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Highway Call
Highway Call
Highway Call
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Highway Call
Studio album by
Dickey Betts
ReleasedSeptember 1974
Recorded1974
StudioCapricorn, Macon, Georgia
GenreCountry rock, Western swing
Length35:28
LabelCapricorn
ProducerJohnny Sandlin, Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts chronology
Highway Call
(1974) 		Dickey Betts & Great Southern
(1977)

Highway Call is the debut solo album by Dickey Betts (under the name Richard Betts) of the Allman Brothers Band.[1][2] It was recorded in 1974 in Macon, Georgia, at Capricorn Studios. Betts further develops the country sound that emerged on the Allmans' 1973 album Brothers and Sisters. Tracks include "Long Time Gone", "Highway Call", and the extended country jam "Hand Picked". Guest musicians include Vassar Clements on fiddle and Jeff Hanna on acoustic guitar. The album peaked at No. 19 on Billboard's "Pop Albums" chart in 1974.[3]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular MusicStarStarStar[5]
Tom HullC−[6]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album GuideStarStarStarStar[7]
The Rolling Stone Album GuideStarStarHalf star[8]

No Depression called the album "exuberant," writing that "Betts conjured a rollicking brew of bluegrass, western swing, and jazz."[9] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that Betts's "hesitant vocals can't match the pace of his lightning fingers."[8] AllMusic said "Highway Call stands as the artist's finest solo moment, one that holds his true voice easily expressing itself far from the madding blues wail of the Allmans..."[4]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks composed by Dickey Betts, except "Kissimmee Kid" by Vassar Clements

  1. "Long Time Gone" – 4:31
  2. "Rain" – 3:40
  3. "Highway Call" – 4:26
  4. "Let Nature Sing" – 5:10
  5. "Hand Picked" – 14:20
  6. "Kissimmee Kid" – 3:13

Personnel

[edit]
  • Dickey Betts - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, dobro, lead vocals
  • Vassar Clements - fiddle
  • Chuck Leavell - piano
  • Tommy Talton - acoustic guitar
  • John Hughey - steel guitar
  • Walter Poindexter - banjo, backing vocals
  • Leon Poindexter - acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Frank Poindexter - dobro, backing vocals
  • Stray Straton - bass, backing vocals
  • Johnny Sandlin - bass
  • Oscar Underwood Adams - mandolin
  • David Walshaw - drums, percussion
  • Jeff Hanna - acoustic guitar
  • Reese Wynans - harmonica
  • The Rambos - (Buck, Dottie, and Reba) - backing vocals

Production

  • Producer: Johnny Sandlin, Dickey Betts
  • Recording Engineer: Sam Whiteside, Johnny Sandlin
  • Remixing: Johnny Sandlin
  • Mastering Engineer: George Marino
  • Photography: Sydney Smith

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1974) Peak
position
US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) 19

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Highway Call

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Highway Call is the debut solo album by , the lead guitarist and a founding member of , released in September 1974 by . Recorded at Capricorn Sound Studios in , the album marks Betts' exploration of and bluegrass influences beyond the Allman Brothers' sound, following the success of their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters. Billed under his full name Richard Betts, it features six tracks totaling approximately 35 minutes, including the title song "Highway Call," which reflects themes of nostalgia, rural life, and the itinerant musician's experiences. The album showcases Betts on guitar and lead vocals, supported by notable session musicians such as fiddler on fiddle and dobro, and pedal steel guitarist Jon Hughey, with additional contributions from southern rock staples like pianist and guitarist Tommy Talton. Critically, Highway Call is praised for advancing Betts' songwriting in a country-rock vein, blending pastoral elements with innovative instrumentation that was fresh for , though it received mixed commercial reception compared to his band work, peaking at number 19 on the 200. The album's and promotional materials emphasized Betts' personal artistic evolution, solidifying his reputation as a versatile in the southern music scene.

Background

Allman Brothers Band context

Dickey Betts emerged as a pivotal songwriter and guitarist in the Allman Brothers Band shortly after its formation in 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida, where he joined brothers Duane and Gregg Allman as co-lead guitarist. His early contributions included co-writing the instrumental "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," which highlighted his jazz-inflected guitar style on the band's 1971 live album At Fillmore East. Betts also penned "Blue Sky" for the 1972 album Eat a Peach, introducing a melodic, upbeat sensibility that contrasted with the band's bluesier roots. The band's sound evolved significantly with the 1973 album Brothers and Sisters, released on , which shifted toward a country-infused aesthetic under Betts' growing influence. As co-producer and primary songwriter, Betts crafted the hit "Ramblin' Man," his first vocal performance and the band's biggest commercial success, alongside the instrumental "Jessica," inspired by his daughter. This album marked a brighter, more accessible direction, reflecting Betts' leadership in the wake of tragedies and turmoil. Capricorn, founded by in , served as the band's label and nurtured a vibrant scene there, relocating the group to the city to foster their creative environment. Internal band dynamics were strained during 1973-1974, following Duane Allman's fatal motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971, which left a profound leadership void. Gregg Allman's escalating addiction further complicated relations, leading to clashes with Betts over creative control and reliability, as the singer's issues intensified amid personal and professional pressures. These challenges elevated Betts' role, allowing him to guide the band's direction and solidify his status as a central figure. This period of transition ultimately prompted Betts to explore a solo project.

Solo album development

Following the success of the Allman Brothers Band's 1973 album Brothers and Sisters, which introduced stronger influences in tracks like "Ramblin' Man," sought to explore these elements more deeply in a solo project unconstrained by the band's collective dynamics. His motivations stemmed from a desire to incorporate and bluegrass styles, drawing from his upbringing immersed in such music, and to experiment beyond the Allman Brothers' blues-rock framework. This shift allowed Betts to bridge his band contributions with personal artistic independence, emphasizing acoustic textures and narrative songcraft reflective of Southern traditions. A key inspiration came from Betts' collaboration with fiddler , whom he met at a bluegrass festival and recruited to infuse the with authentic roots elements. Clements' involvement, including his writing of tracks like "Kissimmee Kid," encouraged Betts to blend bluegrass fiddle with his guitar work, creating a sound that felt innovative yet rooted in his heritage. To distinguish this venture from his Allman Brothers persona, Betts released the under his , Richard Betts, signaling a fresh creative identity separate from the band's high-profile jams and improvisations. Pre-production began in early 1974 during a break from Allman Brothers touring, when Betts focused on songwriting amid the band's demanding schedule. He composed several tracks, including the title song "Highway Call," , capturing themes of itinerant life that resonated with his experiences as a traveling . This period of planning emphasized a relaxed, enjoyable process, prioritizing fun and experimentation over commercial pressures. Betts partnered with producer Johnny Sandlin, who had previously helmed Allman Brothers projects like Brothers and Sisters, to ensure stylistic continuity while granting the solo effort creative latitude. Sandlin's familiarity with ' sound helped Betts maintain a polished yet organic feel, balancing the band's rock energy with his emerging country leanings. This collaboration facilitated a seamless transition from group work to individual expression, allowing Betts to refine his vision without abandoning established production values.

Recording and production

Studio sessions

The recording of Highway Call took place entirely in 1974 at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia, the same facility where the Allman Brothers Band had recorded their previous albums. Sessions occurred in 1974, emphasizing live band interplay to preserve the raw energy of southern rock. The production utilized analog recording techniques standard for the era, with particular attention to capturing Dickey Betts' distinctive guitar tones alongside integrations of fiddle elements. Betts co-produced the album alongside Johnny Sandlin.

Personnel

Musicians Dickey Betts performed , , , and lead vocals on the album, while also contributing on several tracks. contributed on tracks including "Let Nature Sing," "Hand Picked," and "Kissimmee Kid," infusing the recordings with his renowned bluegrass fiddle style; he also composed the latter track. Chuck Leavell, who had previously played keyboards with , handled piano duties on all tracks. Tommy Talton played on "Long Time Gone" and "Highway Call." John Hughey provided on most tracks. David Walshaw played drums on all tracks. Stray Straton contributed bass on select tracks such as "Highway Call," "Hand Picked," and "Kissimmee Kid," along with backing vocals on the first three songs. The Rambos (Buck, Dottie, and ) supplied backing vocals on the opening four tracks. Leon Poindexter added acoustic guitar and backing vocals (with the Poindexters) on "Let Nature Sing." Oscar played on "Let Nature Sing." Jeff performed on "Hand Picked." Johnny Sandlin contributed on "Kissimmee Kid." Production Team The album was co-produced by and Johnny Sandlin. Sam Whiteside served as recording and re-mix engineer. Carolyn Harriss assisted as re-mix engineer.

Music and lyrics

Genre and style

Highway Call represents a fusion of , , and bluegrass, building on the Allman Brothers Band's established sound by incorporating more acoustic instrumentation and elements. The album's style emphasizes rootsy arrangements, with guest fiddler contributing bluegrass-inflected solos that add a rustic, Appalachian flavor to tracks like the "Hand Picked." This extension of the Allman Brothers' jam-oriented introduces a greater reliance on acoustic guitars and pedal steel, evoking the open-road ethos of the American South. Lyrically, the album explores themes of wandering, nature, and personal reflection, capturing the transient life of a traveling musician and a deep connection to the natural world. The title track, for instance, reflects on the pull of the and nostalgic memories of simpler times, such as childhood swimming holes. Songs like "Let Nature Sing" invoke panoramic American landscapes—rocks, crags, lakes, and forests—as sources of spiritual inspiration, blending country-gospel sentiments with introspective storytelling. Dickey Betts' guitar work on Highway Call seamlessly blends electric leads with acoustic picking, creating melodic, fluid lines that drive the rhythmic grooves alongside contributions from musicians like on . His playing, often described as ringing and slippery, maintains the soulful, country-blues inflection familiar from his Allman Brothers tenure while adapting to the album's more intimate, folk-leaning production. The album shares stylistic affinities with contemporaries like , particularly in its progressive country rock approach that merges rock energy with country and undertones for a distinctive southern hybrid.

Track listing

"Highway Call" consists of six tracks, written by except "Kissimmee Kid" by . The album's total runtime is approximately 35 minutes. The original 1974 vinyl release was configured across two sides, with no bonus tracks included.

Side one

  1. "Long Time Gone" (Betts) – 4:26 (reflective ballad)
  2. "Rain" (Betts) – 3:40 (mellow country tune)
  3. "Highway Call" (Betts) – 4:26 (title track with road theme)
  4. "Let Nature Sing" (Betts) – 5:02 (nature-inspired)

Side two

  1. "Hand Picked" (Betts) – 14:16 (extended jam; features fiddle; instrumental)
  2. "Kissimmee Kid" (Clements) – 3:12 (upbeat instrumental closer)

Release

Commercial release

Highway Call was commercially released on November 1, 1974, by Capricorn Records, with the catalog number CP 0123. The label, based in Macon, Georgia, specialized in southern rock and leveraged its established infrastructure to launch Betts' solo debut. The album launched in vinyl LP and 8-track tape formats, reflecting standard physical media options for the era, while no original edition appeared until subsequent reissues. The cover artwork depicts in a rural , intentionally crafted to align with the record's country-infused aesthetic and themes of open-road Americana. Distribution primarily targeted the , capitalizing on the Allman Brothers Band's dedicated fanbase and Capricorn's regional networks that had propelled the genre's growth. This approach ensured strong initial availability in key markets like Georgia, , and surrounding states.

Promotion and singles

The promotion of Highway Call was constrained by ' ongoing commitments to , which restricted extensive dedicated marketing efforts. To support the album's launch, issued various promotional items, including posters and photographs featuring Betts. Betts undertook a solo tour in late 1974, billed as the American Music Show, performing across the to highlight his solo work. No commercial singles were released from the album. The title track "Highway Call" functioned as the de facto lead, receiving limited radio airplay particularly in southern markets. Advertising appeared in music publications, with full-page ads in the UK emphasizing Betts' evolution as a solo artist beyond his Allman Brothers role. Additionally, Betts performed selections from Highway Call during Allman Brothers Band shows in 1974 and 1975, integrating them into sets to build audience familiarity.

Reception

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1974, Highway Call received positive contemporary reviews, with Billboard praising its "tasteful guitar work" and calling it "one of the finest LPs of the year" in its Top Album Picks. Retrospective assessments have been more favorable. AllMusic rated the album 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as Betts' finest solo effort for its seamless country-rock blend and inspired songwriting and guitar playing. No Depression called it "exuberant," emphasizing the effective fiddle integrations by Vassar Clements that created a rollicking mix of bluegrass, western swing, and jazz. Across reviews, common themes include high appreciation for the album's musicianship and instrumental prowess, though opinions remain mixed on the depth of songwriting when compared to Betts' contributions with . Modern fan reception remains positive, with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 on RateYourMusic based on over 260 user submissions as of November 2025.

Commercial performance

Highway Call achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at number 19 on the chart in 1974. This performance was bolstered by Dickey Betts' established role in , whose popularity facilitated crossover appeal for his solo debut. The album did not receive any RIAA certifications, reflecting its steady but not blockbuster sales within the context of the band's catalog.

Legacy

Reissues and remasters

The album Highway Call received its first remastered CD edition in 2001 by Polydor (a Universal Music Group imprint), presented with enhanced audio clarity over the original analog recordings. Subsequent reissues maintained the original six-track structure without adding bonus material, ensuring fidelity to Betts' intended mix and the Capricorn Studios sessions. A limited-edition remastered CD followed in Japan in 2021 via Mercury, featuring high-quality stereo mastering for audiophile listeners. Digital editions of Highway Call became widely available on streaming platforms starting in the , including full albums on and , allowing broader access to the remastered audio.

Cultural impact

Highway Call exemplified the emerging trend of artists venturing into solo projects that fused country elements with rock, following Gregg Allman's (1973) and influencing subsequent efforts within the genre by highlighting Betts' ability to blend bluegrass, , and influences. The album's country fusion model, featuring collaborations with fiddler and pianist , provided a blueprint for integrating traditional American roots music into rock solo endeavors, as noted in retrospectives on Betts' contributions to the landscape. The album maintains enduring appeal in jam band and Americana scenes, where its extended improvisational tracks and genre-blending style resonate with fans of extended jams and roots-oriented music. A 2023 retrospective in Americana-UK praised Highway Call as innovative for 1974, describing it as "one of the truly great country rock albums of the ‘70s" for illuminating Betts' childhood influences in old-time music and Irish folk tunes while pushing southern rock boundaries. This recognition underscores its lasting role in bridging southern rock with broader Americana traditions. Highway Call marked a pivotal step in Betts' solo career trajectory, establishing his independence as a songwriter and performer outside and paving the way for the formation of & Great Southern in the late 1970s during the band's hiatus. The album's success in showcasing Betts' guitar prowess and vocal style, as highlighted in No Depression, solidified his emergence as a vibrant country-rock voice, leading directly to his leadership of the new ensemble that toured and recorded through the decade. Archival recognition of Highway Call often emphasizes its demonstration of Betts' versatility, appearing in tributes and music histories that celebrate his multifaceted talents within the Allman Brothers' legacy. For instance, Vintage Guitar magazine's 2024 obituary noted the album's "effervescent" mix of jazz and country as a peak of Betts' creativity, revealing his deep passions for country music and reinforcing his status as a genre innovator.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/album/highway-call-mw0000199122
  2. https://www.discogs.com/master/186125-Richard-Betts-Highway-Call
  3. https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1974-10-26/
  4. https://dickeybetts.com/discography/highway-call/
  5. https://americana-uk.com/classic-americana-albums-richard-betts-highway-call
  6. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/dickey-betts-allman-brothers-best-songs-1235006572/
  7. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/the-allman-brothers-ramblin-man-175706/
  8. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/brothers-and-sisters-40th-anniversary-super-deluxe-edition-117859/
  9. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/capricorn-studios-allman-brothers-southern-rock-923818/
  10. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bandleader-duane-allman-dies-in-bike-crash-74611/
  11. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-allman-brothers-story-how-gregg-allman-keeps-band-going-after-duanes-death-75625/
  12. http://swampland.com/articles/view/title:dickey_betts_2000
  13. https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/fabulous-flip-sides/fabulous-flip-sides-dickey-betts-interview/
  14. https://www.longlivetheabb.com/p/in-praise-of-dickey-betts-part-1
  15. https://musicbrainz.org/release/0aedef96-3f20-3589-8693-e87f90e92c4a
  16. https://www.discogs.com/release/1654351-Richard-Betts-Highway-Call
  17. http://swampland.com/reviews/view/title:highway_call
  18. https://capricorn.mercer.edu/about/
  19. https://www.discogs.com/release/2920333-Richard-Betts-Highway-Call
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/3864538-Richard-Betts-Highway-Call
  21. https://nodepression.org/richard-betts-highway-call/
  22. https://americansongwriter.com/5-must-hear-songs-from-dickey-betts-solo-career/
  23. https://www.vintageguitar.com/76005/dickey-betts-1943-2024/
  24. https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/southern-rock-albums-of-all-time-allman-brothers-j
  25. https://www.bsnpubs.com/atlantic/capricorn.html
  26. https://nodepression.org/capricorn-records-and-the-rise-of-southern-rock/
  27. https://www.wideopencountry.com/how-capricorn-records-served-as-southern-rocks-sounding-board/
  28. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/gregg-allman-dickey-betts-nothing-matters-but-the-fever-238825/
  29. https://www.ebay.com/itm/126438102229
  30. https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/dickey-betts
  31. https://bloggerhythms.blogspot.com/2020/04/buried-treasure-richard-betts-highway.html
  32. https://www.ebay.com/itm/197757992425
  33. https://allmanbrothersband.com/community/general-chat-anything-goes/richard-betts-american-music-tour-full-show/
  34. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1974/Billboard%201974-08-24.pdf
  35. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/richard-betts/highway-call/
  36. https://www.discogs.com/release/18637372-Richard-Betts-Highway-Call
  37. https://open.spotify.com/album/0jzn97jgEXK43EuLnhGefQ
  38. https://music.apple.com/us/album/highway-call/1442937443
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