Hour Glass (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Defunct | 1968 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Soul music albums and singles |
Hour Glass was a soul ensemble from the United States, active in Los Angeles, California between 1967 and 1968. Prominent members included future founders of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman and Gregg Allman, as well as future Muscle Shoals session artists Pete Carr, Johnny Sandlin, and Paul Hornsby.
History
Emerging from the merger of two southern rival acts, The Allman Joys (Florida) and the Men-its (Alabama), Hour Glass secured a deal with Liberty Records through their manager Bill McEuen following a performance in St. Louis in early 1967.
After moving to Los Angeles, they supported notable groups such as The Doors and Buffalo Springfield while working on their debut album, The Hour Glass. This record included pop-oriented soul songs written by staff composers like Jackson Browne and Jimmy Radcliffe, but it did not capture the band's raw blues and R&B energy heard during live shows. This mismatch contributed to disappointing sales despite appearances at venues including The Fillmore Ballrooom and Troubadour. The lead single featured Radcliffe's "Nothing But Tears" on its A-side.
Concerns from the label limited their opportunities to perform extensively. After the departure of bassists Mabron McKinney and Bob Keller, the band carried on, recording a second album titled Power of Love. This effort introduced bassist Pete Carr and incorporated more original compositions by Gregg Allman. Although this release better represented their sound, it also failed to achieve commercial success.
In pursuit of greater recognition, Hour Glass recorded several tracks at Muscle Shoals' renowned FAME Studios, demonstrating their true capabilities. However, Liberty Records declined to release these sessions, leading to the group's breakup after a handful of final shows in the Southeast.
Following this, Duane and Gregg Allman relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, where they collaborated with folk-rock outfit The 31st of February, which included drummer Butch Trucks. Meanwhile, other members returned to Muscle Shoals to engage in session work.
After demos submitted by The 31st of February were rejected by their label, Gregg Allman went back to Los Angeles to complete Hour Glass’s contractual obligations with Liberty. He recorded several tracks with session musicians; among these was a cover of Tammy Wynette's "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." released under "Gregg Allman and the Hour Glass," though it did not chart. Additional recordings intended for an album remained unreleased until decades later when they appeared as bonus tracks on reissues.
Duane Allman reunited with former colleagues at Muscle Shoals and met drummer J. Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson. They enlisted bassist Berry Oakley from Jacksonville’s psychedelic blues group Second Coming and guitarist Dickey Betts. With the addition of second drummer Butch Trucks and Gregg on vocals and organ—who abandoned his solo pursuits—they established the core lineup that became the Allman Brothers Band.
Personnel
- Duane Allman – guitar, electric sitar, vocals
- Gregg Allman – vocals, organ, piano, guitar
- Paul Hornsby – piano, organ, guitar, vocals
- Johnny Sandlin – drums, guitar, gong
- Mabron McKinney – bass (1967)
- Bob Keller – bass (1967)
- Pete Carr – bass, guitar, vocals (1967–1968)
Albums
- Hour Glass (Liberty Records, 1967)
- Power of Love (Liberty Records, 1968)
- The Hour Glass (a compilation combining the two studio albums) (United Artists Records, 1973)
- Southbound (The Rare Liberty Recordings) (compilation release) (Acadia Records, 2004)
Singles
- October 1967: "Nothing But Tears" / "Heartbeat" – featured on Hour Glass (1967)
- March 1968: "Power of Love" / "I Still Want Your Love" – taken from Power of Love (1968)
- June 1968: "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" / "Changing of the Guard" (credited to Gregg Allman and the Hour Glass) – Side A recorded anew by Gregg Allman with session musicians; Side B originates from Power of Love (1968)
- September 1968: "She Is My Woman" / "Going Nowhere" (credited to Gregg Allman and the Hour Glass) – Side A newly recorded by Gregg Allman and session players; Side B sourced from Power of Love (1968)
- October 1968: "Now Is the Time" / "She Is My Woman" (credited to Gregg Allman and the Hour Glass) – Side A from Power of Love (1968); Side B previously released in September 1968
- January 1969: "I've Been Trying" / "Silently" (credited to Gregg Allman and the Hour Glass) – included on Hour Glass (1967)