When I first listened to FM rock radio back in the early 1970s, live albums meant so much more than they do today. It once took a major record label effort to do what an artist can do now rather commonplace on their own. One live album that really stood out back then was 1971’s The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East. Listening to that record, I shared as much love for Gregg Allman’s lead vocals on songs like “Statesboro Blues” on “Whipping Post” as I did for his brother Duane’s hot guitar licks.

A few years later, it was only my fifth concert experience when, on 7/20/73, I saw Gregg with the Allmans at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Brother Duane had since passed, but the show was nonetheless amazing. I remember a few weeks later wearing my Eat a Peach t-shirt during my college orientation. The Allmans were hot, and that purple shirt got a lot of notice.

Punk and New Wave made me forget about the Allmans for a while, but I eventually revisited their entire catalog with love and saw Gregg one last time at the Ryman on 1/4/12 (photo above).

While Gregg could sure sing the blues, I enjoyed his sensitive ballad side even more. Here are three great Gregg Allman vocals to visit: two of his compositions, “Melissa” and “Midnight Rider,” and his take on Jackson Browne’s “These Days.”