Capture a special moment in music history when The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the 3,700-seat Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pa. on January 17, 1971. The band had been together for about two years, and their bold, powerful, hard-edged music had established them as one of the most respected and influential rock groups in the U.S. Their 1969 and 1970 studio albums (The Allman Brothers Band and Idlewild South) are essential listening, and Syria Mosque captures the band’s indefatigable energy, terrific instrumental interplay, and virtuoso interaction. Taking place a few months before the release of their seminal Live at Fillmore East album, this Pittsburgh concert had only been available as a bootleg tape from their hundreds of shows during those early years. The exciting lineup with a distinctly southern voice featured the most celebrated incarnation of The Allman Brothers Band - Duane Allman (lead & slide guitars), Gregg Allman (vocals, organ, [piano), Dickey Betts (lead guitar), Berry Oakley (bass), Butch Trucks (drums)and Jaimoe (drums).             

The Allman Brothers begin the set with “Statesboro Blues,” a Piedmont blues song written by Blind Willie McTell popularized as a blues rock hit in 1968 for Taj Mahal who opened the Syria Mosque concert.  Rolling Stone magazine once ranked The Allman Brothers Band's version of "Statesboro Blues" as number nine on its list of 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More” is a punchy cover that demonstrates the group’s exceptional talents as a roadhouse blues-rock band. Gregg Allman’s “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’” and “Midnight Rider” and Dickey Betts’ “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” had been killer hits on their 1970 Idlewild South album. In the live show, Betts’ song is given an exciting 15-minute, but never self-indulgent, treatment, as they also do with Willie Cobbs’ “You Don’t Love Me” featuring Duane and Dickey’s galloping guitar work. The group’s on-stage work out on “Whipping Post” spans an impressive 20 minutes with a lot of great playing.         

While every one of their live performances was unique, Syria Mosque certainly has its high points during a key time in the band’s pivotal history. The Allman Brothers Band played Syria Mosque again in the fall of 1971. Tragedy struck the band when 24-year-old Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971. Berry Oakley died in a motorcycle crash in Macon, Ga. on November 11, 1972.

Syria Mosque is a pinnacle of the Allman’s southern rock. Recorded direct through soundboard, restored and remastered, this recording captures the band’s tasty music just as they were ramping up to the classic Live at Fillmore East album. The only issue I have with the live mix is that the drums were too heavy on “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’” overpowering the vocals. But all in all, Syria Mosque is a fine way to relive this fantastic Allman Brothers Band concert from early 1971. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)