The Allman Brothers Band fans will have a merry Christmas with the December 6th release of three CDs and one DVD.The releases are part of a new distribution agreement with Entertainment One Music to market two signature band-owned labels: Peach Records for the sales of its previous Sanctuary label releases and new live recordings of the current band as well as the Allman Brothers Band Recording Company for the release of archival recordings featuring the late Duane Allman and Berry Oakley.
First up in the new deal: the live S.U.N.Y. At Stonybrook, NY 9/19/1971 album. The acclaimed Stonybrook show--the only soundboard recording of "Blue Sky" to feature the late founding members Duane Allman and Berry Oakley--had only previously been available through mail order and at Allman Brothers Band shows.
Peach Records will re-release the ABB's out-of-print studio album Hittin' The Note and re-issue the gold-certified Live At The BEACON THEATRE DVD, both of which were originally released in 2003 and feature the band's current line-up. It will also re-issue the live album One Way Out, which features ABB classics as well as newer material including the Grammy-nominated "Instrumental Illness." One Way Out and Live At The Beacon Theatre were recorded in 2003 at the group's legendary annual March shows at New York City's Beacon Theatre. Hittin' The Note, the Beacon DVD and One Way Out had been available via Sanctuary Music.
The group is also planning the 2012 release of their 40th anniversary show held in 2009 at the Beacon Theatre. It was dedicated to the memory of Duane Allman, seminal guitarist and founder of the band, and to help celebrate Duane's legacy. On March 26, 2009 the group performed each of their first two albums in their entirety: the self-titled 1969 debut (including iconic live staples "Dreams" and "Whipping Post") and their 1970 album Idlewild South (which features "Revival," "Midnight Rider" and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed").
"Finally, after 40 years, the Allman Brothers Band are making records for their own label, without any interference from non-musicians," says Gregg Allman. "The band has always maintained a close watch over all of its music," says longtime manager Bert Holman. "This new relationship will allow us to get music into fans' hands quicker and more readily than ever and will give us the added marketing support that these projects deserve."
The group have scaled back their aggressive touring schedule to allow band members to focus on their projects, but will hit the road for six "evening with" shows beginning November 25.
Tour dates are below:
11/25 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theater
11/26 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theater
11/29 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
11/30 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
12/2 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
12/3 Boston, MA Orpheum Theater
