First outing for the new Allmans line-up circa early 90s
‘Seven Turns’ was never going to be an easy album for The Allman Brothers Band. They’d previously broken up due to death, drugs, and court cases, so it wasn’t looking like a bright future. But, the world of rock music being what it is, no sooner had the band sworn they’d never work with Gregg Allman again, then they reunite in 1989 and tour. This album came just after.
Boasting the first appearance of reluctant recruit Warren Haynes as well as old hand Dickey Betts on guitar, it’s an excellent example of how well these two guitarists work together. It sounds like the Allmans without being a tribute band. Even if it is still a little rough around the edges, the band benefit from a fresh outlook and mixture of old and new recruits.
‘Seven Turns’ is the first of only two albums recorded by this incarnation of the Allmans, the other being ‘Shades of Two Worlds’. And unfortunately this album suffers in comparison to the latter, which sounds more polished, thought through, and like a well-oiled machine. On the other hand, this album has much more of an urgent live feel about it. It’s southern rock at its grittiest, even if it’s not the best they’ve produced. It’s clichéd at times, settled into the same old comfortable riffs, and lacking true inspiration. But they’re working together, so don’t knock it too hard. ‘Low Down Dirty Mean’ is the perfect embodiment of heavy blues. Standout track has to be ‘Shine It On’, which has stadium crowd-pleaser written all over it. Other than that, it’s pretty standard fare here.
Even the title is prophetic. ‘Seven Turns’ refers to the Navajo legend that there are seven times in life where a momentous decision must be made, and a wrong one creates a dead end. Where the Allmans went wrong was in breaking up, but where they corrected the mistake was bringing Dickey Betts to the fore and adding Haynes. Shame it didn’t last. Still, six more times, right?