Go Behind the Scenes of the Making of Gregg Allman’s ‘Southern Blood’

When Gregg Allman passed away at age 69 in late May of this year following a battle with liver cancer, the world mourned the loss of one of its finest players, poets, and people. A couple months after his passing, Rounder Records announced plans to release Allman’s final studio album, Southern Blood.

Allman recorded the album with producer Don Was at legendary Muscle Shoals recording studio FAME in 2016, knowing full well it would be his musical farewell to the world. As such, he recorded a number of his favorite songs by artists like Tim Buckley (“Once I Was”), the Grateful Dead (“Black Muddy River”), and Jackson Browne (“Song for Adam”). He also included one new track that he wrote himself, “My Only True Friend.” 

Southern Blood will release September 8, and along with it comes a deluxe edition featuring a bonus DVD showcasing studio footage, commentary from Was, and some of the last glimpses of Allman doing what he loved best.

“It’s a really stripped-back, soulful record, even though there are a lot of musicians playing,” Was says of Southern Blood in the DVD footage. “There’s a whole lot going on, but it’s all from the heart.”

Southern Blood is currently streaming in its entirety at NPR Music. Watch an exclusive behind the scenes clip from the DVD portion of the deluxe edition of Southern Blood below.