Brothers and Sisters

The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the '70s

By: Alan Paul

Narrated by: Alan Paul

This program is read by the author and contains more than 40 never-before-heard interviews with the band members.

New York Times bestselling author Alan Paul's in-depth narrative look at the Allman Brothers' most successful album, and a portrait of an era in rock and roll and American history.

The Allman Brothers Band’s Brothers and Sisters was not only the band’s best-selling album at over seven million copies sold, it was also a powerfully influential release, both musically and culturally, one whose influence continues to be profoundly felt.

Celebrating the album’s 50th anniversary, this audiobook delves into the making of the album while also presenting a broader cultural history of the era, based on first-person interviews, historical documents and deep research.

Brothers and Sisters traces the making of the template-shaping record alongside the story of how the Allman Brothers came to the rescue of a flailing Jimmy Carter presidential campaign and helped get the former governor of Georgia elected president; how Gregg Allman’s marriage to Cher was an early harbinger of an emerging celebrity media culture; and how the band’s success led to internal fissures. The book also examines the Allman Brothers' relationship with the Grateful Dead—including the most in-depth reporting ever on the Jam at Watkins Glen, the largest rock festival ever—and describes how they inspired bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, helping create the Southern Rock genre.

With exclusive access to hundreds of hours of never-before-heard interviews with every major player, including Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman, conducted by ABB archivist, photographer and “Tour Mystic” Kirk West, Brothers and Sisters is an in-depth, honest assessments of the band’s career, history, and highs and lows.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Alan Paul (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“The book is full of trenchant observations by friends and contemporaries, creating a valuable perspective on the music scene in the early ’70s. A warm, entertaining appreciation of a key period in the career of a vital American band."—Kirkus Reviews (starred)

“a rollicking tale...Enriched by a cache of band interviews never heard before, Paul’s entry marshals encyclopedic detail and sterling prose for a vivid glimpse into a classic moment in music history. Rock fans will rejoice.”—Publishers Weekly

"For a fledgling 20-year old piano player in 1972, being asked to join the Allman Brothers Band was like entering Heaven. There were ups and downs during the making of Brothers and Sisters, but it still stands as the band’s most popular and best-selling record. Alan has captured the era with deep research and his savvy writing skills."—Chuck Leavell, Allman Brothers Band, Rolling Stones

members of the bands life styles and how the history of that age in the US

it was hard to hear the tape recordings, I think narrator should have read the transcripts from the tapes

Gregg sing in high school gym in Buffalo from rehab with Cher in tow

Lots of full background history (context). Really captured the era. Learned new information The 15 word minimum is annoying here

notasgood asSKYDOG

more likeanice dessert for skydogthe sad years goo gratefuldead stuffstarting at chapter10 watkins glenis worth the money

great listen

It is a refreshing review of the Allman Brothers Band that I witnessed as things occurred in their lives and mine.

Be Careful!

I am about 4 chapters into this book, but I felt like I should share my experience thus far. First, the story is an interesting one. Second, although the idea of incorporating tapes of interviews done years ago is a good one, although the audio quality is quite often terrible. Let me put that into context. I listen almost exclusively to my audiobooks in the car. I do not have a particularly exceptional audio system for sure. I can hear the narration just fine, but for me, my factory original, 70+ year old ears cannot understand the majority of what is said in the interviews. I can sometimes figure out what HAS been said via the narration afterwards, but only sometimes. In short, I wish I had bought this book in print rather than as an audiobook. You may not have problems with the quality at all, but if you are of an age which is pretty equal to that of the original band itself, you may experience the same problems I do. It is very disappointing.