Playin' Up a Storm


Playin' Up a Storm is the second studio album by Gregg Allman. It was the first of three credited to his solo band.
Playin' Up a Storm was released in 1977 on Capricorn Records, not long after the Allman Brothers Band's acrimonious split, and peaked at number 42 on the Billboard 200.

Background

Playin' Up a Storm was Allman's second solo studio effort, following 1973's Laid Back. It came after the breakup of the Allman Brothers Band in 1976. During this time, Allman had moved to Hollywood to live with his then-wife Cher. The album was produced by Lenny Waronker and Russ Titelman, and in his memoir, My Cross to Bear, Allman remembered that Waronker was frustrated with his unpunctuality in regards to studio time. The album was released in May 1977, on Capricorn Records. Allman claimed that Phil Walden, owner of Capricorn, was incensed over his move to the West Coast to live with Cher, and only printed 50,000 copies of the LP.

Critical reception

The Rolling Stone Album Guide called the album a "harder-hitting" followup, writing that it "actually eclipsed most of the Allmans' work of the same period."

Track listing

;Side one
  1. "Come and Go Blues" – 4:48
  2. "Let This Be a Lesson to Ya'" – 3:42
  3. "Brightest Smile in Town" – 3:06
  4. "Bring It on Back" – 4:49
;Side two
  1. "Cryin' Shame" – 3:44
  2. "Sweet Feelin'" – 3:37
  3. "It Ain't No Use" – 3:54
  4. "Matthew's Arrival" – 3:50
  5. "One More Try" – 3:53

Personnel

The Gregg Allman Band

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Noel Newbolt, Sue Haverback, Tori Hammond - production assistance
  • Diana Marie Kaylan - art direction
  • David Alexander - photography