![]() He developed a habit of drinking nightly, then popping a tranquilizing Quaalude pill to fall asleep (which, on their own, weren’t actually too outrageous or scandalous at the time-I mean, even The Brady Bunch was using them). With all of that success, though, came almost unimaginable access to drugs, alcohol, and other material excesses… and the pressures of those new variables on the band’s lives began to stack up.Įventually, the folks in the Lynyrd Skynyrd camp began to settle into a lifestyle of substance abuse-and Rossington was no exception. The car accident came in 1976-the band was already known around the world thanks to their songs like “Free Bird,” “Simple Man” and, of course, “Sweet Home Alabama,” all of which charted during the first half of the decade. To that end, the story of the song itself is bookmarked by two unfortunate events: a car accident involving guitarist Gary Rossington and, ultimately, the infamous plane crash that would bring about the end of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not only does its lyrics acutely speak to the dangerous (and often-fatal) risks of substance abuse and addiction, but they capture a bit of the essence of the man who wrote them, vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Representing the relentless efforts all band members put together, the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd debut well deserves this spot.Since it first came out in October 1977, “That Smell” by Lynyrd Skynyrd has remained one of those special songs that holds a coveted spot in the hearts of millions… and for good reason. The album peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 in 1975 and was certified gold a year after its release. It was later dedicated to Ronnie after the plane crash.įollowing its release, ‘(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd)’ became a huge success and secured them a slot opening for The Who on their American tour. ‘Simple Man,’ on the other hand, is a song Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant wrote after the passing of Rossington’s mother and Ronnie’s grandmother. The song is also responsible for launching the band to national stardom. ![]() ‘Free Bird’ became the band’s signature song and the longest in their catalog, which the band often played for more than 14 minutes when on stage. ![]() ‘(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd)’ was the album that built the Lynyrd Skynyrd legacy. The Lynyrd Skynyrd album that deserves the number-one spot on our list is their iconic debut ‘(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd).’ Released in 1973, the album features songs that are still Lynyrd Skynyrd’s favorite efforts, such as ‘Tuesday’s Gone,’ ‘Gimme Three Steps,’ ‘Simple Man,’ and, of course, ‘Free Bird.’ Most songs on this record were already in their repertoire, and the band mesmerized Al Kooper with their flawless performances in the studio. It featured some songs that became essential pieces of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s repertoire, including ‘The Needle and the Spoon,’ ‘Call Me The Breeze,’ ‘Don’t Ask Me No Questions,’ and ‘Workin for MCA.’ However, the most successful hit spawned from ‘Second Helping’ was ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ which the band wrote as a response to Neil Young’s ‘Southern Man’ and ‘Alabama.’ 1. The album represented the band’s unique take on Southern music-influenced blues rock. Besides, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s dazzling triple-guitar performance was showcased in ‘Second Helping,’ especially in ‘Call Me the Breeze.’ It saw King, Collins, and Rossington collaborate with Ronnie on the songwriting and was a milestone for them as a breakthrough album. ‘Second Helping’ was released during this period. Second Helping (1974)Īfter they opened for the Who on the band’s Quadrophenia tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd started to appeal to a broader audience. ![]() ![]() ‘What’s Your Name’ was ‘Street Survivors” most successful single, while the second single ‘That Smell,’ written after Gary Rossington’s car crash, failed to chart. However, the band took a ten-year hiatus following the plane crash, and Johnny Van Zant decided to stay in the country rock territory rather than follow the new direction of Ronnie’s era. Looking through the songs featured in ‘Street Survivors,’ it’s apparent that they experimented with a new approach in this album as it had a more adventurous and energetic tone. Steve Gaines had a chance to showcase his musicianship on this album and shared vocals with Ronnie on ‘You Got That Right’ and ‘I Know A Little.’ It was also an instant success for Lynyrd Skynyrd after its release, achieving gold certification in just ten days. Despite these theories, ‘Street Survivors’ was a huge chart success - it became their second platinum album and reached number 5 on the US album chart. ![]()
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