3x****
For one of the jamming sacred cows, the majority of the record is relatively concise and radio-friendly. "Ain't Wastin Time No More"**** is a surprisingly mellow beginning, but the mellow grooving verses are punctuated by perfectly resolved choruses. "Les Brers In A Minor" has an interestingly angular theme which would have been better without almost 4 minutes of noodling at the beginning. Radio hit "Melissa" closes out side 1. Side 3 picks up with slide-driven live "One Way Out"****, the most amusing and energetic track. Live "Trouble No More" is straight riff-based blues. The keyboard of "Stand Back" has a definite Faces feel, but would be perfect without the incessant slide guitar belches starting each phrase. "Blue Sky" must by the song that launched a million 90's jam bands; the comfortable harmonies are catchy and set the template for many lesser imitators. Closer "Little Martha" is a pretty bluegrass instrumental that has probably been used by a PBS show about the outdoors at some point. "Mountain Jam" encompasses sides 2 and 4, and if I liked jam bands this might be nirvana. I wouldn't know.
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