Введение
Альбом Pras Win, Lose or Draw — пятый студийный альбом и шестой в дискографии группы. Это был последний студийный альбом с участием басиста Ламара Уильямса и пианиста Чака Ливелла. Ранее, в 1973 году, группа выпустила Brothers and Sisters, добившись признания критиков и коммерческого успеха. В следующем году группа отправилась в тур, собрав большие аудитории и заработав значительные средства, в то время как внутри коллектива нарастало напряжение. Вокалист и клавишник Грегг Оллман и вокалист и гитарист Дикки Беттс выпустили сольные альбомы — The Gregg Allman Tour и Highway Call, оба вышедшие осенью, что породило спекуляции о целостности группы. Когда группа собралась для работы над Win, Lose or Draw, на репетициях вновь всплыли нерешенные проблемы. Особенно критически музыканты отнеслись к решению Оллмана переехать в Лос-Анджелес, а также к его отношениям с поп-звездой Шер. В условиях взаимного непонимания и растущей злости, альбом создавался в течение нескольких месяцев, что резко отличалось от привычного способа записи. Члены группы часто не могли находиться в студии одновременно. Первые отзывы об альбоме были смешанными, но в целом положительными, однако ретроспективные рецензии оказались преимущественно негативными. Наибольшее признание получили три композиции: заглавный трек Оллмана, инструментальная пьеса Беттса "High Falls" и кавер-версия песни Мадди Уотерса "Can't Lose What You Never Had".
Win, Lose or Draw is the fifth studio album and sixth It was the last studio album to feature bassist Lamar Williams and pianist Chuck Leavell. The band had previously released Brothers and Sisters in 1973 to critical and commercial success. The group toured the following year, attracting large crowds and earning substantial amounts of money, all while internal tension grew among the members. Vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Allman and vocalist and guitarist Dickey Betts released solo albums — The Gregg Allman Tour and Highway Call, both issued that fall — which prompted speculation on the band's unity. When the band regrouped to work on Win, Lose or Draw, unresolved issues arose in rehearsals. The band was particularly critical of Allman's decision to move to Los Angeles, as well as his tabloid relationship with pop star Cher. With miscommunication and anger at an all time high, the band pieced together the album over a period of several months, in stark contrast to their usual recording methods. Band members often could not be present in the studio at the same time. Reviews of the album when it came out were mixed to positive, but retrospective reviews have generally been unfavorable. The three selections on the album to receive the most praise have been Allman's title track, Betts' instrumental "High Falls", and a rendition of Muddy Waters' "Can't Lose What You Never Had". | rev2 = The Atlanta Constitution
| rev2Score = (Mixed)
| rev3 = The Calgary Herald
| rev3Score = (Favorable)
| rev4 = Detroit Free Press
| rev4Score = (Favorable)
| rev5 = Los Angeles Times
| rev5Score = (Favorable)
| rev6 = New York Daily News
| rev6Score = (Mixed)
| rev7 = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| rev7Score = (Mixed)
| rev8 = Rolling Stone
| rev8Score = (Favorable)
| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Record Guide
| rev9Score = 1/5
| rev10 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev10Score = 3/5
| rev11 = Rough Guide to Rock
| rev11Score = (Unfavorable)
It is generally perceived that Win, Lose or Draw was received poorly by critics, or at best got a mixed reception. However reviews upon the release of the album were mixed to positive. Tony Glover of Rolling Stone gave it a very favorable review at the time. The Bergen Record named it as one of the best albums of the year. Among the less favorable reviews was that of Robert Christgau, who said the record sounded like it was made by a group that was breaking up. The Minneapolis Star also liked a couple of selections but overall called the album "a disappointingly unimportant effort by an important group." Several critics played on the album's title to say that was their review of it – some selections good, some bad, some indifferent. Retrospective looks at the album have been less favorable. By the time of the publication of The Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1979, it was rated at only one star. Three selections on the record received the most praise, even from those that thought the album lacking overall. The third was the 14 minute Betts instrumental "High Falls", which consisted of several interwoven sections that built up and receded. The instrumental had notable contributions from Williams and Leavell. The album was certified as a gold album, which was a drop off from the platinum certifications achieved by their several records previous to this. Allman Brothers road manager Willie Perkins has said that sales of the album were somewhat disappointing, and that some dates on the tour associated with the album lost money for the promoters.
В целом считается, что Win, Lose or Draw был воспринят критиками негативно или, в лучшем случае, получил смешанные отзывы. Однако, первоначальные рецензии на альбом были скорее положительными, чем отрицательными. Тони Гловер из Rolling Stone дал ему очень благоприятный отзыв в то время, а The Bergen Record назвал его одним из лучших альбомов года. Среди менее положительных рецензий была критика Роберта Кристагау, который отметил, что запись звучит так, будто её сделала группа, находящаяся на грани распада. The Minneapolis Star также высоко оценил несколько композиций, но в целом назвал альбом "разочаровывающе незначительной работой важного коллектива". Некоторые критики использовали название альбома в своих рецензиях, подразумевая, что в нём есть как сильные, так и слабые стороны. Со временем отношение к альбому стало более критичным. К 1979 году, когда был опубликован The Rolling Stone Record Guide, альбом получил всего одну звезду. Даже те, кто считал альбом в целом слабым, отмечали три композиции, заслужившие наибольшую похвалу. Третьей была 14-минутная инструментальная пьеса Беттса "High Falls", состоящая из нескольких взаимосвязанных секций, развивающихся и затухающих. Значительный вклад в создание инструментальной композиции внесли Уильямс и Ливелл. Альбом получил золотой статус, что стало ухудшением результатов по сравнению с платиновыми сертификатами, присужденными предыдущим работам группы. Менеджер Allman Brothers в туре, Вилли Перкинс, заявил, что продажи альбома оказались несколько разочаровывающими, и что некоторые концерты в рамках тура оказались убыточными для организаторов.
Win, Lose or Draw is the fifth studio album and sixth It was the last studio album to feature bassist Lamar Williams and pianist Chuck Leavell. The band had previously released Brothers and Sisters in 1973 to critical and commercial success. The group toured the following year, attracting large crowds and earning substantial amounts of money, all while internal tension grew among the members. Vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Allman and vocalist and guitarist Dickey Betts released solo albums — The Gregg Allman Tour and Highway Call, both issued that fall — which prompted speculation on the band's unity. When the band regrouped to work on Win, Lose or Draw, unresolved issues arose in rehearsals. The band was particularly critical of Allman's decision to move to Los Angeles, as well as his tabloid relationship with pop star Cher. With miscommunication and anger at an all time high, the band pieced together the album over a period of several months, in stark contrast to their usual recording methods. Band members often could not be present in the studio at the same time. Reviews of the album when it came out were mixed to positive, but retrospective reviews have generally been unfavorable. The three selections on the album to receive the most praise have been Allman's title track, Betts' instrumental "High Falls", and a rendition of Muddy Waters' "Can't Lose What You Never Had". | rev2 = The Atlanta Constitution
| rev2Score = (Mixed)
| rev3 = The Calgary Herald
| rev3Score = (Favorable)
| rev4 = Detroit Free Press
| rev4Score = (Favorable)
| rev5 = Los Angeles Times
| rev5Score = (Favorable)
| rev6 = New York Daily News
| rev6Score = (Mixed)
| rev7 = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| rev7Score = (Mixed)
| rev8 = Rolling Stone
| rev8Score = (Favorable)
| rev9 = The Rolling Stone Record Guide
| rev9Score = 1/5
| rev10 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev10Score = 3/5
| rev11 = Rough Guide to Rock
| rev11Score = (Unfavorable)
It is generally perceived that Win, Lose or Draw was received poorly by critics, or at best got a mixed reception. However reviews upon the release of the album were mixed to positive. Tony Glover of Rolling Stone gave it a very favorable review at the time. The Bergen Record named it as one of the best albums of the year. Among the less favorable reviews was that of Robert Christgau, who said the record sounded like it was made by a group that was breaking up. The Minneapolis Star also liked a couple of selections but overall called the album "a disappointingly unimportant effort by an important group." Several critics played on the album's title to say that was their review of it – some selections good, some bad, some indifferent. Retrospective looks at the album have been less favorable. By the time of the publication of The Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1979, it was rated at only one star. Three selections on the record received the most praise, even from those that thought the album lacking overall. The third was the 14 minute Betts instrumental "High Falls", which consisted of several interwoven sections that built up and receded. The instrumental had notable contributions from Williams and Leavell. The album was certified as a gold album, which was a drop off from the platinum certifications achieved by their several records previous to this. Allman Brothers road manager Willie Perkins has said that sales of the album were somewhat disappointing, and that some dates on the tour associated with the album lost money for the promoters.
Последствия
The Allman Brothers распустились в следующем году, и, несмотря на попытку воссоединения в конце 1970-х, не вернули себе место в американском музыкальном пантеоне до успешного воссоединения в 1989 году. С тех пор группа неоднозначно оценивает альбом "Win, Lose or Draw". "Главная проблема с "Win, Lose or Draw" в том, что ни один из нас по-настоящему не увлекался этой музыкой", – заметил Тракс. "Все были заняты наркотиками и сексом. Мы хотели быть рок-звездами, а музыка отошла на второй план. Когда мы услышали готовый альбом, нам всем было стыдно". Оллман согласился с этим мнением: "Win, Lose or Draw – это идеальное отражение нашего состояния в 1975 году. По сути, для группы The Allman Brothers Band все было кончено".