50 years ago this month, five twentysomethings from Jacksonville and one transplant from California left the practice pit proving ground known as Hell House and trucked up I-75 to Studio One in north Georgia. Over the next five weeks, they laid down eight finished tracks -- 41 minutes of what would soon become Southern Rock Gospel for evermore.
The young, longhaired redneck image of the sextet belied their stalwart virtuosity and dedication to the craft. The diesel engine of the Three Guitar Army, with legendary driver Ronnie Van Zant behind the wheel, fired off number after number. Songs like "Tuesday's Gone," "Gimme Three Steps," and, of course, "Free Bird."
The Call: What song is it you wanna hear?
The Response: Free Bird!
The musicians:
- Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals, lyrics
- Gary Rossington – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, slide guitar
- Allen Collins – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
- Ed King – bass and guitar
- Billy Powell – keyboards
- Bob Burns – drums and percussion
Three months later, MCA released these tracks as the band's debut record. The album title is parenthetical and self-referential, a phonetic spelling of the band's name. Lynyrd Skynyrd, as they were called, was a play on their old gym teacher nemesis's name: Leonard Skinner. And the cover of the album showed a randomly captured lightning strike in the background over Ed -- surely a sign of the lightning in a bottle they had just captured.
For the math majors among you, yes, there's a seventh band member in the photo. Bassist Leon Wilkeson had left the band before the recording sessions, which led to them onboarding Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King to play bass, but as they were putting the finishing touches on the album, Ronnie convinced Leon to return and Ed to become the third general in the Three Guitar Army. Leon showed up in time to get in the cover pic.
We all know what happened four action-packed years later. "The rest, as they say is history."
Up until two days ago, Gary Rossington existed as the last remaining living member of this historic posse. Gary rejoined Ronnie and the rest of the gang in that fishin' hole in the sky this week.
This song almost got scrapped from (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd). Thank goodness Ronnie Van Zant knew a dandy when he wrote it. Gary Rossington co-wrote this gem and is featured prominently in its axe-wielding. Enjoy... some sunny day.
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24 comments:
I once had a groom's mother request that we play simple man for the mother-son dance at the reception. We opted to have the DJ play it for them, as I'm . The bride asked if we could cut it after the first verse was through, thoroughly embarrassed at the selection.
I didn't really watch that video all the way through before... wow, it's like a kitten in a tree poster set to Southern rock.
About 30 minutes ago, I looked out of my office window and saw some smoke blowing from the mulch bed across the street. I didn't see a cigarette butt, but there was about a square foot of smoldering mulch. I filled a few buckets of water and extinguished the fire.
My good deed is done for the day. I'm ready to do some bad shit now.
That is a dandy of a ditty. Up until a few years ago, one of the former wives (I think Mrs. Ronnie VZ - owned a great little venue about a driver sand wedge from our office called Freebird Live. It was purchased and converted into a concept bar by the folks who own and publish Surfer Magazine. It is called, "Surfer, The Bar". Hot spot for the younger folks on a Friday night.
I tell myself I need to get up to Jax proper and drive around the band's old haunts including the high school. That would require a day with lots of boredom, and probably rain.
Danimal - I've been digging some clips of a guitar player named Dylan Adams from Jax who's a damn good player. He's in the Allmans/Skynyrd vein, and he can get it.
I forgot my right parenthesis above...apologies to the parenthesis police.
Thanks for the referral Rootsy - will be on the lookout.
oh, and i have two pairs of those cole haan's that were mentioned the other day. one pair is leather but the other are woven. extremely comfortable and the former are great for walking the golf course when/if attire calls for business casual. hopefully i won't be alienated here as a result.
Currently in Palo Alto. I believe it might be ground zero for those Cole Haans.
I would not have guessed that
It's a tech thing, I think. The ones with the knit uppers make sense, and leather uppers are fine with a colored mid/outsole. I can't get onboard with the brown upper/white outsole. Not that anyone cares what I'm onboard with.
Gheorghe: the Fashion Blog
I care deeply about Zfashion sense. It's why I kept it so tight when we roomed together.
first game of the season for my jv kids. chilly, windy evening here in the foothills of the blue ridge. even game all the way through - we probably had a bit more of the possession and more of the chances, but neither team could find the back of the net. in the final minute of the game, ball rolls behind our defense and our keeper (who has no experience - we have no keepers so we're taking turns) comes out of the box and picks it up. direct free kick to the other team. they score on the literal final kick of the game to win, 1-0.
keeper is devastated, kids are bummed. on to cincinnati.
Oof. The rotating keeper solution is fraught with issues.
Ugh, rob, sorry, buddy
another desultory loss for the hoyas, bringing a merciful end to their season. barring some divine intervention (always possible on the hilltop), patrick ewing will end his tenure as head coach with a 2-38 record in his final 40 big east games. woof.
buc-ee’s is coming to virginia, along the i-64 corridor between richmond and williamsburg. this is an exciting development!
I once got my '76 VW Rabbit up to 100 mph on that stretch of i-64. Clarence Long was riding shotgun, white knuckling and doubting the wisdom of pushing that car to that speed.
The 2nd buc-ee's reference in the last 30 minutes. The first from my 18-year old niece who made her first visit this morning at the Daytona location. Pleased to hear more folks are and will continue to be exposed to the wonderful and glorious world that is Buc-ees. God Bless the United States of America!
I’ll have to check out this Buc-ees when I get a chance.
I’m currently posted up on a stump by a toasty back field brush fire drinking a dales pale ale. Cheers.
Are the lads in Edinburrdah?
aye
paul newman would have loved those shoes.
cole haan luke.
Y’all goin to StA to play golf? Have a blast. Scotland’s my fav 😀
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