''Playin' Up a Storm'' is the second studio album by the
Gregg Allman Band, released in 1977 on
Capricorn Records. It peaked at number 42 on the
''Billboard'' 200.
Background
''Playin' Up a Storm'' was Allman's second solo studio effort, following 1973's ''
Laid Back''. It came after the breakup of
the Allman Brothers Band in 1976. During this time, Allman had moved to
Hollywood
Hollywood usually refers to:
* Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California
* Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States
Hollywood may also refer to:
Places United States
* Hollywood District (disambiguation)
* Hollywood, ...
to live with his then-wife
Cher
Cher (; born Cherilyn Sarkisian; May 20, 1946) is an American singer, actress and television personality. Often referred to by the media as the Honorific nicknames in popular music, "Goddess of Pop", she has been described as embodying female ...
. The album was produced by
Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman
Lenny or Lennie may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Lenny (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Lennie (surname), a list of people
* Lenny (singer) (born 1993), Czech songwriter
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''L ...
, and in his memoir, ''
My Cross to Bear'', Allman remembered that Waronker was frustrated with his unpunctuality in regards to studio time.
The album was released in May 1977, on
Capricorn Records. Allman claimed that
Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn, was incensed over his move to the West Coast to live with Cher, and only printed 50,000 copies of the LP.
Critical reception
''
The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' called the album a "harder-hitting" followup, writing that it "actually eclipsed most of the Allmans' work of the same period."
[
]
Track listing
;Side one
#"Come and Go Blues" ( Gregg Allman) – 4:48
#"Let This Be a Lesson to Ya'" (Gregg Allman, Malcolm Rebennack) – 3:42
#"Brightest Smile in Town" ( Ray Charles, Barry De Vorzon, Bob Sherman) – 3:06
#"Bring It on Back" (Gregg Allman) – 4:49
;Side two
#"Cryin' Shame" (Steve Beckmeier, Steve Berlin) – 3:44
#"Sweet Feelin'" ( Clarence Carter, Marcus Daniel, Rick Hall, Candi Staton
Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton (, ) (born March 13, 1940) is an American singer–songwriter, best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976 disco chart-topper "Young Hearts Run Free". In E ...
) – 3:37
#"It Ain't No Use" (Bernie Baum, Bill Giant, Florence Kaye) – 3:54
#"Matthew's Arrival" (Neil Larsen) – 3:50
#"One More Try" (Gregg Allman) – 3:53
Personnel
The Gregg Allman Band
* Gregg Allman – vocals, organ, piano, Fender Rhodes, acoustic guitar
*Steve Beckmeier – guitar
*Ricky Hirsch – guitar, slide guitar
*John Leslie Hug – guitar
* Willie Weeks – bass
*Neil Larsen – synthesizer, piano, keyboards, Fender Rhodes, horn arrangements
*Bill Stewart – drums
Additional musicians
*Fred Beckmeier – bass
* Red Callender – bass
* Dr. John – piano, clavinet
* Victor Feldman – percussion
* Venetta Fields – background vocals
* Clydie King – background vocals
* Milt Holland – percussion
*David Luell – horn, saxophone
*Steve Madaio – horn
*Pat Rizzo – horn
*Sherlie Matthews
Sherlie Matthews (born November 10, 1934) is an American singer, songwriter and former Motown Records producer, best known as a backing vocalist for pop, R&B and rock groups from the mid-1960s to the present time.
Early life
Matthews started ...
– background vocals
*Bill Payne
William H. Payne (born March 12, 1949) is an American pianist who, with Lowell George, co-founded the American rock band Little Feat. He is considered by many other rock pianists, including Elton John, to be one of the finest American piano roc ...
– synthesizer, keyboards
*Nick DeCaro - string and horn arrangements, conductor
* Marty Paich - string and horn arrangement, conductor on "Brightest Smile in Town"
*Harry Bluestone, Sid Sharp - concertmaster
Technical
*Noel Newbolt, Sue Haverback, Tori Hammond - production assistance
*Diana Marie Kaylan - art direction
*David Alexander - photography
References
{{Authority control
1977 albums
Gregg Allman albums
Albums arranged by Marty Paich
Albums produced by Lenny Waronker
Albums produced by Russ Titelman
Capricorn Records albums