Spanning four discs and 55 tracks,
Dreams is one of those rare box sets that tells a story while delivering the definitive word on its subject. Its success has a lot to do with its status as Polygram/Bill Levinson's sequel to the acclaimed hit Crossroads, which summarized
Eric Clapton's winding career perfectly. They follow the same approach here, gathering pre-
Allman Brothers Band recordings from the clan, including cuts by
the Allman Joys, selecting the hits from the classic years, and adding stray cuts by solo projects to the mix. It's a smart move and it results in a terrific box that truly offers the definitive word on one of the longest-running dramas in Southern rock. Yes,
the Allmans reunited rather successfully after this box, so none of that material is here, but it's not missed -- this is the story of the classic band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine