The Roots Of The Allman Brothers Band

Whether or not these two dozen songs inspired the Allman Brothers or not, this would still be a nice collection, and it's surprisingly varied, including not just blues pieces but also some bluegrass and western swing as well. From the obvious, like Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues," to the less obvious, like Elmore James' "Wild About You Baby" and Blind Willie Johnson's chilling and haunting "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground," this set is well worth checking out even without the Allman Brothers angle.

—Steve Leggett