Gregg Allman's Low Country Blues

If any performer has earned the right to sing the blues, it's Gregg Allman. His brother died in a motorcycle accident in 1971 at the peak of the Allman Brothers band's ascent up the charts. He survived his drug addiction and a high maintenance marriage to Cher, and this past summer he survived a liver transplant. But he's back with his first solo album in 14 years, which is a testament to the wonder of modern medicine and Allman's abundant musical talent.

Allman hooked up with the hottest producer in the industry, T-Bone Burnett, and gets backup musical support from Dr. John on piano and Doyle Bramhall on guitar and horns.

Allman's voice is as good as ever and suited perfectly to these updated covers of obscure blues songs by Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, B.B. King, Bobby Bland, and more. My favorite is the B.B. King number "Please Accept My Love," as it adds a retro rockabilly swing to the blues. The one original tune, "Just Another Rider," is a winner. Over that familiar Allman Brothers Southern rock-meets-blues sound, Allman sings, "Seems like a long time since I've had any peace of mind." At 63, brother, you've earned it!

• Album: Low Country Blues (2011)
• Artist: Gregg Allman
• Label: Rounder
• Songs: (1) Floating Bridge (2) Little by Little (3) Devil Got My Woman (4) I Can't Be Satisfied (5) Blind Man (6) Just Another Rider (7) Please Accept My Love (8) I Believe I'll Go Back Home (9) Tears, Tears, Tears, (10) My Love Is Your Love (11) Checking on My Baby (12) Rolling Stone