Hittin' the Note

Infobox Album
Name = Hittin' the Note
Type = studio
Artist = The Allman Brothers Band


Released = March 18, 2003
Recorded = December 2001 & April 2002 Water Music, Hoboken, NJ
Genre = Southern rock
Length = 74:54
Label = Sanctuary
Producer = Michael Barbiero
Warren Haynes
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:kpbyxdyb4ol7 link]
*"The Music Box"Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/abb-note.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theallmanbrothersband/albums/album/279676/review/5940873/hittin_the_note link]
Last album = "Peakin' at the Beacon"
(2000)
This album = "Hittin' the Note"
(2003)
Next album = "One Way Out"
(2004)

"Hittin' the Note" is a 2003 studio album by the American Southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band. It was their first studio album to include lead slide guitar player Derek Trucks and bass player Oteil Burbridge and marked the full-time return of guitar player Warren Haynes to the band. It was also their first studio album not to include original guitarist Dickey Betts.

The CD was recorded live in the studio in New Jersey in December 2001 with lead vocal and minor overdubs recorded in early 2002. It was the first Allman recording co-produced by bandmember Haynes and Michael Barbiero. The album also marked the band's exit from Sony/Epic Records and was released jointly by Sanctuary Records and the band's Peach Records.

The album was met with critical acclaim but very limited radio airplay. "Wall Street Journal", Allmusic, and "Rolling Stone" magazine were three of many prominent publications to give the record positive reviews. The collection is notable for the songs "Firing Line," "High Cost of Low Living," "Old Before My Time," and "Instrumental Illness," which garnered two Grammy Award nominations.

Much of the record was written by the writing team of Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes. The band's history was not ignored: The structure of concert favorite "Desdemona" recalls that of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", while "High Cost of Low Living" features the guitarists quoting from other Allmans classics such as "Blue Sky", "Dreams", and "Mountain Jam". But the future is served too: The acoustic track "Old Friend" closes the album, and including only Haynes and Derek Trucks, it became the only Allman Brothers Band track to ever not include an original member.

Track listing

#"Firing Line" (G. Allman/W. Haynes) – 5:17
#"High Cost of Low Living" (G. Allman/W. Haynes/J. Anders/R. Burgin) – 7:52
#"Desdemona" (G. Allman/W. Haynes) – 9:20
#"Woman Across the River" (B. Crutcher/A. Jones) – 5:51
#"Old Before My Time" (G. Allman/W. Haynes) – 5:23
#"Who to Believe" (W. Haynes/J. Jaworowicz) – 5:38
#"Maydell" (W. Haynes/J. Neel) – 4:35
#"Rockin' Horse" (G. Allman/W. Haynes/A. Woody/J. Pearson) – 7:23
#"Heart of Stone" (M. Jagger/K. Richards) – 5:06
#"Instrumental Illness" (W. Haynes/O. Burbridge) – 12:17
#"Old Friend" (W. Haynes/C. Anderson) – 6:12

Personnel

*Gregg Allman: Hammond B-3 Organ, Piano, Clavinet & Lead Vocals
*Butch Trucks: Drums
*Jai Johanny Johanson: Drums
*Warren Haynes: Lead, Slide, Acoustic, & Acoustic Slide Guitars (Left Side), Lead & Background Vocals
*Marc Quiñones: Congas & Percussion
*Oteil Burbridge: Bass
*Derek Trucks: Lead, Slide, & Acoustic Slide Guitars (Right Side)
*Produced By Michael Barbiero & Warren Haynes
*Mixed & Engineered By Michael Barbiero & Mike Scielzi

References

* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theallmanbrothersband/articles/story/5934502/allmans_ready_new_cd Dansby, Andrew. "Allmans Ready New CD", "Rolling Stone", December 13, 2002]