Search - Allman Brothers :: Seven Turns

(4.5 stars) A NEW BEGINNING ! (Warren Haynes joins the broth

ol' nuff n' den sum | the Virginia coast, USA | 04/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seven Turns (1990) was the last comeback album from the Allman Brothers Band. It's also the last time they've needed to comeback. They've been going strong ever since. What a comeback this was for us long time ABB fans who had all but lost hope in the desolate 1980s! Now, eighteen years and a few more excellent albums later, Seven Turns has lost a little of it's initial luster. In 1990, it was utterly fantastic. In 2008, it's a very good album that has a couple of great songs.



The title song is an excellent Dickey Betts acoustic/electric guitar ballad that makes ABB magic and has become an Allman Brothers Band classic. Good Clean Fun is a rocking romp with great swagger, mean guitars, a screeching harmonica and Gregg Allman's gravelly growl. Those two are great songs, the best on Seven Turns.



Gambler's Roll is an exceptional atmospheric blues-ballad where Allman's golden-throated blues singing is spotlighted. Warren Haynes steps up as the lead singer on his blues-rocker Loaded Dice. Of course, there's the usual ABB instrumental, the jazzy True Gravity, and it's a winner, too. I also like the southern rocker Shine It On. Gregg Allman sings the optimistic Dickey Betts/Warren Haynes lyrics.



I've had my troubles

I know you've had your troubles, too

Sometimes when you need a little sunshine

It keeps raining down on you

But I'm not gonna let it get me down

Keep on pullin', things are gonna come around

Shine It On



The Allman Brothers Band really got back to form with Seven Turns and started what would become their new beginning. It's a good album, one that long-time fans will remember as the rebirth of the ABB. While not quite as good as any of the "Duane Era" albums, it's as close as they had come in a long time. And that's really saying something."

WARREN HAYNES!

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 04/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Allmans are back. Okay, so they've been "back" for the past 16, 17 years. But what a way to begin the second phase of your career after being broken up for a decade (and losing Duane Allman - that's "God" to you). But yeah, Warren's the best guitarist to pass through the group since Duane. Okay, Dickey's a good guitarist, but he's COMPLETELY outclassed by Warren, as he was outclassed by Duane.

I think Seven Turns could've used a bit of editing, maybe - the title track is boring, overlong and limp, while Shine it On has all the emotional sincerity of a greeting card (for a sharp contrast, Where It All Begin's Soulshine). Still, more than enough of this is great - the obligatory long instrumental True Gravity is really, really cool; Gambler's Roll sounds like a bluesier Hendrix, and It Ain't Over Yet (Perhaps called so to show the reunion was no fluke?) is a funky blues. Good Clean Fun is just that, and Low Down Dirty Mean is vintage Allmans. This isn't a departure from the group's fusion of rock, blues, R&B and tinges of jazz, Latin and country, but I could care less. They've still got it, man, even to this day... check out their latest release, Hittin' the Note, which is just as good if not better. No, these aren't the Allmans of Eat a Peach and such but they've certainly aged well."

The Comeback

K. Cooper | Phila. area | 04/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Allman Brothers Band reunited in 1989 to tour and the following year they went into the studio to record this comeback CD. A very welcome return that delights Peachheads! Higlights include Dickey Betts great title track, "Gamblers Roll", "Good Clean Fun",the instrumental "True Gravity", "Loaded Dice" and "It Ain't over yet".

This CD staked the band's claim to fans both old and new that they are still a major band. The great part is they are still staking that claim all these years later!"