created music with a fine blend of psychedelic rock and jazz. During their time together, Traffic released the classic albums Shoot Out at Fantasy Factory, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and On The Road. After these immediate successes the band began to splinter off: Steve Winwood joined up with Eric Clapton to form the short lived but impressive Blind Faith while Dave Mason launched a successful solo career. It wasn't until 1974 that the original band got together once again a released When the Eagles Fly. This album was not popular for the time yet it contains some the band's finest song writing talents.
The Allman Brothers: Seven Turns The Allman Brothers are the definitive southern rock and roll sound.. By using a dual lead guitar and dual drum set up, the boys from below the Mason Dixon line had the fullest sound in rock and roll. The road for the Allman Brothers has not been an easy one. In 1971, guitarist and brother Duane Allman died in motorcycle accident and a year later bassist Berry Oakley lost his life as well. During the early 1980s, the band disbanded and Greg Allman disappeared into alcohol abuse. The uncertainty of The Allman Brothers came to an end in 1990 with the release of Seven Turns. The album featured the talented Warren Haynes on guitar and the band hit the studio and the road once again. Today the band continues to carry on the southern rock tradition with pride. |