Live from the Lone Star Roadhouse New York City 1988 preserves a concert by rock singer, songwriter and guitarist Dickey Betts, who died this past April. The set culls material from the Allman Brothers Band, which Betts co-founded, and Pattern Disruptive, a solo album that he issued about nine months after the show. The program, which clocks in at more than two hours and originally aired on New York’s WNEW-FM, features guests such as Rick Derringer, Mick Taylor and Jack Bruce. This 2024 two-disc, 17-song album represents the first release of a complete recording of the show, which was previously excerpted on a single 10-track CD.
Related: When Betts made a final, surprise appearance
Much of the music could be mistaken for an Allman Brothers performance, which is no surprise since that group’s repertoire and sound owe a large debt to Betts. As you may recall, he handled lead guitar on many of their most famous recordings and wrote and sang their biggest hit single, “Ramblin’ Man,” which rose to #2 on the charts. Moreover, Betts’ band includes at least two other players with a strong affinity for the Allmans: Warren Haynes and Johnny Neel, both of whom joined that group when it reunited in 1989.
“Ramblin’ Man” isn’t here, but Live from the Lonestar Roadhouse does feature superlative readings of several Betts-penned Allmans favorites, among them “Blue Sky,” “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” “Jessica” and “Southbound.”
Also featured are sizzling versions of such other Allmans classics as “Statesboro Blues” and “One Way Out,” as well as Betts’ instrumental “Duane’s Tune,” a tip of the hat to the late Duane Allman.
The title is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
A top editor at leading consumer and trade magazines for more than 40 years, Jeff has interviewed dozens of musical luminaries, including Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Wolfman Jack, Tommy James, Tom Waits, the Righteous Brothers, and the members of Steely Dan.
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Jump into a conversationJust ordered it. Can’t wait to hear the entire show