I think everyone needs this to wake up today. It’s raining in Chicago and so is a gloomy start to the week. What better way to rouse yourself than a strong espresso or latte and a dollop of The Allman Brothers Band?
“Whipping Post,” written by its singer Greg Allman and recorded in 1969, is one of the Brothers’ all-time classics. This is the full megillah, with both Allman brothers, Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Jaimoe, and Butch Trucks. The video shows them at the height of their powers. If you like guitar, this is the song for you.
I don’t know when this video was taken, but must have been before late October in 1971, when Duane ate a peach.
Great song. Joe Walsh says that Duane Allman taught him slide guitar.
I just saw the Allman’s play at Lockn and they are still killin it. Too bad this will be their last tour.
That’s a great song, but if I have to pick a version would be by the 80s Zappa’s band, it doesn’t get better than that.
All Zappa is magic, though his 80s stuff was probably the most interesting. And all hail the Allman brothers.
I like the reggae version, where Ike Willis goes “good Lord I feel like a rasta mon”.
Ooops. Make that Bobby Martin (not Ike). Bootleg recording here.
Also — the 1974 Helsinki concert that started the whole FZ-Whipping phenomenon. An audience member shouts out a request for Whipping Post, which FZ has likely never heard of. Hilarity ensues.
Thanks for sharing…haven’t heard this before…great stuff!!!
Zappa rules…and I think the version you’re thinking of is off of “Does Humor Belong in Music?” with Ike singing incredible runs and Dweezil and Zappa dueling with electric fire. Best version of “Whipping Post” I’ve ever heard. That cd also has one of the best versions of “Let’s Move to Cleveland”…a must have for any Zappa fan.
The lyrics of this song remind me of what it must have been like living with Brenda Andrew in 2001.
If you like Duane, check out Butch Truck’s nephew, Derek Trucks. Similarly amazing slide skills
First there was the nascent 5 minute album version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkLCWrRFBPs
The above 11 minute live version came next.
Finally there was the 22 minute ultimate Fillmore version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSuoW8MTbZY
This was alive performance but, unfortnately, no video is available.
And the lyrics:
WHIPPING POST
I been run down
Lord, I been lied to
And I don’t know why
I let that mean woman make out a fool
She took all my money
Wrecked my new car
Now she’s with one of my good-time buddies,
Drinkin’ in some cross-town bar
Sometimes I feel
Sometimes I feel
Like I been
Tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Good Lord, I feel like I’m dyin’
My friends tell me
That I been such a fool
But I got to stand there an’ take it
All for loving you
Drown myself in sorrow
As I look at what you done
Nothin’ seems to change;
That bad times stay the same,
And I can’t run
Sometimes I feel
Sometimes I feel
Like I been
Tied to the whippin’ post
Tied to the whippin’ post
Good Lord, I feel like I’m dyin’
Great way to start off a Monday morning.
I respectfully disagree. The ultimate guitar performance is the solo bit in King Crimson’s classic 21st Century Schizoid Man by Robert Fripp.
Great, and so different. Those who enjoy Fripp’s guitar work should check out the live recordings from the circa 1973 Crimso (for example The Great Deceiver).
King Crimson is actually on their “farewell tour” right now. At least I’ll be able to see them for the last time Oct. 6th in Seattle. No Adrian Belew this time though. 🙁
For any Crimson fans out there, you should pick-up some Steven Wilson solo work or Porcupine Tree (especially “In Abesentia” from 2001 to present). Amazing guitar work and arrangements. Fripp and Belew are guest guitarists on many of their tracks too.
I know. They’re going to be in Madison, an I can’t drive.
Fracture.
I disagree too.
For 30 years I’ve earned my living playing guitar, imo the Duane and Bett’s best playing isn’t in the long meandering jam fests, it’s inside the tight renditions of the blues such as Statsboro, Stormy Monday, Must Have Done Somebody Wrong, or in tight original compositions such as Jessica. In those arrangements every note is perfect, none are superfluous.
I usually skip right over these go-nowhere pentatonic jams such as Whipping Post..
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Jerry, your taste in music is expansive — The Allman Brothers to Laura Nyro. In the early days, Duane Allman was the main attraction. There is an excellent documentary called “Muscle Shoals” that tells the story of the FAME music studio, where The Allman Brothers and many other now famous musicians cut their teeth. The Bros sounded great at the Chicago Theatre (Aug 20 and 21), with most of the original members plus Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks.
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Typo ergo sum Merilee
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Yay! I’m #22 on the list at my library for Muscle Shoals. Thanks for the tip.
“I don’t know when this video was taken, but must have been before late October in 1971, when Duane ate a peach.”
I was unaware that he died while performing cunnilingus… must have been very difficult on a motorcycle.
Great song, one of my all time favorites. I was going to point out Zappa’s covers of it have been awesome as well, but you guys have been all over it already.
Excellent taste Jerry. I never tire of listening to Duane Allman’s guitar playing. I discovered him after I learned, but the fact the he also played a Les Paul is very comforting.
There has been an extended boxset of the full Fillmore East recording recently too.