****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is a review of the re-mastered, 25th Anniversary, Special Limited Edition CD, featuring one of the greatest guitar players of all time, the legendary, late/great Allen Collins. In my opinion, Allen is definitely among the best guitar players of all time, including: Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dickey Betts, Gary Rossington, James Burton and even Jimi Hendrix. However, it's difficult to compare guitarists, because they all have their own unique style. I loved Allen's Guitar Style of Playing. "Freebird" was his "Masterpiece" and it will be a treasure forever. It's included in the 500 songs that shaped Rock & Roll, by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I've been to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, and I've seen "Freebird",listed in the top 500 songs that shaped Rock & Rock. Plus, I've seen Allen's autograph inscribed in the Hall of Fame Wall, very rightly deserved. Allen had his own unique style of guitar playing, he put everything he had into it. The Skynyrd guitar team of Allen Collins, Gary Rossington & Stevie Gaines will always be the best trio of guiatar players ever, as far as I'm concerned.This album contains some great Southern Rock, and features some great guitar playing by the late/great Allen Collins. This album contains Allen's last released recordings, and they are a real treasure. You do get to hear his very talented guitar playing, pretty much throughout the album. In the liner notes it mentions there is an Allen Collens guitar solo on track 7, "Chapter One", and it is very good. Also, you do get to hear some great piano playing by the late/great Billy Powell. This album was originally recorded around 1983-84, after the breakup of the Rossington-Collins Band. These bands were formed during the period from the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash date of October 20, 1977 and 1987 when Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed.This CD is highly valued as a rare collectible item, along with the 2 CD's by the Rossington Collins band.The liner notes to this CD gives you a history/story of the Allen Collins Band, and this album, plus it gives you a resume of each of the band members. They include:Barry Lee Harwood: guitar, from Lenoir, NCDerek Hess: Drums, Jacksonville, FLRandall Hall: guitar, Jacksonville, FLLeon Wilkeson: bass guitar, Jacksonville (original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd)Billy Powell: piano/keyboards, Corpus Christi, TX & Jacksonville, FL (a Skynyrd roadie who became a full fleged member of Lynyrd Skynyrd)Jimmy Doughery: Lead Vocals, Jacksonville, FLAllen Collins: Lead Guitar, Jacksonville FL (a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd.)The songs include:1.Just Trouble2.One Known Soldier3.Hangin' Judge4.Time After Time5.This Rides On Me6.Ready to Move7.Chapter One8.Commitments9.Everything You NeedThis is a rare, classic, Southern Rock Album, featuring some excellent electric guitar play by the one & only, the legendary, the late/great Allen Collins. Allen will always be special in my mind. The rest of the band is outstanding also, especially Billy Powell on keyboards. This is one great album, if you get the chance you better buy one. Thanks!!!!
