All Artists: Dickey Betts Title: Let's Get Together Members Wishing: 3 Total Copies: 0 Label: Free Falls Ent. Release Date: 7/31/2001 Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock, Metal Style: Southern Rock Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 688197701728 |
Dickey Betts Let's Get Together Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock, Metal
After being fired by fax after 32 years in the Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts took his revenge by putting a band together and recording his fifth solo album (the second under the rubric of the Dickey Betts Band), using a ha... more » | |
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Amazon.com After being fired by fax after 32 years in the Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts took his revenge by putting a band together and recording his fifth solo album (the second under the rubric of the Dickey Betts Band), using a handful of songs he had penned for the ABB as a starting point. While not as well executed or as inspired as his early stuff with the Great Southern, Let's Get Together is an honest work of an artist looking for his groove. And sometimes he finds it. Interspersed between an indifferent ballad, a shopworn good-time jam, and a gritty blues shuffle are three exquisitely contracted and played instrumentals: "Dona Marie," the Latin-tinged ode to Betts wife, which could have been easily lifted off of a Santana record, the surefooted and jazzy "She Bop," and the Allman-esque "Rave On." But after all, this is the guy who penned the romantic classic "Jessica," and the evocative "In Memory of Elizabeth," so one shouldn't be too surprised. Betts lets his autobiography take over in the eerie "Tombstone Eyes" and the even more revealing "Here Comes the Blues Again," showing that all that pent-up rage makes for some compelling tunes. --Jaan Uhelszki Similarly Requested CDs
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CD ReviewsThe ABB are Sorely Missed... Francis Schiazza | Staten Island, NY United States | 09/24/2001 (3 out of 5 stars) "The success or failure of this record depends on the impetus behind it's release. What this record DOES do is prove to the world that Dickey Betts is NOT washed up, like the Allmans hinted at when the dismissed him. His songs are very strong, and his playing, while slowed a little (to be expected from a man his age) is still very, very good. What it DOES NOT do, however, is prove that Dickey is better off without his ex-mates. Indeed, their presence is sorely missed.The problem with "Let's Get Together" isn't Dickey... it's the rest of the band. Acorss the board, the playing is very unispired. While many aging rock superstars falter by maintaining too tight of a grip on their careers, Dickey falters for being too diplomatic. Mark May and Mat Zeiner have no business singing any song on the same record as Betts. Their voices are flat, and their songs are banal compared to the passionate performances by Betts. Why in the world Dickey let Zeiner sing "Tombstone Eyes" is beyond me. It's a great song, and it aches for Dickey's voice. Yet, we are left with Zeiner's tame rendition.I guess, as a lifetime ABB fan, hearing anyone else try and do justice to a Dickey Betts songs is like listening to Julian Lennon take John's place in the Beatles.The title tune is a fantastic song, one of Dickey's best since the ABB reunion. "Tombstone Eyes", "Sing While I'm Walking", "Dona Maria", "One Stop Be Bop" and "Rave On" would all make excellent ABB cuts. They are all great tunes, slighted by a band that isn't up to the task."I Gotta Know", "Immortal", "All For You" & "Call Me Anytime" are nothing more than filler material. I can just see it now. The new ABB record, with 4 new Gregg Allman songs, a new Warren Haynes tune or 2, and the 7 Dickey Betts tunes from this record... Instead, we are subjected to a group of musicians who think they are the ABB, but who fail miserably.The Allmans need Dickey's songs, and Dickey needs the Allmans..." Nothin' to Write Home About........... R. C. Steingraber | San Jose, California, USA | 09/26/2001 (2 out of 5 stars) "As much as I've tried to like this album, it just doesn't do it for me. In a nutshell: too little Dickey Betts, and too much Band. Don't get me wrong: these guys are all solid players, but most of this CD lacks that Dickey Betts' unique style, and too little of his vocals & his instrumental virtuosity. Dickey was too generous in spotlighting all the other guys in the band. And I'm sorry, but a saxophone????? Other than on "One Stop Be Bop" the sax just doesn't fit. It's a long CD @ 70 minutes plus, but as much as I love the music of Dickey Betts, I cannot reccommend this CD. Get everything he did with the Allman Brothers or Great Southern before you buy this one. This is for hard-core Betts fanatics only." AWESOME CD!!! Matt | New Jersey | 02/08/2004 (5 out of 5 stars) "I disagree with some of the reviews here. I think this is terrific CD...there isn't too much sax, I think it sounds great. I like Matt's vocals and the only song he sings that I would rather hear Dickey on is Tombstone Eyes. Dona Maria is a classic Betts instrumental, with what I think is Dickey's finest guitar playing. I love the song writing, I love the lyrics, and I don't feel that Dickey's voice has lost anything at all. The only complaint I have, if you want to call it that, is that I don't think Mark May is a good fit for the band. He's not as lyrical and melodic as I would prefer. I'm glad that Dickey's touring with Dangerous Dan Toler again, I've seen him with Dan and I think he's a much better fit. I hope they put out another album soon with Dan playing on it."
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