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For the last 25 years or so, this band could still do a respectable live show, re-creating the old classics with Dicky Betts doing an admirable job on lead guitar. Even though all the Southern rockers and jam bands owed all their success to these guys, the Allmans themselves had pretty much been relegated to the nostalgia band category, reliving their glory days; and when they put out a studio recording, it was lackluster to say the least. A couple of years ago, Betts was jettisoned due to "personal problems" and they went back to the studio after a 9 year dry spell. Hittin' the Note is the result and to say they have found their groove again would be an understatement! There is finally a worthy successor to Eat a Peach and that is no small feat! Greg's same old blues growl is still there and Jaimoe & Butch Trucks still lay down that dual-attack backdrop of percussion; but there is something here that has been missing for over 2 decades. There is new ENERGY. Not added in the production room, just renewed inspiration flowing from these guys who still love to play. Derek Trucks (Butch's talented nephew) & Warren Haynes (of Government Mule) are the new lead/slide guitarists. Can you imagine trying to fill the shoes of Duanne Allman & Dicky Betts? Obviously, these guys were up to the challenge because the interplay between these two is positively magical! Could the infusion of new blood have inspired the oldsters to dig down and prove that they've still got it too?
There is not a track on this album that clocks in under 4 minutes and quite a few have extended musical interludes between verses. "Intrumental Illness" is over 12 minutes. But just as on past classics like "Blue Sky", "Melissa" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", there is not a single unnecessary note, in fact, I am anticipating seeing them perform live again so I can enjoy hearing them stretch the jams even longer. The lyrics recount tales of heartache and hard times (as any good blues song should) but this album is pure JOY! SM