‘Jessica’: Instrumental In The Allman Brothers Band’s Success

Some tracks don’t achieve a chart position that reflects their later standing in music history. Such is the case with a famous instrumental that entered the American charts on January 19, 1974. The Allman Brothers Band were coming off the biggest hit of their careers with the Dickey Betts composition “Ramblin’ Man,” and looked to Betts again for another 45 from their Brothers And Sisters album.

“Jessica” was the track, one of the most exhilarating guitar-led instrumentals of the 1970s, even if many fans may never have known it by name. On the Billboard Hot 100 that week, it was one of only five new entries, starting at No.90 alongside debuts by Cher, the Dells, Ashford & Simpson and Rick Derringer.

Album rock radio dug it, of course, but this time not all of the pop programmers who’d voted for “Ramblin’ Man” were quite so keen. “Jessica” lost its bullet (for “greatest upward movement”) in week two as it climbed to No.85, regained it for a week with a jump to No.75, then lost it again at No.70. It managed one more climb, to No.65, before falling away, but the track has been a familiar piece in the wider entertainment world ever since.

Listen to the Allman Brothers Band’s Best Of playlist.

In the mid-1970s, “Jessica” became even more familiar to radio listeners in London, England as a theme on Capital Radio’s album rock show Your Mother Wouldn’t Like It, and then won a huge audience as the theme for BBC Television’s Top Gear motoring series. It’s also been featured in numerous movies, TV shows like The Simpsons and My Name Is Earl, and far beyond.

There was later glory, too, for a live recording of “Jessica” that was included on the album An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set, which was released in 1995. The following year, that version won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Browse The Allman Brothers Band’s music on limited edition vinyl and CDs here.