The Allman Brothers came first, but Lynyrd Skynyrd epitomized Southern rock. The Allmans were exceptionally gifted musicians, as much bluesmen as rockers. Skynyrd was nothing but rockers, and they were Southern rockers to the bone. This didn't just mean that they were rednecks, but that they
brought it all together -- the blues, country, garage rock, Southern poetry -- in a way that sounded more like the South than even the Allmans. And a large portion of that derives from their hard, lean edge, which was nowhere more apparent than on their debut album, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd. Produced by Al Kooper, there are few records that sound this raw and uncompromising, especially records by debut bands. Then again, few bands sound this confident and fully formed with their first record. It's the birth of a great band that birthed an entire genre with this album.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1973 - (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
Label: MCA Records – 088 112 727-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2001
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Southern Rock, Classic Rock
TRACKS
01. I Ain't The One 3:5102. Tuesday's Gone 7:32Bass, Mellotron – Roosevelt Gook
Drums – Robert Nix
03. Gimme Three Steps 4:30Percussion – Bobbi Hall
04. Simple Man 5:57Organ – Roosevelt Gook
05. Things Goin' On 4:57Percussion – Bobbi Hall
06. Mississippi Kid 3:57Harmonica – Steve Katz
Mandolin, Bass Drum – Roosevelt Gook
Written-By – Al Kooper, Robert Burns
07. Poison Whiskey 3:11Organ – Roosevelt Gook
Written-By – Edward King
08. Free Bird 9:08Organ – Roosevelt Gook
BONUS TRACKS (DEMOS)
09. Mr. Banker (Demo) 5:22
Written-By – Edward King
10. Down South Jukin' (Demo) 2:57
11. Tuesday's Gone (Demo) 7:55
12. Gimme Three Steps (Demo) 5:19
13. Free Bird (Demo) 11:09
LINE - UP
Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals
Gary Rossington – lead guitar ("Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Things Goin' On", "Poison Whiskey"), rhythm guitar ("I Ain't the One", "Simple Man", "Mississippi Kid", "Free Bird")
Allen Collins – lead guitar ("I Ain't the One", "Free Bird"), rhythm guitar ("Tuesday's Gone", "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man", "Things Goin' On", "Mississippi Kid", "Poison Whiskey")
Ed King – bass (all except "Tuesday's Gone", "Mississippi Kid"), lead guitar ("Mississippi Kid")
Billy Powell – keyboards
Bob Burns – drums
Leon Wilkeson – bass (credited but does not perform)
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
Al Kooper ("Roosevelt Gook") – bass, Mellotron, and harmony vocals ("Tuesday's Gone"); mandolin & bass drum ("Mississippi Kid"); organ ("Simple Man", "Poison Whiskey", "Free Bird")
Robert Nix – drums ("Tuesday's Gone")
Bobbye Hall – percussion ("Gimme Three Steps", "Things Goin')
Steve Katz – harmonica ("Mississippi Kid")
Flac Size: 503 MB
02. SECOND HELPING 1974
Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote the book on Southern rock with their first album, so it only made sense that they followed it for their second album, aptly titled Second Helping. Sticking with producer Al
Kooper (who, after all, discovered them), the group turned out a record that replicated all the strengths of the original, but was a little tighter and a little more professional. It also revealed that the band, under the direction of songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, was developing a truly original voice. Of course, the band had already developed their own musical voice, but it was enhanced considerably by Van Zant's writing, which was at turns plainly poetic, surprisingly clever, and always revealing.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1974 - Second Helping
Label: MCA Records – MCAD-1686
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1987
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock
Style: Southern Rock, Classic Rock
TRACKS
01. Sweet Home Alabama 4:42
02. I Need You 6:54
03. Don't Ask Me No Questions 3:24
04. Workin' For MCA 4:46
05. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew 4:45
06. Swamp Music 3:29
07. The Needle And The Spoon 3:52
08. Call Me The Breeze 5:23
LINE - UP
Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals
Gary Rossington – guitar
Allen Collins – guitar
Ed King – guitar, backing vocals, bass on "I Need You" and "Don't Ask Me No Questions"
Leon Wilkeson – bass (all tracks except "I Need You" and "Don't Ask Me No Questions"), backing vocals
Bob Burns – drums, except "I Need You"
Billy Powell – keyboards
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
Mike Porter – drums on "I Need You"
Merry Clayton, Clydie King, and Sherlie Matthews – background vocals on "Sweet Home Alabama"
Bobby Keys, Trevor Lawrence, and Steve Madaio – horns on "Don't Ask Me No Questions" and "Call Me the Breeze"
Al Kooper – backing vocals, piano on "Don't Ask Me No Questions" and "The Ballad of Curtis Loew", acoustic guitar on "The Ballad of Curtis Loew"
Flac Size: 228 MB
03. NUTHIN' FANCY 1975
Second Helping brought Lynyrd Skynyrd mass success and for the follow-up they offered Nuthin' Fancy. It was a self-deprecating title for a record that may have offered more of the same, at least on the surface,
but was still nearly peerless as a Southern rock record. The biggest difference with this record is that the band, through touring, has become heavier and harder, fitting right in with the heavy album rock bands of the mid-'70s. Many of these eight songs still showcase Van Zant at the top of his game, whether it's the storming opener "Saturday Night Special," "Railroad Song," "On the Hunt," or the rollicking "Whiskey Rock-a-Roller." Yes, this does pale in comparison with its predecessors, but most hard rock bands would give their left arm for a record that swaggers and hits as hard as Nuthin' Fancy.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1975 - Nuthin' Fancy
Label: MCA Records – MCAD-31003
Series: Compact Disc Compact Price
Format: CD, Album, JVC pressing Aug 1987
Country: US
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock
Style: Southern Rock
TRACKS
01. Saturday Night Special 5:08Written-By – Edward King, Ronnie Van Zant
02. Cheatin' Woman 4:38Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
03. Railroad Song 4:14Written-By – Edward King, Ronnie Van Zant
04. I'm A Country Boy 4:24Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
05. On The Hunt 5:25Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
06. Am I Losin' 4:32Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
07. Made In The Shade 4:40Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant
08. Wiskey Rock-A-Roller 4:33Written-By – Billy Powell, Edward King, Ronnie Van Zant
LINE - UP
Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals
Ed King – guitars, Moog bass on "Made in the Shade"
Allen Collins – guitars
Gary Rossington – guitars (all except "Railroad Song")
Leon Wilkeson – bass guitar, backing vocals on "Saturday Night Special", "Railroad Song", and "I'm a Country Boy"
Billy Powell – keyboards
Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
Al Kooper – Moog synthesizers on "Saturday Night Special", organ on "Cheatin' Woman" and "Railroad Song", backing vocals on "Railroad Song", "Am I Losin'" and "Whiskey Rock-a-Roller", percussion on "I'm a Country Boy", piano on "Made in the Shade"
Jimmy Hall – harmonica on "Railroad Song" and "Made in the Shade"
Bobbye Hall – percussion on "Railroad Song" and "On the Hunt"
Barry Lee Harwood – mandolin and Dobro on "Made in the Shade"
David Foster – piano on "Whiskey Rock-a-Roller"
Flac Size: 235 MB
04. GIMME BACK MY BULLETS 1976
Of all the albums that Lynyrd Skynyrd made in the 1970s, Gimme Back My Bullets is their most underrated. And its harshest critic was Ronnie Van Zant himself. But if Gimme Back My Bullets sounded a little slicker than the band’s previous albums, it was still a great rock’n’roll record. And even if
Van Zant was unhappy about the way the album turned out, it was telling that his comments attributed no blame to producer Tom Dowd. Dowd had recorded legendary soul and jazz artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. The band’s Southern soul influences and Dowd’s feel for black music dovetailed beautifully on Double Trouble, the best song on the album and the funkiest that Skynyrd ever recorded, with Ronnie recalling the 11 times he’d been jailed for various offences, most of them involving public intoxication.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1976 - Gimme Back My Bullets
Label: Geffen Records – B0005553-00, Chronicles
Series: Deluxe Edition 2005
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: Rock
Style: Southern Rock, Classic Rock
GIMME BACK MY BULLETS
01. Gimme Back My Bullets 3:28Clavinet – Billy
Guitar [Solo & Fills] – Gary
Organ – Billy
Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
02. Every Mother's Son 4:56Acoustic Guitar – Allen, Gary
Backing Vocals – Leon
Piano [Solos] – Billy
Soloist [End Solo] – Allen
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
03. Trust 4:24Guitar [Solo & Fills] – Allen
Written-By – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
04. I Got The Same Old Blues 4:08Blues Harp [Solo] – Lee Freeman
Slide Guitar [Solo] – Gary
Written-By – J.J. Cale
05. Double Trouble 2:48Backing Vocals – The Honnicutts
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
06. Roll Gyspy Roll 2:49Guitar [Solo & Ending] – Gary
Organ – Billy
Tambourine – Artimus
Twelve-String Guitar – Allen
Written-By – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
07. Searching 3:18Lead Guitar – Gary
Soloist [End Solo] – Allen, Gary
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
08. Cry For The Bad Man 4:48Backing Vocals – The Honnicutts
Guitar [Solo & Fills] – Gary
Organ – Billy
Written-By – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
09. All I Can Do Is Write About It 4:14Acoustic Guitar – Allen, Gary
Dobro – Barry Harwood
Mandolin – Barry Harwood
Organ – Billy
Piano [Solo] – Billy
Violin – Unknown artist
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
BONUS TRACKS
10. Double Trouble (Live) 3:13
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
11. I Got The Same Old Blues (Live) 4:13
Written-By – J.J. Cale
12. Gimme Back My Bullets (Live) 4:19
Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
13. Cry For The Bad Man (Live) 5:38
Written-By – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
14. All I Can Do Is Write About It (Acoustic) 4:24
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
15. Double Trouble (Alternate Take) 2:52
Backing Vocals – The Honnicutts
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
LINE - UP
Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals
Gary Rossington – guitars
Allen Collins – guitars
Leon Wilkeson – bass, background vocals
Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion
Billy Powell – keyboards
ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS
The Honeycuts – background vocals ("Double Trouble", "Cry for the Bad Man")
The Honkettes – background vocals (on bonus live tracks)
Lee Freeman – harp ("I Got the Same Old Blues")
Barry Lee Harwood – dobro, mandolin ("All I Can Do Is Write About It")
Flac Size: 360 MB
05. ONE MORE FROM THE ROAD 1976
Double live albums were commonplace during the '70s, even for bands that weren't particularly good in concert. As a travelin' band, Lynyrd Skynyrd made their fame and fortune by being good in concert, so it
made sense that they released a double-live, entitled One More from the Road, in 1976, months after the release of their fourth album, Gimme Back My Bullets. That might have been rather quick for a live album -- only three years separated this record from the group's debut -- but it was enthusiastically embraced, entering the Top Ten (it would become one of their best-selling albums, as well). It's easy to see why it was welcomed, since this album demonstrates what a phenomenal catalog of songs Skynyrd accumulated.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1976 - One More From The Road
Label: MCA Records – D242727
Series: Deluxe Edition
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Club Edition, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered, 25th Anniversary 2001
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre: Rock
Style: Blues Rock, Classic Rock, Southern Rock
CD1.
01. Introduction / Workin' For MCA (5:32)
1.1. IntroductionVoice – Alex Cooley
01.2. Workin' For MCAWritten-By – Ed King, Ronnie Van Zant
02. I Ain't The One 3:47Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
03. Saturday Night Special 5:39Written-By – Edward King, Ronnie Van Zant
04. Searching 4:00Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
05. Travellin' Man 4:37Written-By – Leon Wilkeson, Ronnie Van Zant
06. Simple Man 6:56Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
07. Whiskey Rock-A-Roller 4:48Written-By – Billy Powell, Edward King, Ronnie Van Zant
08. The Needle And The Spoon 4:35Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
09. Gimme Back My Bullets 4:01Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
10. Tuesday's Gone 8:25Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
11. Gimme Three Steps 5:10Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
12. Call Me The Breeze 5:50Written-By – J.J. Cale
13. T For Texas 9:14Written-By – Jimmie Rodgers
Flac Size: 522 MB
CD2.
01. Sweet Home Alabama 7:28Written-By – Edward King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
02. Crossroads 4:16
Written-By – Robert Johnson
03. Free Bird 14:18Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
04. Introduction / Workin' For MCA (Alternate Take) (5:37)
04.1. IntroductionVoice – Alex Cooley
04.2. Workin' For MCA (Alternate Take)Written-By – Ed King (2), Ronnie Van Zant
05. I Ain't The One (Alternate Take) 3:52Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
06. Searching (Alternate Take) 4:13Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
07. Gimme Three Steps (Alternate Take) 4:42Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
08. Call Me The Breeze (Alternate Take) 5:43Written-By – J.J. Cale
09. Sweet Home Alabama (Alternate Take) 7:27Written-By – Edward King, Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
10. Crossroads (Alternate Take) 4:46Written-By – Robert Johnson
11. Free Bird (Alternate Take) 14:55Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
Flac Size: 538 MB
LINE - UP
Vocals – Ronnie Van Zant
Backing Vocals – Cassie Gaines, Jo Billingsley, Leslie Hawkins
Bass – Leon Wilkeson
Crew [Chief Electrician] – Jim Spradlin
Drums – Artimus Pyle
Guitar – Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Steve Gaines
Keyboards – Billy Powell
NOTES
Recorded live at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia July, 1976
06. STREET SURVIVORS 1977
Street Survivors appeared in stores just days before Lynyrd Skynyrd's touring plane crashed,
tragically killing many members of the band, including lead singer and songwriter Ronnie Van Zant. Consequently, it's hard to see Street Survivors outside of the tragedy, especially since the best-known song here, "That Smell," reeks of death and foreboding. If the band had lived, however, Street Survivors would have been seen as an unqualified triumph, a record that firmly re-established Skynyrd's status as the great Southern rock band. As it stands, it's a triumph tinged with a hint of sadness, sadness that's projected onto it from listeners aware of what happened to the band after recording. Viewed as

merely a record, it's a hell of an album. The band springs back to life with the addition of guitarist Steve Gaines, and Van Zant used the time off the road to write a strong set of songs, highlighted by "That Smell," "You Got That Right," and the relentless boogie "I Know a Little." It's tighter than any record since Second Helping and as raw as Nuthin' Fancy. If the original band was fated to leave after this record, at least they left with a record that serves as a testament to Skynyrd's unique greatness.
Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1977 - Street Survivors
Label: Geffen Records – 0602517571662, Universal Music Group
Series: Deluxe Edition
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Deluxe Edition, Reissue, Remastered 2008
Country: Europe
Released: 1977
Genre: Rock
Style: Southern Rock, Classic Rock
CD1. THE ORIGINAL ALBUM
01. What's Your Name 3:33Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
02. That Smell 5:50Backing Vocals [The Honkettes] – Cassie Gaines, Jo Billingsley, Leslie Hawkins
Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
03. One More Time 5:04Backing Vocals – Leslie Hawkins, Tim Smith
Bass – Greg Walker
Drums, Backing Vocals – Rick Medlocke
Guitar – Ed King
Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
04. I Know A Little 3:29Written-By – Steve Gaines
05. You Got That Right 3:48Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines
06. I Never Dreamed 5:23Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines
07. Honky Tony Night Time Man 4:05Written-By – Merle Haggard
08. Ain't No Good Life 4:39Written-By – Steve Gaines
Flac Size: 239 MB
CD2. CRITERIA STUDIOS ALBUM
01. What's Your Name (Original Version) 3:33Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
02. That Smell (Original Version) 5:30Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
03. You Got That Right (Original Version) 3:19Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines
04. I Never Dreamed (Original Version) 5:23Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines
05. Georgia Peaches 3:15 Written-By – Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines
06. Sweet Little Missy (Original Version) 5:16Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
07. Sweet Little Missy (Demo) 5:12Written-By – Gary Rossington, Ronnie Van Zant
08. Ain't No Good Life (Original Version) 5:03Backing Vocals – Cassie Gaines, Jo Billingsley, Leslie Hawkins
Lead Vocals – Steve Gaines
Written-By – Steve Gaines
09. That Smell (Complete Original Version) 7:31Written-By – Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zant
10. Jacksonville Kid (Aka Honky Tony Night Time Man) 4:09Dobro – Barry Harwood - Written-By – Merle Haggard, Ronnie Van Zant