Rock 101-Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Ronnie Van Zandt and his band started a musical genre that has defined a generation. Unfortunately, a plethora of fakers and wannabes have attempted to cash in on the Lynyrd Skynyrd sound and style. Only a few bands can personify the southern rock sound; The Outlaws, Black Oak Arkansas, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, The Marshall Tucker Band and most recently Blues Traveler come to mind. The “new” Lynryd Skynyrd only has one original member, Gary Rossington, and he does his best to keep the flame lit, but I have a hard time listening to them.
The first Skynyrd song I can remember is 1975’s “Saturday Night Special” from the “Nuthin’ Fancy” album. They had already established themselves by then and I was around 12 or so at the time. In the summer of ’75, “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” was at the top on AM, but Skynyrd was killin’ it on the FM dial. I had an AM clock radio at the time and only FM stations playing true rock at that time. When the off chance that AM radio would spin that song, I learned to turn the volume up to 11. Giggle. Spinal Tap reference. My Sears & Roebuck radio would crackle and spit, and I would air guitar with the best. Good times…
Most of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s best music came from their first two albums, “Pronounced Leh-nerd-Skin-nerd” and “Second Helping”. Very similar to the band Boston’s library. Unfortunately, the third issue,” Gimme Back My Bullets” had the title song, but not much else. The live album “One More From the Road” followed and is one of the best lives albums ever produced. “Foghat Live” and “Kiss Alive” can lie claim to that also.
“Street Survivors” had Steve Gaines replacing Ed King (mostly; Ed is credited for one track) and Artimus Pyle was on his second tour of duty as drummer. This was a refreshing follow up, but was tragically ended with the infamous plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zandt, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray.
I watched a documentary on the band a few weeks ago and Artimus Pyle claimed that Ronnie was considering to bring back former members, guitarist Ed King and original drummer Bob Burns. This would have given them a dual drum combo and a four-lead guitar ensemble. Holy cow, can you imagine the sound that would have been.
Lynyrd Skynyrd At Its Best
1. Workin’ For MCA
2. Gimme Three Steps
3. I Need You
4. Don’t Ask Me No Questions
5. I Ain’t The One
6. The Needle and the Spoon
7. Saturday Night Special
8. Gimme Back My Bullets
9. Poison Whiskey
10. Mr. Banker-(Special addition to the 2001 re-mix of "Pronounced Leg-nerd-Skin-nerd)
11. Swamp Music
12. Tuesday’s Gone
13. Down South Jukin’
14. What’s Your Name-
15. Call Me the Breeze
16. Free Bird (Lower on the list only because it has been played a million times)
I didn’t list “Sweet Home Alabama” because it is themost overplayed song on the radio. Worse than “Stairway To Heaven”. Today’s pop country fakers have soiled a great song. Great for Ronnie’s heirs, bad for true fans. I first heard “Free Bird” on the live album, but the studio recorded version is the one you hear the most. It too was overplayed as well, but has one of the greatest solo guitar licks ever. Allen Collins absolutely shreds it…
I wish I could have seen them live. Not many bands make decent live acts; they are just better in the studio than live. Listen to a live Rolling Stones song; painful to hear…. Ronnie Van Zandt insisted that there would be no “musical interpretation”; the tunes were played the same way each time. You Tube is full of Skynyrd performances and I particularly like the live version of “Workin’ For MCA”. Bassist Leon Wilkeson is standing behind Ronnie Van Zandt and is in the zone. Good stuff people…
Who knows how great they could have become? The 70’s scene was pretty taxing on musicians and they may have fizzled out with a whimper and a cry. Drugs and booze ruined a lot of players in those days and a lot of the band had issues. I’d like to think that they would have got their act together and kept it goin’.
I mean, come on. Keith Richards is still here…
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