Queen of Hearts by Gregg Allman

Album: Laid Back (1973)

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Songfacts®:

Gregg Allman wrote this for Janice Blair, who was the second of his six wives - she married him in 1973 and they divorced in 1975. Janice is the sister of Ron Blair, the bassist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Gregg Allman originally intended this for The Allman Bros' Brothers and Sisters LP. "That song took me about a year and a half to write," he told American Songwriter magazine. "We were rehearsing for the Brothers and Sisters album in 1973, and I had this pile of confetti around the piano where I'd tear it [the song] up in a rage and then go back to it. I finally played it for the band and one of them, I won't say who, said, 'Well, it just ain't sayin' nothin'.' I was livid. So I got on the first thing smokin' to Miami and recorded the Laid Back album."

Comments: 12

Holly from OhioBeautiful song....
Janel from SacramentoI was not too familiar with this song until the past few years. I'd heard it on "Laid Back" but didn't paid much attention to it until the DVD "All my Friends" came out. It has become one of my favorite Gregg Allman songs of all times. So beautifully written. I really love it! The jazziness of it is so cool and shows how versatile Gregg could be....my fav!
Jack, Lived In Warner Robbins At The Same Apartment Complex Janice And Her Mom Doris Lived In from Belle Glade Fl.We were very good friends, and hung out together.
Willah from Sf Bay AreaLoved this exquisite song and its surprisingly juxtaposed beautifully melancholy and jazzy riffs from the first time I heard it as a teen in 1973. Whenever I play it, whether at home entertaining guests, or on my car stereo, people of all ages who've never heard it before stop what they're doing and ask me for the name of the song title and artist. I find it timeless and achingly touching. If I could have my way, after enjoying a long and happy life, I'd like to spend my very last moments comfortably in my own bed, listening to this song as a send-off...
Ron from Boca Raton, FlLuckily snuck back stage at Felt Forum in NYC sat on drum case literally next to Gregg’s wife for that show! It was incredible! Gregg was amazing and whole band was perfection...Gregg was about 3 feet away from us....wow
Tim from Apex, NcAs said above, which no doubt came from Gregg's book My Cross to Bear, this song IS the reason Laid Back got recorded! The Brothers gave it a rather nasty thumbs down. Turned out to be just the push he needed! We should thank them all!
Deborah from Oakland, CaThis song takes me back to 1973, when I was introduced to Greg Allman by my roommate at the time, Cindy Glessner. She constantly played the "Laid Back" album and "Queen of Hearts" always resonated with me. Whenever I hear that steel guitar intro, my heart goes back to those days of smoking lots of weed and being 22 and single in the 70's. Good times.
Ken from Chicago, IlReference to Duane: "To leave it lay for just one day...Oh, brother you're gonna come back to find it gone"
Greg from Harrington Park, NjBeautifully arranged, jazzy, melancholy lyrics, a musical masterpiece. Easily the best song Gregg Allman has ever written and it was for his solo album Laid Back, not w the Allman brothers band unfortunately. If you have never listened to or heard the Laid Back album you need to ASAP. It is a must have - from the beginning to the end the album is flawless.
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnNot to be confused with the Dave Edmunds song of the same title, or the cover of that song by Juice Newton.
Robby from Nyc, NySensitive and jazzy, introspective. Love playing along with.
Pete from Nowra, Australiathat's nice

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