The Allman Brothers "Blue Sky"?!
Question: I've been listening to Blue Sky forever and I absolutely love that 3 minute solo. Recently, I decided to sit down and teach myself to play it. That's made me wonder: was the solo improvised? Parts sound like it, but then that two-part lead is too well "put-together" to be improvised, so I'm not sure.
Also, the solo seems to be split into three main parts: part 1 (before the two-part lead), the two-part lead itself, and the part after that. Who plays the first part and last part? I know Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts switch off, but who plays which part of the solo?
Answers: I've been listening to Blue Sky forever and I absolutely love that 3 minute solo. Recently, I decided to sit down and teach myself to play it. That's made me wonder: was the solo improvised? Parts sound like it, but then that two-part lead is too well "put-together" to be improvised, so I'm not sure.
Also, the solo seems to be split into three main parts: part 1 (before the two-part lead), the two-part lead itself, and the part after that. Who plays the first part and last part? I know Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts switch off, but who plays which part of the solo?
The Allman Brothers Band were innovators. Blue Sky is an awesome song written by Dickey Betts. The first lead is played by Duane Allman and the second lead is played by Dickey.
The studio version is not improvised. It is rehearsed over and over. It is a special song.
Listen to "Live at Fillmore East" if you want to hear amazing improvision skills. They each could take off on solos and still come back to the original song. I love their music. God Bless Duane Allman and Berry Oakley. RIP.
IDK the answer to your question but wanted to say RIGHT ON! the Allmans rock! Hope they come around again this summer, I hate to miss a show.
Peace!
The Allman Brothers were always about improvisation with their solo's although their dual guitar work was rehearsed to perfection. IMO, Blue Sky is one of the best tunes ever recorded by the group.
Duane Allman played the first half of the solo and Dickey Betts played the second.