The first thing that hits you is the voice, worn around the edges and full of the heartbreak that comes with life and love. As Michael Allman wails through “If Dreams Were Money,” his world-weary vocals bringing up inevitable comparisons to his famous father, the sheer power of the music seeps into your soul. Soon it hits you, and you realize this is the real thing. If Michael’s evocative singing was the only attraction on Michael Allman’s Hard Labor Creek, it would still be worth hearing, but there is a lot more going on than that. Some of the most gifted musicians in ....Georgia...., from young slide guitar prodigy Tony Tyler to Motown alumnus and keyboard legend Ike Stubblefield, contribute to the overall sound of this remarkable record.  Also included are the soulful backing vocals by ....Atlanta.... local favorite Diane Durrett and percussion from Derek Trucks Band drummer, Yonrico Scott. The one and only Col. Bruce Hampton also has a memorable cameo appearance.  Still, the spotlight is firmly on Michael, who wrote four of the songs on the CD, and delivers each tune with the kind of thoughtful approach that squeezes the inner meaning out of every word. The lyrics in songs like “Running Alone Again”, “It Ain’t Me” and “Circus Full of Clowns” address universal topics like love and loss in a way that any listener can relate to. Allman is planning a Spring 2010 U.S. Tour to support the CD w/ songs like “What’s The World Coming To”, “If Dreams Were Money” and the unique “Mule Named Whiskey” that will make everyone, young and old want to dance.

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