Album: At Fillmore East (1971)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is an instrumental that only appears on live albums. It evolved out of a jam session when Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts got the idea for the melody line.
  • This was a feature song at concerts for bass player Berry Oakley until he died in a motorcycle accident in 1972.
  • The title is a nickname for the city of Atlanta. The Allman Brothers are from the nearby city of Macon.

Comments: 10

  • Peter Hanson from CanadaYes, this is a great tune. I heard somewhere that it was about driving into Atlanta on a freeway at night. Is there any truth in this?
  • Slimslam from Apache Jct. AzThis and Liz Reed are the two best instrumentals ever recorded!
  • Ken from Portland, OrOne of the best songs that EVER charted !!....
  • Jim from Novi, MiAn amazing perfromance..I only wish I has seen the band perform back in the day.
  • Vince from Lantana, FlRockin Guitar by Duane and Dickey,,,,These guys were the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
  • Steven from Nyc, NdI saw the Allmans on 3/12/71, the weekend they recorded that now live classic album at the Fillmore East when they opened for the mighty Johnny Winter. I wish I could build a time machine and go back to that show every single night! The dual guitars in "Hot 'Lanta" remind me of 2 warriors on horses having a sword fight. I still listen to Duane and Johnny, who is now a good friend of mine regularly. It keeps me strong and honest. SKYDOG FOREVER!!! Johnny Winter too!
  • Jim from Laramie, WyFirst word I can think of to discribe Hot 'Lanta is scary. It scared me that anybody had the capability to create this song and bring it to life. Absolutly unbelievable musicianship all around by the Allman Brothers Band. The opening with Gregg Allman on the Organ just maks your stomach sick, and then Duane and Dickey come in with dueling riff that makes you sweat from it's hotness. The song is a jam put into 5 minutes of intensity, with the dueling drums of Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, and the forever soul grabbing thump of Berry Oakley's bass. The ending of the song is perfect, a must listen of the Allman Brothers Band...---never recorded in studio--only live, Fillmore East album
  • Jack from Oak Ridge, NcClimactic, blistering, fret-melting, HOT solo by duane allman.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Scsome people still call Atlanta Got'lanta. I heard my dad use it.
  • Grey from Knoxville, Tngood god the allman brothers are good
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."