Review - Live At the Atlanta International Pop Festival

For the first time, the Allman Brothers Band's breakout live performance at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival is available, and includes both their fest-opening and fest-closing sets. The festival that year featured heavyweights such as Jimi Hendrix, Jethro Tull, Grand Funk Railroad and Ten Years After. "Idlewild South" had not yet been released and the band was considered something of a regional act, but these two performances showed they belonged with the big boys. Four songs from the first album are included here, along with three from "Idlewild." "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" was still a work in progress and the contrast is reason enough to crank up the album version for comparison. The epic "Mountain Jam" was also in its infancy. "Atlanta" showcases one of the first jam bands on their way up and provides a glimpse of what was to come with their monumental "Live at the Fillmore East" release.