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When Vinylphyle announced a brand‑new 2LP of The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East, I was instantly curious – could a 1971 live recording finally sound as massive as the original audience heard?
Released on March 15 2024, this heavyweight set arrives in a matte black sleeve, a 12‑page insert of vintage photos, and a gatefold that lets you admire the iconic Woodstock‑style stage layout.
And the sound? Absolute banger.
The remaster was handled by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, who tapped the original analog tapes and applied a new high‑resolution digitization at 96 kHz/24‑bit before cutting fresh lacquers. The result is a low‑end punch that feels like a thunderstorm in a Southern barn, while the guitars retain that buttery slide tone Duane Allman made famous.
But the real surprise lies in the track sequencing. The first disc opens with “Whipping Post” (13:58) – the same sprawling jam that closed the 1971 LP – yet the opening snare crack is tighter, the room ambience richer, making the crowd’s roar feel three dimensions deep.
Because the original mix buried some of the organ’s nuances, you now hear Gregg Allman’s Hammond swell on “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” like never before – every chord glistens, every cymbal crash lands with surgical precision.
I listened to the album on my turntable last night, and the vinyl hiss was barely there; the only thing louder than the music was my own excitement.
Not what fans wanted? Wrong. Fans wanted clarity without sacrificing the raw energy, and Vinylphyle delivered.
Sound & Packaging
The 2LP runs 1 hour 30 minutes, split across four sides. Side A: “Whipping Post,” “You Don’t Love Me,” and “Dreams.” Side B: “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” “Mountain Jam” (part 1). Side C: “Mountain Jam” (part 2), “Hot ‘Lanta.” Side D: “One Way Out” and a hidden bonus track – a 1971 rehearsal of “Statesboro Blues.”
Each side boasts a 180‑gram pressing, which feels solid under the needle. The inner sleeve is printed on recycled paper, a nod to the band’s eco‑conscious legacy.
And the liner notes, penned by gnewsx’s own music editor, weave anecdotes from the March 1971 shows, including Duane’s last‑minute improvisation that became the iconic “Mountain Jam” opening.
“We wanted the vinyl to breathe like the original hall, so we kept the natural room reverb while tightening the low end,” Bob Ludwig told Vinylphyle.
That quote sums up the philosophy: preserve the live vibe, enhance the fidelity.
The Bottom Line
- Remastered by Bob Ludwig – pristine low end, clear highs.
- 180‑gram vinyl, matte black sleeve, 12‑page insert.
- Includes bonus rehearsal track “Statesboro Blues.”
- Runs 1 hour 30 minutes across four sides.
- Perfect for both audiophiles and longtime fans.
In my experience seeing The Allman Brothers live at a festival in 2019, the band’s energy never waned, and this reissue captures that same electricity. So if you own the original 1971 LP or have only streamed the album, the Vinylphyle 2LP is the definitive way to hear it.
For more insight, check out the original Pitchfork review and a retrospective piece on Rolling Stone.
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