Search - Dickey Betts :: Instant Live: Odeon - Cleveland Oh 03-09-04

Dickey's still on the sauce.

Nathaniel A. Wade | B'ham , AL | 01/03/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what the other 3 people are listening to. First off, let me say that Dickey Betts and Duane Allman are the #1 reason that I ever picked up a guitar and wanted to learn to play it. I know the Allman Brothers material backwards and forwards and the way that Dickey is playing it on this CD isn't how it should be played. Anyone listened to "Peakin' at the Beacon"??? This one is just as sad in my opinion. The songs sound like they're about to fall apart. The tempo is slow, the changes aren't crisp and tight. The whole band is so loose; they sound like a bunch of amateurs. Just like on "Peakin' at the Beacon" Dickey is hitting sour notes and trying to cover it up. He wrote these songs and has played them thousands of times. A guitar player of his caliber just doesn't mess up that much unless there's something else effecting his playing. Everyone that just loves this CD certainly can't be listening with a musician's ear. It's sad and I hate it for him because he's one of the greats in my opinion, and is certainly underrated. Everything that I gathered about Dickey's dismissal from the ABB centered around him drinking again and it sounds like he's still on the sauce. (this is just my personal observation) Those of you who have this "fine" CD listen to when he's introducing "No one to Run With". He's slurring his speech so much that he sounds like Otis Campbell on the old Andy Griffith Show. Ever start wondering why the Allman's gave Dickey the boot? First listen to "Peakin' at the Beacon" and then listen to this offering. I wish he could get his act together because it pains me to hear him like this. I've seen him twice since being dismissed from the ABB and both times were less than stellar. It's a sad shame. Why did I give it 2 stars instead of one? Because there are still a few flashes of greatness, but very few.

"

This is very good although not peak form Dickey Betts

K. Cooper | Phila. area | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The earlier reviewers are either hammering this or lauding this as Dickey's best. I've been seeing Dickey for 30 years both solo and with Allman Brothers and this is neither Dickey's best or his worst.

Dickey's song selection is fine here and a real treat for me was the opening Little Martha. His guitar playing as well as Dan Toler's is up to the usual standard (in other words it's excellent) but what has declined is Dickey's voice. It appears that his voice just isn't what it was in his glory days and that maybe almost 40 years on the road have taken its toll.

Listen to Dickey's voice here and then ABB or solo work from 70s and 80s. Now Dickey Betts at a little less than 100 percent is still very very good and still better than almost everyone else. 4.5 stars."

Betts is Still a Class Act

Kevman | White Plains, NY USA | 05/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hestitated to buy this because of a few negative reviews here, but am glad I listened to my instinct and bought it anyway. This is not as smolderingly hot as Fillmore 1970 work (what is) but this is still some great extended guitar work. Too much of Betts later 70's and 80's material sounded just like the studio release with a few extra notes. This gives you some variation on some old songs and a few good new tunes. The actual recording is good for a semi-bootleg release. I don't know what the critics are looking for. I have played guitar for over 20 years and was still impressed with Betts work here. I like the raw feel to this release also - it does not sound like a highly rehearsed performance. This may be a love it or hate it release, and I'm on the love it side."