In all probability, the Allman Brothers Band would’ve leapt to the fore of music’s commercial and critical elite had it not been for Duane’s fateful motorcycle accident that altered history and the trajectory of the group’s course. A statement of purpose and homage, Eat a Peach extends the guitarist’s legacy in the form of three heart-racing live tunes recorded at Fillmore East, none more important than the nearly 34-minute harmonic showcase “Mountain Jam.” Begun at the end of “Whipping Post” during the final show of the group’s four-gig stand, the tour de force improvisation finds the band at the peak of its telepathic aural and communicative capacities.

Not that the three studio originals with Duane are by any means forgettable. “Blue Sky” epitomizes the gorgeously elegant colors with which the late virtuoso could paint while the heart-stopping sentimental feel of “Little Martha” finds just he and Dickey Betts engaged in spiritual communion. To this extent, the band continues a mellower vibe on the hit “Melissa,” a country-rock ballad that taps into a melancholy feel largely courtesy of Gregg Allman’s weary vulnerability and Betts’ lyrical, slap-back-echoing guitar lines.