Disco de Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Street Survivors (Deluxe Edition) [Remaster]”

In September 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd had one of the worst reputations in rock 'n' roll. During the previous "five years of alcoholism" Ronnie Van Zant had single-handedly left a trail of trashed hotel rooms, whiskey-soaked gigs and fistfights over mistakes in the shows. On Labor Day weekend, 1976, just before the release of Skynyrd's new double-live LP "One More From The Road", founding guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins were involved in separate alcohol and drug related auto accidents. While DUI, Collins hit a parked car, knocking it across an empty parking lot. Fortunately, he emerged unscathed. Rossington was not so lucky. Passing out at the wheel of his brand new Ford Torino, with his foot on the gas, his car went out of control and knocked down a telephone pole, split an oak tree, and did $7,000 worth of damage to a house. It was Rossington's accident that was Ronnie Van Zant's inspiration to write "Whiskey bottles, and brand new cars; Oak tree you're in my way" for the song "That Smell".

During April, 1977 recording sessions, the band laid down tracks for a pair of new Van Zant-Rossington songs, the catchy "What's Your Name", which was inspired by a bar fight involving roadie Craig Reed, and a churning blues number called "Sweet Little Missy", that featured Billy Powell on keyboards and a searing Steve Gaines guitar solo. The later was dropped from the new album prior to it's release, and appears as a bonus track on the new expanded edition CD. Steve Gaines was one of the souths most promising young guitarists and sadly, the world never got to hear the full potential of what this musician would have had to offer. The band also recorded two new Gaines-Van Zant songs, "You Got That Right", a rocking celebration of the band's exhurberant touring lifestyle and "I Never Dreamed", an introspective ballad that addressed the fundamental shift in Ronnie Van Zant's priorities since the birth of his daughter, Melody, on September 19, 1976.

After all the turmoil Skynyrd had endured, they decided to call their new record "Street Survivors". The original album cover pictured the band standing tall, while flames engulfed them. The flames would be removed from the cover art just weeks later, deemed in poor taste. I myself am happy to see it return, as it holds a message that the band intended to convey. "More went into Street Survivors than any other album we have ever done," said Ronnie Van Zant. "Maybe there's not a big hit single on it like 'Sweet Home Alabama,' but it's the best we've ever done." Ronnie was wrong about the hit single though, because "What's Your Name" cracked the Top 10 singles charts.

"Street Survivors" marks a time of change for Lynyrd Skynyrd, as it is unlike any prior Skynyrd studio album. This is the one that features the triple-guitar assualt of Rossington-Collins-Gaines that was intoduced live on "One More From The Road", and that is most prominently featured on "That Smell". Highlights In addition to "That Smell", the top 10 "What's Your Name" and "You Got That Right", include a Steve Gaines song from his pre-Skynyrd days, "I Know A Little", a six year old Skynyrd song repolished that even pre-dates "Free Bird", "One More Time", and a brothelesque rocking little number that is one of my favorites, "Ain't No Good Life." Another key note is their cover of Merle Haggard's "Honkey Tonk Night Time Man". The world will never know where Skynyrd would have taken us musically, had the tragic events of October, 1977 not occured. "Street Survivors" was only the beginning of a new brand of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

ALAS, IT'S TIME TO BRING "STREET SURVIVORS" OUT OF THE CLOSET & CRANK UP THE SPEAKERS.

It's hard to believe I'm writing a review of a record that originally was released in 1977 (my senior year of high school)... but this 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition takes a great record and makes it better. Disc 1 is a remastered version of the original record while disc 2 is the original version of the record, recorded at Criteria Studios and produced by Tom Dowd. Disc 2 finishes up with 5 songs recorded live in California in August 1977. The Criteria Studios material is nice to hear and some of the versions sound quite different than the ones released on the original Street Survivors. My only complaint is that the quality of the recordings for the live material is pretty poor. Everything else sounds great, but the live tracks sound like mediocre quality bootleg recordings.

But now it's common knowledge. A mere three days after the triumphant release of one of their greatest albums, STREET SURVIVORS, Lynyrd Skynyrd would be struck down at their peak by the hands of fate. That we would never again hear from Ronnie Van Zant is a true tragedy, but we can take some comfort in knowing that he went down doing what he loved, traveling and singing his song, and that the band left us with this excellent final masterpiece.

Much praise has been heaped on this album since long before I started reviewing, with undoubtedly more to come, but I have listened to this time and again over the years, and am willing to stand by all the accolades. STREET SURVIVORS is a great album, and in many ways could be called Skynyrd's masterpiece.

From the get-go, STREET SURVIVORS establishes itself as something of a 'fresh start' for Skynyrd. Gone is the road-weariness and exhaustion of GIMME BACK MY BULLETS; in its place is a renewed sense of vitality and creative energy. "What's Your Name" and "You Got That Right" are the most energetic southern boogies Skynyrd has cut since SECOND HELPING, while "That Smell" grabs the dark edginess of "Saturday Night Special." On the flip side, "I Never Dreamed" is one of Ronnie's most poignant and accomplished ballades, as is "One More Time," a revival of a forgotten early gem.

Of course, while Ronnie's songwriting is the anchor of Skynyrd's sound, it wouldn't come to life without the excellent musicians Van Zant surrounded himself with. At the forefront is Steve Gaines, the rookie whose slick guitar picking goes a long way in giving this album its strength and energy. Gaines also proves to be a solid songwriter, collaborating with Ronnie on some of the albums highlights, and even contributing a few of his own songs, not least of which is the excellent honkey-tonk-meets-blues number "Ain't No Good Life." Meanwhile, Rossington and Collins are clearly inspired by the new guy, as their solos here are as fresh and captivating as they've ever been. And, of course Billy Powell submits some outstanding saloon style piano, especially on "Honkey Tonk Night Time Man," while Artimus and Leon manage the task of keeping the beat.

Really, praise of this album at this point is superfluous. But in this case, I feel compelled to contribute my two cents anyway. This is an excellent album, no doubt one of Skynyrd's best. And if the original band had to go out, at least they managed to go out on top. Highly recommended.

Anyone who doesn't like this album with the soulful tune and lyrics to "One More Time" just doesn't get it. I grew up in Alabama and was raised on this music. We lived it. Hey, if you don't feel the connection to Ronnie and Gary one this one, you never will.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest Lynyrd Skynyrd fan in the world. I like their music but I always felt that the songwriting wasn't up to snuff.

However, there are two exceptions in the bands catalog, and perhaps I'm the only person in the entire world to name these two particular exceptions- Nuthin' Fancy being one, and this one, Street Survivors.

The songwriting, the guitar solos and even the vocal melodies are really good this time around. My appreciation for this album honestly has nothing to do with the fact that terrible accident was to take place a few days after this albums release, however I *do* sense a little bit of a dreary/eerie vibe in a few of the songs that do seem to spark odd sensations that something bad was about to happen.

Some people believe "What's Your Name" and "Gimme Three Steps" are more or less the same song, but if that's the case, then why do I prefer "What's Your Name" a lot more? I just love the brassy section and the vocal melody. A great sing along-type tune totally deserving of its major hit status.

The next song titled "That Smell" is one of those eerie songs I mention above. There's something really haunting about it. I can't explain what it is exactly, but the guitar playing flows in such a way that's not only pretty fast and melodic (and just downright awesome) but there seems to be something else about this track that captures my interest. I totally believe there's a lot of atmosphere to it. I really can't point out exactly WHAT it is that makes it so atmospheric though.

Another song with an eerie vibe is the next one- "One More Time". The guitar playing is basically crying, the lyrics are extremely impactful, and especially the inclusion of a haunting keyboard (I think?) after Ronnie sings the chorus "Ooooone mooooore tiiiiime".

I honestly believe the vocal work overall is a REALLY big improvement and feels much tighter compared to previous Skynyrd albums. Ronnie Van Zant was on top of his game for this album. I always believed he had a top notch emotional singing voice capable of really moving the listener, and he proves it with this entire album.

"You Got that Right" is like a rewritten version of "What's Your Name" which of course means a rewrite of "Gimme Three Steps", haha. Whatever. I love it.

Let's not forget the absolutely beautiful "I Never Dreamed". Perfect guitar playing chugging along to a great vocal delivery. A song that's instantly likeable.

I highly recommend Street Survivors for those who want to experience a band that released what I consider a masterpiece.