Today we have Lynyrd Skynyrd's fifth studio album and last album with the band's original lineup Street Survivors. Released in 1977, the album was the first with new guitarist Steve Gaines, who also sang the last song on the album. It was released only three days before a plane crash that took the lives of band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and back-up singer Cassie Gaines. Because of this tragedy, the original album cover with flames was changed to a black background to show respect for the members that died. On the cover, Van Zant, third from the left, is wearing a Neil Young shirt (which I own!) to show his respect for the artist after calling him out on "Sweet Home Alabama." The band disbanded after the plane crash but would later reform in 1987 with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny as the new lead singer.
Despite the fact that Skynyrd once again has three guitarists, this isn't a return to their sound on Second Helping or Nuthin' Fancy. Instead, it's their most adventurous album with a horn section on the opener and Steve Gaines bringing a 50s-inspired guitar boogie "I Know a Little" and the bluesy "Ain't No Good Life." The repetitiveness of the chorus ("Oo that smell/Can't you smell that smell?/The smell of death around you") on "That Smell" bothers me some, but the strong lyrical verses as well as the guitar solo make up for it. Likewise, the risks taken on the album make up for most of its issues. Part of the problem with Gimme Back My Bullets was that it was pretty much the same style as their three previous album and the songwriting was slightly worse. The songwriting isn't their best here either, but with the unique sound of the album and the band's always convincing and effortless playing, it doesn't matter much. B+
(Scroll down for a ranking of their best albums!)
Well, we finished Lynyrd Skynyrd! It's really unfortunate that the plane crash stopped their career short, especially because the band seemed ready to embark on an interesting detour in their sound. Of course, the band reunited years later but I'm not at all interested in Skynyrd without Ronnie Van Zant, who is one of the best front men for a band I've come across this year. Although Gimme Back My Bullets (their only studio album not to score a B+ or higher) is for sure their weakest release, it's good and you might as well give it a listen along with everything else. Even their live album is a must listen for those who enjoy their debut. Check them out!
Here's a ranking of their best albums (B+ or higher):
Honorable mention: One More for the Road (1976):
A fantastic live album and the only reason it isn't a B+ is because it's 80 minutes long and hard to fit into my schedule. B
4. Street Survivors (1977):
Steve Gaines joins the band and helps make it their most unique release. It's probably not going to be my first choice when I want to hear Skynyrd, but it'll always be in the discussion. More time with this and I might rank this higher than Nuthin' Fancy. B+
3. Nuthin' Fancy (1975):
The band probably should have taken more time to get everything right in the studio. For one, they wouldn't have parted ways with Al Kooper who did a great job with the production on their first two albums (and this one). But, like Second Helping, this has some of the band's best songwriting and knowing how fast it was recorded mostly leaves me in awe of the band, not wishing it were better. B+
2. Second Helping (1974):
Epitomized by their signature song "Sweet Home Alabama," this album highlights the band's incredible strength and discipline in the studio. From a personal favorite "I Need You" to the tribute to black blues musicians "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," it doesn't have a bad song on it. A-
1. Pronounced Leh'-nerd Skin'-nerd (1973):
I suggested on my Second Helping review that I might like it better than their debut and I figured after listening to both in preparation for making this list that they would be close, coming down to the most minute details. First, I listened to this, their debut. Then I ranked it first. I still listened to Second Helping out of principle afterwards and boy it was grand, but yeah, it never had a chance. Expect to see this on the year-end list! A-