Hot 'Lanta

"Hot 'Lanta" is an instrumental song performed by the Allman Brothers Band. It debuted on their live album At Fillmore East, released in July 1971, the fifth song on the album. "Hot 'Lanta" is a nickname of Atlanta, Georgia.

This song only appears on live albums. It evolved out of a jam session when Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts got the idea for the melody line. This was a feature song at concerts for bass player Berry Oakley until his death in a motorcycle accident in 1972.

Hot 'Lanta is also the name that Duane Allman gave his 1958 Darkburst Les Paul, which he used for his guitar parts on Eric Clapton's "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs." Both Hot 'Lanta, and Brownie, Eric Clapton's Stratocaster that he used to record along with Duane, are now on display at Seattle's Experience Music Project.

Song information

The song begins with a statement of the theme, followed by solos from Gregg Allman (organ), Duane Allman (guitar), and Dickey Betts (guitar). There is then a (duet) drum break, and then a restatement of the theme, which ends on a dissonant chord that fades into a drone of organ and intermittent snare drum rolls, then growing into a powerful crescendo accentuated by the timpani playing of drummer Butch Trucks.

The composition has elements in common with jazz rock and progressive rock.