Beginnings is the first two Allman Brothers Band albums, their self-titled debut and Idlewild South on one disc. This collection is a masterpiece, not aging one moment since its release. Several of the tracks here are still album rock standards. It also shows the band's incredible diversity from the classic blues of their first album to their more acoustic and jazz roots on Idlewild South.

The first half of the disc begins with the jazzy instrumental "Don't Want You No More" featuring an excellent organ solo from Gregg Allman and a very tasty guitar solo from Duane Allman before flowing into the slow blues of "It's Not My Cross To Bear." Gregg's vocals are fantastic, already possessing one of the best blues voices ever, which is amazing considering he was just 21 when they recorded this album. This is clearly one of his best collections of songs as his compositions "Dreams" and "Whipping Post" have become blues classics with the latter taken to new heights on their live album At Fillmore East. The other tracks, "Every Hungry Woman", the percussion heavy "Black Hearted Woman", and their killer version of Muddy Waters' "Trouble No More" are all fantastic. The fact that they still play every one of these songs live attest to the excellent material here.

The second half of the disc is best known as the emergence of guitarist Dickey Betts as a composer. His two contributions are among his best work. "Revival" with its memorable melody and its hippie lyrics has become one of their most popular songs. The jazz instrumental "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" is perhaps the best instrumental track released in modern rock music. This track, written as a tribute to Miles Davis, also lead to Betts contributing several other instrumental tracks in their career such as "Jessica." The most popular track here is Gregg Allman's acoustic "Midnight Rider", which would become his biggest solo hit and has remained as one of their most enduring tracks. "Leave My Blues At Home" and their version of "Hoochie Coochie Man", sung by bassist Berry Oakley, are among their best blues tracks. The lesser known ballad "Please Call Home" and "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'" are also excellent tracks. The slide guitar playing of Duane Allman is among the best ever recorded and the aggressive drumming duo of Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny Johanson, now known as Jaimoe, only add to the intensity of this stunning collection. Highly recommended to all fans of blues and classic rock.

I just keep running into more and more incredible music as I continue to dig deeper. In trying to learn more about blues music and great blues guitarrists, I ran into Duane Allman, and this album by the Allman Brothers Band, which combines the music from their two first works. What can I say about it? Let me just put it from a perspective of a newbie into Blues and Southern Rock. This band is unbelievable. The soul they pour into each track is just impossible to describe. Two tracks, as a reference: "It's not my cross to bear" and "Midnight Rider" are so touching that every time I hear tham I am transported. Though lacking some of those 15-20 minute long solos (grab the live "Fillmore..." album for some of that), this combo album reminds of the best British Blues of the sixties (Yardbirds, Cream, Clapton, Beck, Page).

While leaving it to the critics and hardcore fans to decide, and praise the virtues of Skydog and the remaining freres Allman, here's a tip you can use. When listening to the original CD issue of "Beginnings," I'd noticed a distinct difference in fidelity on the disc when "Allman Brothers Band" ended and "Idlewild South" began. When the remasters debuted, I purchased the two individual CD's. They're basically the same as this release, except for the artwork. When I played them back-to-back, doggone if the same difference in sound quality wasn't still there on the remaster of "Idlewild South!" Then, on a hunch, I purchased "Beginnings," and guess what? They've equalized the two releases for a consistent sound throughout! Enjoy, and benefit, from the experience of a fellow fan.

"Twofers" are generally a mixed blessing: twice the music, but without the holistic integrity - or often the packaging - of the original individual releases. BEGINNINGS, which pairs the Allman Brothers' first two LPS (1969's THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND and 1970's IDLEWILD SOUTH) is a rare and wonderful exception. First released only a couple of years after IDLEWILD SOUTH, BEGINNINGS was actually one of the earliest twofers, and it makes sense not only from a programming point of view (as neither of the albums clocks in at much over half an hour), but from an aesthetic one as well. Where THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND is firmly centered around driving blues and rock tunes with intriguingly dreamy touches (Duane Allman's spectral slide guitar intro to "Every Hungry Woman"; the fuzz-toned twin leads on "Dreams"; "Whipping Post"'s dizzying climax), IDLEWILD SOUTH shows the band developing as both songwriters and players in varied and unpredictable ways. The gospel choral shout of "Revival" sits in stark contrast to the haunting and beautiful arrangement of "Midnight Rider" (probably the band's strongest studio track), the extended jazz workout of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and the moving, powerfully sung lost-love tale "Please Call Home." Many of these tracks would be given a far lengthier and more effective treatment on AT FILLMORE EAST and other subsequent live albums; but they're still essential listening in their original form, and having twice as much to listen to is at least twice as good in this case.

The record companies must be throwing away millions since they are practically giving us an album for free. And aren't we lucky too, they both happen to be great. All the songs on this collection are classics in their own way. Every song on "The Allman Brothers Band" (tracks 1-7) is a hard hitting blues gem. Highlights include, "Every Hungry Woman", "Black Hearted Woman", "Trouble No More", "Dreams" (a slide guitar masterpeice), and of course "Whipping Post". I think the best part of this whole album is to hear Greg Allman's primal howl after "Don't Want You No More" fades into "It's Not My Cross to Bear"."Idlewood South" is a great album too, but is very different. In this album, the Allmans still play the blues, but they also explore "Southern Rock" and country, as we see in "Midnight Rider". "Elizabeth Reed" is one of the best guitar and instrumental peices ever. It does not recieve half as much credit as it should. And of course, "Hoochie Coohie Man" is a great blues tune. Unfortunately, it's rare to find a two album compilation ever. Lucky for those who have discovered the Allmans, they chose to pair these two together. Also check out "Live at Fillmore West", "Eat a Peach" and "Brothers and Sisters" <---the album w/out the great Duane =-(