Gregg Allman - Searching For Simplicity
550 Music 1997
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Review Published May 1, 1998
Visit the Gregg Allman Showcase at iMusic
AMG Artist Bio/Discography/CD Reviews
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Sound Clips, Discography
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Track Listing
1 Whippin' Post
2 House of Blues
3 Come Back & Help Me
4 Silence Ain't Golden
Anymore
5 Rendezvous With
the Blues
6 Wolf's a'howlin'
7 Love the Poison
8 Don't Deny Me
9 Dark End of the Street
10 Neighbor, Neighbor
11 I've Got News for You
12 Memphis in the
Meantime
13 Startin' Over
EB Rating - 4.0
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Searching for Simplicity is a selection of ballads and love songs designed to
showcase the considerable and unique vocal talents of
Gregg Allman. The CD is well produced, and Gregg has a quality group of musicians backing him. It's focus is
definitely on the mellow side. The CD opens with
a watered-down version of Whippin' Post,, which pales in comparison to the
Allman Brothers Band original.
But, there are a few numbers with some good bite as well.
Derek Trucks, the young nephew of long time Allman Brothers drummer
Butch Trucks, plays slide guitar on two songs,
Wolf's a'howlin' and Neighbor, Neighbor.
Derrick's playing style definitely brings to mind that of Gregg's late brother, slide guitar great
Duane Allman.
Two of the more notable blues ballads are Rendezvous with the Blues, and
House of Blues. Both pack a good bit of emotional punch.
My personal favorites from the CD are Don't Deny Me, one of the more upbeat songs, and
Gregg's cover of the classic blues tune, I've Got News For You, the strongest blues
song in the set.
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The balance of the songs are all fairly similar in nature, there's just not much about them that makes them stand out.
There's not really a lot here in the way of pure blues. For the most part, the music is pretty much on the tranquil side. But
Gregg's voice is in good form, and you couldn't ask for a more polished group of backing musicians. If you're looking for a CD to
sooth your soul, Searching for Simplicity is a good choice.
As a side note, this CD has an add for an Internet Service Provider that automatically launches when the CD is place in a PC CD drive. You must wait for the
add to load, and then cancel out of it before getting on with the music. Very annoying.
Visitors Comments
3.5 rating for Gregg Allman's Searching For Simplicity? Hmm? I suppose it takes all kinds of opinions to keep this blue sphere of
ours spinning. Your's and mine certainly twirled at different speeds where Gregg's solo effort is concerned. Why no mention of
Gregg's exceptional talent on keyboards? His work on the guitar? Was it a conscious decision to ignore, in your review, the artistic
aptitude of the man holding the pen on a great many of Searching's tunes? Possibly you don't go for reading the info contained in
any liner notes? That's a shame... you just might find some interesting tidbits there. ...R.M.
Note: EB's rating was later adjusted to a 4.0 ...Herm
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