Hittin' the Note

There have been many tales of terror, nervousness, and depression -- as well as raw excitement and anticipation -- since The Allman Brothers went into the studio to make their first album of new material in a decade, and the band's first record ever without guitarist Dickey Betts, who wrote and sang the last of the band's true hits in the 1970s. As skeptical of this, there was relief that Warren Haynes returned to the fold, resulting an excellent album. The level of songwriting, inspiration, and execution is more than admirable; it's downright bone-chilling in places. Leaves one to wonder if the Allman Brothers ever needed Betts.