This is the same show captured so well on the LIVE AT THE BEACON THEATRE DVD (March 25-26, 2003). (That, by the way, is an excellent 5 star production showing a serious and renewed ABB, including bonus interviews with them all that reveal them at the peak of their careers). What the DVD interviews allude to, but is never spelled out very clearly, is that these are different versions of the songs recorded on the DVD. I'm not sure if they all are, but on casual listening they do sound different. And four songs on this CD are not on the DVD ("Trouble No More", "Wasted Words", "Every Hungry Woman" & "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl"), as well as ten songs appear on the DVD but not here, (ironically "One Way Out" appears as the encore on the DVD but doesn't even make it onto this CD to be the title track!). So there is plenty of reason to get BOTH the CD and DVD versions of this great show.

Obviously, my first impressions of this CD are influenced by having watched the DVD first, but the experience of only hearing them play here is if anything more intense (or is it just that the versions included here are more intense?!)

Needless to say the Allman Bros are hot here, a renewed, inspired and sober bunch of masterful musicians. Gregg's vocals sometimes come across a bit thin (miking or mix?), but his playing is delicate and strong, the percussion/drumming from the trio of Jaimo, Butch and Marc is tight, strong, playful and tasteful, the funky fluid bass playing from Oteil comes across more clearly here than in the DVD (perhaps because that showed him very little). Then there are the guitars..... on the DVD the visually dominant Warren takes center stage but shares the leads with obvious delight with the young and able Trucks, here his presence is less obvious (more blended?), and it is the guitar of the visually subdued Derek that jumps out of the mix and really tears it up. It's like he's jamming on a chain saw! (Can the 13 minute "Desdemona" get any hotter?!) The intensity of the tag team and shared leads is a beautiful thing.

This was a magical set of shows. I'm just happy to see and hear the Brothers back in top form and having the time of their lives playing for us (and each other and themselves...).

Could there possibly be a reason for another live Allman Brothers release? The answer to that question is "absolutely"! Springtime at the Beacon Theatre is an annual ritual and "One Way Out" catches them on fire. I can't say enough about the guitar tandem of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks. A lot of bands can't claim even one guitarist who can match Haynes and Trucks lick for lick. The best reason for buying this album is the live versions of the "Hittin The Note" material. "Desdemona" and "Instrumental Illness" stand out in particular. Dip your hands in your pockets and shell out the coins for this one. It'll prove to you that the Allman Brothers are still one of the greatest American bands.

"One Way Out" is a flat out inspired album. Their summer tours are always great, but nothing matches the intensity of the band when it plays in the intimate Beacon Theater, and unlike their "Peakin' at the Beacon" which was a poor snapshot of their live prowess, "One Way Out" showcases the band at its best--soaring guitar solos, brilliant call and answer sessions between Derek and Warren, and a driving rhythm section that pulls it all together in perfect harmony. There isn't a song in the set that disappoints, and it includes absolutely stunning versions of "Wasted Words," "Instrumental Illness," and one of the best takes of "Whipping Post" I've heard in recent years--Warren's solo is flat out transcendent. While it's hard to picture the Allman Brothers Band without Dickey Betts, the new lineup features a great Rock/Blues sound that soars to great heights, redefining the band and showcasing the band's talent and virtuosity. This is a must own for any Allman Brothers fan. I highly recommend it.

I have seen the original ABB, and Derek Trucks is the closest thing to Duane Allman, since, Duane. I think I am listening to the original lineup sometimes on this great live record. (Boy, that dates me). But this rock and roll is timeless, and no matter how old the songs, these versions really move. The band has great energy and sounds eternal again. Great licks,inspired jamming, what more could you want from any rock group. These guys are musicians, not dancers, and I love it, and I just cannot get enough of it. Give me more!

It is a tradition for me (and hundreds of others) every March to take the 2 or 3 train up to Broadway and 74th Street for the annual Beacon run of the Allman Brothers Band. As ticket prices are getting so expensive nowadays, I only catch one or two shows. No matter how many shows I see per run, I am guaranteed a great show, full of energy and great jams. The Beacon Theatre is the ultimate Allmans experience, and there is so much energy in that room each nite. With the light show, one feels like they are sitting inside Bill Graham's Fillmore East like it was March 1971 again. Therefore, it was most necessary that a live album would emerge from these Beacon runs. The first came out in 2000 and was called PEAKIN AT THE BEACON....the final disc with Dickey Betts on guitar. While there were many good songs on that particular album, the sound was not spectacular and there were a lot of songs missing that could have been included. However, there isn't much one can do on just one CD.

Four years later, the new Beacon album ONE WAY OUT came out. This is a double CD and there is room for plenty of tunes. The sound is amazing, much better than the '00 release. Finally, we get an updated version of STATESBORO BLUES, everybody's favorite concert opener. The new version is very spirited even though it gets played at 90% of the shows the Allmans do. They must be real sick of this song!! Several of the new tunes are sung by Warren Haynes, who has contributed so much to the Allman Brothers Band these days including guitar, vocals and production. This man can sing and he does wonders with that guitar!! Honorable mention goes to Derek Trucks, one of the best young guitarists of the 2000's. Gregg's vocals are obviously strained these days due to countless years of singing and tobacco usage.

The biggest quibble with this otherwise fine live album is the song selection. Yes, ONE WAY OUT, the namesake is NOT on the album!! They should have included it. Instead, they have AIN'T WASTING TIME NO MORE and EVERY HUNGRY WOMEN. Both of these are on the PEAKIN' disc. This redundancy is a problem because ONE WAY OUT would have served the album better. YOU DON'T LOVE ME would have also been a nice inclusion since the Allmans play a rearranged version onstage. In addition, I think the album art is quite poor...there are no pictures of the band at all.