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Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the '70s Audiobook
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This program is read by the author. New York Times bestselling author Alan Paul's in-depth narrative look at the Allman Brothers' most successful album, and a portrait of an era in rock and roll and American history. The Allman Brothers Band’s Brothers and Sisters was not only the band’s best-selling album at over seven million copies sold, it was also a powerfully influential release, both musically and culturally, one whose influence continues to be profoundly felt. Celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary, this audiobook delves into the making of the album while also presenting a broader cultural history of the era, based on first-person interviews, historical documents and deep research. Brothers and Sisters traces the making of the template-shaping record alongside the story of how the Allman Brothers came to the rescue of a flailing Jimmy Carter presidential campaign and helped get the former governor of Georgia elected president; how Gregg Allman’s marriage to Cher was an early harbinger of an emerging celebrity media culture; and how the band’s success led to internal fissures. The book also examines the Allman Brothers' relationship with the Grateful Dead—including the most in-depth reporting ever on the Jam at Watkins Glen, the largest rock festival ever—and describes how they inspired bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, helping create the Southern Rock genre. With exclusive access to hundreds of hours of never-before-heard interviews with every major player, including Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman, conducted by ABB archivist, photographer and “Tour Mystic” Kirk West, Brothers and Sisters is an in-depth, honest assessments of the band’s career, history, and highs and lows. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.
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"Brothers and Sisters is a fabulously entertaining, occasionally harrowing journey through the highs and lows of the Allman Brothers Band during their peak years in the 1970s, when they were arguably the most popular band in America. It's an eye-opening saga, rich with detail and populated by a colorful cast that includes musical giants, movie stars, a future President of the Untied States, and assorted rogues and scoundrels. I was particularly thrilled to finally read a masterful account of the close bonds between the Allmans and the Grateful Dead, including Paul's truly definitive look at the gargantuan Watkins Glen Summer Jam. This is one of the best rock books I’ve ever read - and I’ve read a ton of them!"
— Blair Jackson, author of Garcia: An American Life
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“The book is full of trenchant observations by friends and contemporaries, creating a valuable perspective on the music scene in the early ’70s. A warm, entertaining appreciation of a key period in the career of a vital American band.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred) -
a rollicking tale...Enriched by a cache of band interviews never heard before, Paul’s entry marshals encyclopedic detail and sterling prose for a vivid glimpse into a classic moment in music history. Rock fans will rejoice.
— Publishers Weekly -
For a fledgling 20-year old piano player in 1972, being asked to join the Allman Brothers Band was like entering Heaven. There were ups and downs during the making of Brothers and Sisters, but it still stands as the band’s most popular and best-selling record. Alan has captured the era with deep research and his savvy writing skills.
— Chuck Leavell, Allman Brothers Band, Rolling Stones -
If you want to know the real deal, read Alan Paul.
— Oteil Burbridge, Allman Brothers Band -
No journalist knows the ins and outs of the Allman Brothers Band better than Alan Paul.
— Warren Haynes, Allman Brothers Band -
Alan Paul is our Jimmy Olsen. He’s one of the only cats who even knows what questions to ask. I'm glad he's now told the story of this era. We were a different band with Chuck and Lamar.
— Jaimoe, Allman Brothers Band -
I sure am glad Alan took that suitcase full of interview tapes home with him. 40 years later I learned so much it surprised me.
— Kirk West, Allman Brothers Band Tour Mystic -
Alan Paul’s vantage point and care are revealing and on target - a difficult task with so many moving parts. I greatly respect his dedication to search for the closest factual read. Hardcore fans and casual readers will both be thankful for his success!
— Tommy Talton, Cowboy/Gregg Allman band -
No one knows more about the Allman Brothers than Alan Paul. In this fast paced yet moving account of the band’s post-Duane rise to stardom, Paul paints a compelling portrait of not just the world of rock back then but the world as well. A must read for all those who love their music, Brothers and Sisters is also a deep dive into the true price of rock stardom.
— Robert Greenfield, author, Bill Graham Presents -
Gloriously researched and passionately written, Alan Paul’s Brothers and Sisters summons all the grand spirits of a time when America was at a hopeful crossroads, and the Allman Brothers were our treasured house band. This band needed no video assist, no pageantry, just a stage, some instruments, and an audience ready to scratch the heavens with them. By the first page, you’ll feel the band, hear the guitars, the elemental voice, and the magic of our most unforgettable band. There is no greater tour guide on this journey than Alan Paul’s Brothers and Sisters.
— Cameron Crowe, journalist and filmmaker -
Alan Paul’s Brothers and Sisters is a significant piece of rock music history. It is written with great love for his subject—the Allman Brothers Band and their place in the music and culture of the Seventies—but with the practiced eye of a superb critic and interpreter. And as with all of Alan’s writing, it is immensely readable and accessible. Once I started, I read it cover to cover.
— Jon Landau, producer, manager, journalist -
Unique among the rock bands of the ‘60s and ‘70s in their profound commitment to improvisation, the Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead had a deep musical kinship. That and much more is beautifully explored in Alan Paul’s Brothers and Sisters. It is a unique and brilliant contribution to understanding the era when rock and roll really mattered.
— Dennis McNally, author of A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead -
Alan Paul has delved further, dug deeper and discovered more about this pivotal era of the Allman Brothers Band than anyone ever has. Tightly written, informative and provocative, Alan has brought clarity to the sometimes distorted history of the ABB. Like the album that it takes its title from, Brothers and Sisters is a masterpiece.
— John Lynskey, historian/curator, The Big House Museum -
Brothers and Sisters is more than a well-written book about a famous band and its famous album. It's a trip back to a lost world of sublime possibility, when a legendary producer and a collection of talented musicians could help elect an American president.
— Jonathan Alter, author of His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life -
Alan Paul is rock’s finest narrative historian.
— Ted Drozdowski, Premier Guitar
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About Alan Paul
Alan Paul is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Texas Flood: the Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughan, which has been optioned for both documentary and feature films. He also founded Friends of the Brothers, the premier celebration of the music of the Allman Brothers Band, featuring members of the Dickey Betts, Jaimoe, and Gregg Allman bands. He is a regular guest on radio shows and a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal, Guitar World, and other publications.