 Work stalled on Laid Back as production commenced on Brothers and Sisters, though the two were worked on roughly concurrently. Sandlin, a former Hour Glass bassist and longtime Allman friend, helped hire various session musicians to work on the album, including Boyer and Tommy Talton on guitars, Bill Stewart on drums, and Charlie Hayward on bass guitar. Allman likened the album's presence to a mistress, noting that the rest of the band were not thrilled. It slowed down progress on their own album, and it created tension between the group, particularly between Allman and guitarist Dickey Betts. Nevertheless, several Allman Brothers members made appearances on Laid Back, including Jaimoe, who provided congas, and Chuck Leavell, a new addition to the Brothers, who added piano. Leavell stayed in Macon after leaving Dr. John's band, and found himself contributing to both albums. Allman felt Leavell's style of playing fit the album perfectly: "He'd give you exactly what you wanted, without any questions, and if he embellished on a song, he made it even better."
