Producer Tom Dowd, in an effort to relieve Gregg Allman's dislike of recording in the studio, arranged for the band's full concert stage setup to be assembled in a Florida film soundstage owned by actor Burt Reynolds.

Paul Evans of Rolling Stone described the album as "Twin leads, Two drummers, an impossibly soulful vocalist — no American band ever emerged with the sheer power of the Allmans.

It's the tragedy of these terrific players that, ever since the long-ago deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, their albums have only echoed — clearly or confusedly — their original boom.

"[5] Bruce Eder of AllMusic gave it 3 stars out of 5, noting "After a year of personal and personnel problems, the Allman Brothers Band got back together to record the surprisingly consistent live-in-the-studio venture Where It All Begins.

Highlights include Gregg Allman's frank drug song "All Night Train," the Bo Diddley-beat-driven "No One to Run With," and the glorious dual-guitar workout "Back Where It All Begins.

"[3] John Metzger of The Music Box gave it four stars out of 5, saying "One of the most notable albums to be released in the past month is the Allman Brothers Band's Where It All Begins.