23. Rockin’ Horse (Hittin’ the Note – Gregg/Warren/Allen/Jack)
Studio Version
Live at the Beacon, 2003
The third of five songs from the band’s final studio album to make the top 50, in my opinion “Rockin’ Horse” is one of the truly great guitar songs ever written. Multiple killer riffs in this one. The studio version is great. But as is so often the case with Allman songs, this one really came alive when played live.
The Beacon 2003 version linked above is a performance that I never get tired of watching. It is the video that made me believe the Haynes/Trucks lineup could reasonably be mentioned in the same sentence as the Allman/Betts lineup. I have watched it probably hundreds of times and Derek’s solo still mesmerizes me. There is just so much cool stuff going on. For those who aren’t familiar, it starts with a nod to Warren, teasing the Gov’t Mule song “Blind Man in the Dark.” I love at the 6:44 mark when he seamlessly switches from fretting the notes to slide. And the ending to that solo is simply unreal. Oh yeah, Warren’s solo on this one is pretty amazing too.
There are a bunch more great versions out there. Unfortunately, the video on this one cuts out in the middle of the song because it sounds like a really cool jam (and unless my ears deceive me, I think they are teasing the Grateful Dead’s “The Eleven” toward the end). Regardless, I still love that version because Oteil is really feeling the groove.
Studio Version
Live at the Beacon, 2003
The third of five songs from the band’s final studio album to make the top 50, in my opinion “Rockin’ Horse” is one of the truly great guitar songs ever written. Multiple killer riffs in this one. The studio version is great. But as is so often the case with Allman songs, this one really came alive when played live.
The Beacon 2003 version linked above is a performance that I never get tired of watching. It is the video that made me believe the Haynes/Trucks lineup could reasonably be mentioned in the same sentence as the Allman/Betts lineup. I have watched it probably hundreds of times and Derek’s solo still mesmerizes me. There is just so much cool stuff going on. For those who aren’t familiar, it starts with a nod to Warren, teasing the Gov’t Mule song “Blind Man in the Dark.” I love at the 6:44 mark when he seamlessly switches from fretting the notes to slide. And the ending to that solo is simply unreal. Oh yeah, Warren’s solo on this one is pretty amazing too.
There are a bunch more great versions out there. Unfortunately, the video on this one cuts out in the middle of the song because it sounds like a really cool jam (and unless my ears deceive me, I think they are teasing the Grateful Dead’s “The Eleven” toward the end). Regardless, I still love that version because Oteil is really feeling the groove.