At Fillmore East jazz. "Fusion is a term that came later, but if you wanted to look at a fusion album, it would be "Fillmore East". Here was a rock 'n' roll band playing blues in the jazz vernacular. And they tore the place up," said Dowd. Announcer Michael Ahern opens "At Fillmore East" with a simple introduction: "Okay, the Allman Brothers Band." Duane Allman biographer Randy Poe describes it as "the only low-key moment over the course of the [show]." The cover of Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" which opens the set showcases Duane Allman's slide guitar work in open E tuning.
Jaimoe (November 1969) and "Idlewild South" (September 1970) brought positive critical reviews but only limited commercial success. Their third album, however, recorded live at one of their favorite concert halls, Bill Graham's Fillmore East in New York City in March 1971, made them one of the biggest rock acts in America. "At Fillmore East" became a RIAA certified gold album in late October 1971, finally bringing the group the chart success that had eluded them. The band quickly suffered tragedy, however. Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident a few days later. Shaken by the loss of Allman, the group