Allman Brothers Band (with Duane) - Blue Sky - live 8/15/71

There exist only five recordings of 'Blue Sky' with Duane Allman: the commercial recording on 'Eat a Peach', Clemson University, SC 9/11/71, New Orleans Warehouse 9/16/71, Stonybrook NY 9/19/71, and this one, performed on 15 August 1971 at the Academy of Music in New York City. It is the earliest existing recording of 'Blue Sky'.
'Eat a Peach', NOLA Warehouse, and Stonybrook recordings have already been posted on youtube, so I decided to post this one. Will also post the Clemson performance later. Apologies for the poor sound quality.

[@Forblueskies04]

Duane and his guitar haunt me still...to this...day. I was there at Piedmont Park in the summer of 1970. Absolutely haunting, seering, reverberatinng, heavenly sounds. I will be surrounded by them one day again in heaven. Miss you so much, Duane.

[@jjfoster7732]

I hope im right there with you brother, I feel the exact same way 🙏 ❤

[@spankiek]

Thank you so much for this post. I've heard the other versions but never this one. And no apologies needed for the sound quality. You've given us a gem and everything that needs to be heard is in there.

[@EliotSpindel]

Yes Manhattan Center. I remember it was very hot in there that night. They played only about 90 min. which is short for them. The band took a Coke break about halfway through. This was probably recorded with a handheld cassette recorder.

[@danielcombs3207]

I was wondering whatever happened to the full concert from this show? It was raw but I enjoyed it because I was there. Dam whoever took it down. I'm passing by Macon in a couple of weeks and I'm going by Rosehill Cemetery to pay my respects to the brothers . So I'll be sure to pass on best wishes and blessings from all you Allman Brothers fans.

[@cravinbob]

Duane was proficient at slide and lead guitar. No slouch on acoustic either but if Dickey had not hooked up with Duane it is possible ABB may never have happened. Dickey is a prolific songwriter and those songs are what the Brothers are known for. It is lucky for all of us that they met! Dickey played both parts after Duane died which I do not think Duane could have done if Dickey had died.Dickey showed him the twin guitar style that is THE sound, it came from western swing dickey listened to

[@blu68caddy]

Thank you sir for sharing such awesome almost forgotten true pieces of history. WAIL ON SKYDOG !!!!

[@missnic1825]

"Wail on" beautiful!

[@GermanOperaSinger]

The SUNY recording was officially released on CD in 2003. The Warehouse performance can be acquired on CD through trading circles for free.

[@dlm9293]

Audio aside, the beauty of this music transcends

[@AFCofNYC]

the thing with Gregg's vocals is that they did not turn them down from the previous songs. Gregg is the lead singer but sings the harmonies on the chorus thats why it sounds "weird" he's singing harmony. You can still hear Dickie who's singing the notes of the chords, but its faint either because of audio quality or the sound engineer not changing the mike levels or probably both. However his harmonies are perfect, exactly how he always does them

[@stevepappas9786]

This sounds about like I remember the old Days on the Green at the Oakland Coliseum. I appreciate it as an artifact; not for its audio quality. And yes, Gregg's vocal on the chorus reminds me of some of the caterwauling Donna used to do at Grateful Dead shows. There's gotta be a note around here somewhere...

[@impala327]

Thats hilarious. So true today and back then.

[@GermanOperaSinger]

There are 4 live recordings, and 1 commercial recording (from Eat a Peach).

[@TheFizz40]

All this info is in the book Skydog, the biography of Duane Allman. Pretty well done for these type of books, and since cravinbob is pretty much quoting from it, I take it that's where he's getting his information.

[@danielcombs3207]

Sorry correct date is August 18th 1971 the Manhatten Center. I've got a ticket stub from the concert. Opening acts were The Holy Model Rounders, Wet Willie and The Allman Brothers. The venue was a old theatre , there was a balcony and all the seats were ripped out downstairs , so everyone had to stand through the whole concert. Wet Willie was not well received that night for some reason . I liked them better then the first band, ever heard If You Want To Be A Bird. From the Easy Rider soundtrack? Well that was the band. Yikes! Anyway that is a fact, it's etched into my brain. I'll never forget seeing them , they were without a doubt the finest live band I've ever seen. I have seen the venue listed as The Academy of Music 8/18/71 as the date ,so maybe they did play there on the 15th. But the venue and date are the real deal for you serious brothers out there. R.I.P. Duane and Gregg, I hope you guys are having a great time together. God Bless and thank you for all the fine music you left for us to cherish.

[@SmeeUncleJoe]

Wish some dedicated engineer could take this and clean it up.

[@SMWMD]

Was at this show. Thanks. Wasn't it at Manhattan Center? West Side????

[@royholland1975]

Yes

[@danniven3452]

Play on Skydog! His solos remind me of abird soaring. With Dickeys playing make that two birds soaring free..

[@revbobj3220]

THANK YOU! I really appreciate your post. I have always wondered about that. The Peach truck story has been spread far and wide ever since I was a kid back in the 70's. The other story that I've heard is that Berry died on the same turn. Can you shed any light on that one?

[@jscharleston7963]

The Rev Bob-their accidents occurred about 3-4 blocks apart-there are videos here about this and takes you to the gravesite for both.

[@kennedy9950]

just read gregg allmans auto ,, he stated Berry crashed 3 blocks away from duanes accident

[@Talesofspace8]

doesn't your info count up to 4 renditions with Duane?

[@cravinbob]

Berry was known for being a poor driver. Got lost driving a car and little experience on a motorcycle. He was on a Triumph in Macon's business area. He was going fairly fast on a down slope curve. He was unable to maneuver the bike into a lean and went straight toward a city bus that was stopped. The bus driver saw he was going to hit him he gunned the bus to get out the way but Berry hit him broadside. He refused medical.That night he complained of a headache then died from brain injury.

[@boblackey1]

Just watched an interview with Warren Haynes & he said Gregg Allman & Dickey Betts don't speak to each other & haven't spoken in years. Guess they are like many are about an "X" wife. It's just over. The ABB did invite Dickey to their 40th anniversary shows & a couple years ago to Hollywood for a lifetime grammy but Dickey didn't show. Jaimoe also said in a recent interview he has a good relationship with everybody except Dickey Betts. They Dickey has nothing to do with any of the other original members. I imagine Berry Oakley & Duane Allman would find it sad that Dickey won't speak to Gregg, Butch & Jaimoe. And another odd thing is I notice on a website that tracks famous people's net worth that Dickey is worth more money by far than Gregg & the other originals. How the hell did that happen?

[@screeningmimi]

If you read Gregg's book, you'll soon see why Dickey 's financial net worth is greater. Also it's a great read. ; )

[@screeningmimi]

I'm glad you mentioned Alan Paul's book. With it, and Duane's daughter's book, AND the movie in the works - it's going to be a good year for ABB fans. I hope the latter does them justice...What a story it is to tell!

[@dudleytown6926]

Songwriting royalties. Even though Greg wrote some great hits there only top ten was "Ramblin' Man" that still pops up in movies from time to time…. sure it helps keeping the checks coming.

[@screeningmimi]

You betcha - There are many songs Dickey went to court and claimed - and a lot which are shared with the other members. I wouldn't be surprised if the rights to "Jessica" (theme from Top Gear isn't all in Dickey's name, since it was his inspiration. If he only had Jessica and Ramblin man - those checks alone should keep Mr. Betts in fine boots for a long time to come. ; ) The way they wrote was often a shared experience, or someone would come up with a theme, and the group would flesh it out. That said, it seems a shame to claim all rights for the songs which were worked out in that manner. I'm not referring to you Dudley Town, but to others who want to see Dickey back...and who think the band is being nasty for kicking him out, those people would have to read the various accounts of his behavior. There are countless written accounts of that time, by various band and road crew members, even a business manager, who paint a picture of what life was like with Dickey while he was drinking so heavily. No disrespect to Dickey. I adore the man and his monster talent, but it's never easy or necessary to put up with an angry, violent drunk. Sorry if that's too blunt for some.

[@screeningmimi]

Thanks so much! You've straightened out a lot of questions that continue to arise in these forums. As volatile as Dickey was early on - with Duane as a buffer, you can well imagine how difficult it was to work with him as time went on, and everyone else was trying to straighten up their act, drugwise. I know he and Butch never got on. I'm saddened to hear that this is the last year of the ABB, but have heard that Gregg's health is poor again, but no details - God bless him.

[@danielcombs3207]

Sorry, I gave the wrong date on my previous comment. I double checked the stub and the date was 8/15/71. The other information was correct as far as the venue and band lineup. I've seen it listed as Academy of Music with Dr. John as the opening act. Unless they did a earlier show at that venue and traveled across town to do the show I attended. It' s not very likely that it happened.The stub I have has an address West 34th and 8th Av.

[@royholland1975]

Manhattan Center

[@danielcombs3207]

@@royholland1975 That was it and the opening bands were The Holy Modal Rounders and Wet Willie . Wet Willie were basically booed off the stage . I thought they played really well. I thought the other band should have been booed especially when they played If You Want to be a Bird.

[@impala327]

I think Gregg's vocals are fine on this. Buncha haters! Lol.

[@runningblood58]

This is Dickey singing not Gregg (Y) WTH

[@fredhug6972]

Correct

[@fredhug6972]

This was Dickey singing Blue Sky as always

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

@@fredhug6972 I think he's referring to Gregg's backup/harmonies on this one.

[@cravinbob]

Duane was NOT killed by a peach truck. Pure myth. He was going too fast on his Sportster and topped a rise where a flatbed had already made a legal left turn since the oncoming Duane was not in view. Duane went around the back of that truck and into a dip. Going too fast his bike simply went airborne coming out of the dip. Duane flew off and the bike landed on him causing massive internal injuries. He never hit the truck. The driver was devastated and was not charged. He died a few years ago.

[@jaxflfreebird]

This version has Gregg singing the chorus also, which in the case of Blue Sky is not a good thing.

[@3-ddjr460]

jaxoffanyfreebird........Why don't you just eat a BIG ONE?

[@runningblood58]

cravinbob, then why did the truck driver stop in mid turn for? I'm guessing if he didn't stop, he wouldn't have caused the death of the most talented musician the world had known. He stopped in the middle of the road blocking Duane's path. I admit Duane was impatient and was always in a hurry and he used poor judgement on his bike most of the time. But the dude in the truck, if he just kept going into the turn, Duane would have passed no problem and maybe he would be here today. Senseless.

[@DougWJ]

Well - lets just tell it like it is - I love Dickey very much but he simply became a nasty drunk and a very sloppy player and they all got tired of it. As far as why he has more money than Greg, thats easy, 1. Greg has been married and divorced about 4 times and 2. Dickey is probably too drunk to remember where his bank account is.