This album has none of the fire and class of any of the classic ABB releases (basically, anything from 1969 -'73 and from '90 onwards). It's a compilation of tracks from two dire, early-'80s albums recorded for the Arista label, which tried to push the band in a totally unsuitable MOR, Doobie-Brothers-style direction. Only two tracks are worthy of the ABB name - "Leavin'", which has some stinging slide guitar from Dickey Betts, and "The Things You Used to Do", which features strong, soulful vocals from Gregg Allman. Otherwise, the album is full of feeble, synthesizer-swamped pap. Definitely one for newcomers to avoid - go for something from one of the two periods mentioned above instead.

this is a really good band, and this is a compilation of some of their worst work. but the musis is still pretty good. half the songs are, at least. the better ones sound more like the songs on the dickey betts & great southern albums than anything else that they have done. the best tracks are hell and high water, brothers of the road, madness of the west, hold your ground, and angeline. they are all dickey betts songs. greg doesnt have anything to add to this album really, although things you used to do isnt bad. this is perhaps their worst album (i have not heard half the songs on win lose or draw yet), but with the reviews that i read about it, i thought it would be equivalent to Bobo's Quest's Greatest Hits or something. the allman brothers worst is better than most bands worst. i recommend any other album they have first, then after that, try to find one of dicky betts solos (except atlantas burning down) and either laid back or searching for simplicity from greg allmans solo projects and duane allmans anthology 1 before this. this is a good band, but 5 good tracks out of 17 isnt that great.

Madness Of The West is a combination of Reach For The Sky and Brothers Of The Road (kind of like Beginnings combined The Allman Brothers Band and Idelwild South) minus one track from the latter. These two albums were the worst albums The Allman Brothers released. There are 4 or 5 good songs and the rest are pretty bad. I'd recomend just about any other Allman Brothers album other than this.

I took a chance when buying this CD, and I must say that I'm delighted with what I got. This is a definite masterpiece, which I will pass down to my children, and eventually their children. Don't delay - order this timeless classic right away.