Little Martha - Duane Allman cover

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The guitar here is played and then produced by: Loo Wood ツ Guitar
"Little Martha" was the only Allman Brothers Band track written solely by group leader and partial namesake Duane Allman. The tune first appeared on the final studio track on the Allman Brothers Band's fourth album, Eat a Peach, released in 1972. The track was recorded in October 1971, a few weeks before Duane Allman's death in a motorcycle accident.

Little Martha is in the key of E Major, and the guitars are tuned in an Open E Tuning (E-B-E-G#-B-E).

Allman's original recording of the song is a bouncy fingerstyle acoustic guitar instrumental duet with minimal accompaniment. Allman and bandmate Dickey Betts played the tune on 6-string guitars using open E tuning. The song's simple melody and rhythmic counterpoint quickly made it a favorite among fans; acoustic guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke, who often covered the song in performance, once called it "the most perfect guitar song ever written."

The story goes that Allman had a dream where Jimi Hendrix showed him the melody of the tune in a Holiday Inn motel bathroom, using the sink faucet as a guitar fretboard. Remembering the melody during the October 1971 sessions that produced most of the third side of what would become Eat a Peach, Allman laid down the track, joined only by Dicky Betts and bassist Berry Oakley, though Oakley's part would be mixed out of the final version, leaving the number as a duet for the two guitarists. (Oakley's part would be restored on the 1989 box set Dreams.)

It is commonly believed that the song's namesake was Martha Ellis, a twelve-year-old girl whose grave the Allman Brothers Band most likely came across during their frequent trips to Rose Hill Cemetery in their homebase of Macon, Georgia. (Both Duane Allman himself and Berry Oakley would be buried there by the end of 1972). However, as with Dicky Betts' 1970 instrumental "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed", the song seems to have been named for one person, while actually being about someone else. Little Martha was envisioned by Allman as an ode to his then-girlfriend Dixie Meadows. He had given her the pet name of Martha because of the vintage clothing she sometime wore - Duane saying "you look like Martha Washington." After Allman's death, Meadows sued unsuccessfully for control of his estate.

The song has occasionally been recorded by other instrumentalists in the decades since its original release, including notable versions by guitarists Leo Kottke, Tim Farrell, Loo Wood and dobro virtuoso Jerry Douglas.

Up to Gregg's death RIP in 2017. The song was played over the PA system after every Allman Brothers Band show as a tribute to Duane Allman.

From roughly 1985-2005, Little Martha, along with Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Stang's Swang", was played on Kentucky Educational Television during a scroll of significant sponsors at the end of the broadcast day.

Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use.
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The closing of 59 years !!! Happy 60th B-day Loo. Loving every day and every night I am have been blessed to spend with you. Great playing, as always. Your #1 Fan - Charlie Chan :)

viktheappraiser
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The sound of the guitar🎸 expresses us all the beautiful feeling of the melody, beautiful. Thanks for sharing 🎸

bebaaliciacreations
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Happy Birthday :) Thanks for the share too... a little musical boost as I leave for work.

trw
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bravo maestro loo. i just woke from a deep sleep and got to listen to you and your live recording. what a complete treat to hear you in this fashion. pure sweetness my dear friend. i see that you may be celebrating a new birth year, and i wish you so many more filled with the love of life and music. peace, rich

kidderminsterbro
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It's privilege to know you and work with you. Your talent is simply amazing! I absolutely love your style on this acoustic "Little Martha." You know how to bring a song to life Loo!

Cheers,
Tyler

TylerNicholsMusic
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I think you channeled some of that Allman magic here Loo! This is an incredible performance, showcasing everything you've got! This has it all, beautiful picking patterns and strumming. You play with such mastery and really felt that! What a special treat to watch you play live through the whole song, too. Love that little smile at the end. You are looking and sounding just GREAT Loo!! Just saw your collab with Tyler too and that was incredible...had to share it. He could not have chosen a better or more professional collaborative partner! ~Jackie

ClassicalJams
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I love the Allman Brothers. You picked a great cover to do. What an amazing performance.I saw you on Tyler's channel. I subbed #329. Enjoy your night. New subscriber.💛 Ashley 💛

AshleyNewman