Hell & High Water: The Best of the Arista Years

The Allman Brothers Band: Dickey Betts (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Gregg Allman (vocals, organ); Dan Toler (guitar); David Goldflies (bass); "Jaimoe" Johnny Lee Johnson, Butch Trucks, David Toler (drums).
Additional personnel: Charlie Daniels (fiddle); Jim Essery (harmonica); Jimmy Hall (saxophone); Mike Lawler (piano, clavinet, synthesizer); Johnny Cobb (piano); Mark Morris (percussion); Sherry Cobb, Thomas Cain, Chip Young, Greg Guidry, Joy Lannon, Donna McElroy, Keith England, Jeff Silverman, Randall Hart, Peter Kingsberry, Joe Pizzulo (background vocals).
Producers: Allman Brothers Band, Mike Lawler, Johnny Cobb, John Ryan.
Recorded at Pyramid Eye Recording Studio, Lookout Mountain, Georgia; Young'un Sound, Nashville, Tennessee.
Personnel: Mark Morris (congas, timbales, percussion); Chip Young, Donna McElroy, Joy Lannon, Greg Guidry, Jeff Silverman, Jimmy Hall, Joe Pizzulo, Johnny Cobb, Keith England, Peter Kingsberry, Thomas Kane, Randy Hart (background vocals).
Liner Note Author: Larry Samuel.
Recording information: Young'un Sound, Nashville.
Photographers: Vincent Frye; Larry Naar.
From a commercial standpoint, the Arista Years (better known to the rest of mankind as the early '80s) were not exactly the Allman Brothers' peak; neither of the two albums they made sold particularly well, and the band promptly broke up (for the second time) after BROTHERS OF THE ROAD. In retrospect, however, the albums hold up rather well, and HELL AND HIGH WATER collects the cream, opening with the first six songs from REACH FOR THE SKY (including the nifty mean-woman blues "Angeline") and then shuffling five of the better cuts from BROTHERS. The standout track is clearly "From the Madness of the West," where the twin guitars of Dickey Betts and Dan Toler most recall earlier band classics like "Jessica."