NEW HAVEN, USA - 15th SEPTEMBER: Guitarist Dickey Betts from American rock and blues group The ... [+]
The Allman Brothers’ music is surging on iTunes in the U.S. following some sad news. On Thursday (April 18), Dickey Betts, one of the earliest members of the rock band, passed away. He succumbed to his ongoing battle with cancer, and he was 80 years old.
Following Betts’ passing, fans of The Allman Brothers rushed to iTunes to purchase the group’s music. This is a common occurrence whenever a beloved artist dies, but it’s always especially notable for any artist or group who hasn’t scored a sales win in a long time.
At present, The Allman Brothers’ highest-charting hit on iTunes’ U.S. songs chart is “Ramblin’ Man,” which has long been one of the band’s biggest wins. At the time of writing, that tune sits at No. 41 on the ranking of the bestselling tracks in America.
No. 41 might seem like a fairly low spot for The Allman Brothers’ smash, but today is especially competitive on iTunes. Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department arrived at midnight EST, and both the full-length and the songs featured on it—of which there are more than 30—are dominating the sales platform. If the set had dropped at some other time, it’s likely that The Allman Brothers would appear much higher on this list.
Two other cuts from the same group also hit iTunes, though they appear below the No. 100 mark. “Midnight Rider” currently lands at No. 108, while “Jessica” comes in at No. 132.
Two of The Allman Brothers’ full-lengths also rank inside the top 100 on iTunes’ albums charts. A Decade of Hits 1969-1979 jumps to No. 20, while At Fillmore East (Deluxe Edition) [Live] settles at No. 50. Half a dozen other titles from the group sit below the No. 100 rung, with several versions of some favorites appearing.
All the sales of The Allman Brothers’ albums and songs following Betts’ passing may help the group return to the Billboard charts next week. If the outfit’s catalog continues to sell well, they may enjoy a healthy presence on some rock-focused rankings next frame.
