Gregg Allman ~ Queen of Hearts (Laid Back) #gregg #allmanbrothers #queenofhearts

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‘Queen of Hearts’ is beautiful, melancholy song about a relationship that was bliss, but with time fell apart.

"Queen of Hearts", the song that prompted Allman to develop this album, follows with an opening guitar line courtesy of guest guitarist Buzz Feiten. The song shifts to the 11/8 time signature after the second verse, which was unintentional: "I didn't know I had written a song in 11/8 until someone told me!" Allman said in 1997. "Queen of Hearts" also features the prominent saxophone accompaniment of David "Fathead" Newman

Laid Back is the debut studio solo album by American singer-songwriter Gregg Allman, released in October 1973 by Capricorn Records. Allman, best known as the vocalist/lyricist/organist of the Allman Brothers Band, first began considering a solo career after internal disagreements with that group. He developed the album as a small creative outlet wherein he would assume full control, and he co-produced the album alongside Johnny Sandlin. Laid Back was largely recorded in March 1973 at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia, with additional recording and mixing taking place at the Record Plant by Manhattan Recording Engineer, Jim Reeves in New York City.

The album explores Allman's varying influences, including rhythm and blues and soul music. It consists of several cover songs, originals, and a traditional hymn, and contains performances from a host of musicians, most notably Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton on guitars, Bill Stewart on drums, and Charlie Hayward on bass guitar. The album was created while Allman also worked on Brothers and Sisters, the fourth Allman Brothers album. The album title was a studio term Allman coined for relaxing a song's tempo, while its cover was painted by Abdul Mati Klarwein.

Upon its release, Laid Back received positive reviews from music critics, and it peaked at number 13 on Billboard's Top LPs & Tape chart. To support the album, Allman embarked on an ambitious tour, consisting of a full band and an entire string orchestra. Two singles were released to promote the record, with lead single "Midnight Rider" becoming a top 20 hit in the U.S. and Canada. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1974 for shipping 500,000 copies in the U.S., making it one of Allman's best-selling albums.

Musician credits on the album: -
• Gregg Allman – vocals, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar
• Tommy Talton – acoustic, electric and slide guitars, dobro and tambourine
• Scott Boyer – acoustic, electric and steel guitars, electric piano
• Buzz Feiten – guitar
• Jim Nalls – guitar
• David Brown – bass
• Charlie Hayward – bass
• Johnny Sandlin – bass
• Max Cahn – violin
• Tony Posk – violin
• Paul Hornsby – organ, keyboards, clavinet
• Chuck Leavell – acoustic and electric pianos, vibes
• David "Fathead" Newman – saxophone
• Bill Stewart – drums
• Jai Johanny Johanson – percussion, conga
• Butch Trucks – percussion, cabasa
• Carl Hall – background vocals
• Hilda Harris – background vocals
• Cissy Houston – background vocals
• Emily Houston – background vocals
• June McGruder – background vocals
• Helene Miles – background vocals
• Linda November – background vocals
• Eileen Gilbert – background vocals
• Maretha Stewart – background vocals
• Albertine Robinson – background vocals
• Ed Freeman – strings and horn arrangements, conductor

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