Lynyrd Skynyrd - FIFTY

The legend and even mythology of Lynyrd Skynyrd is well-defined. This is a band that raised hell, kicked ass, flew like a “Free Bird” and boogied like the devil Robert Johnson met at the crossroads. They still do all that, as a matter of fact, 50 years after the band’s first album was released.Skynyrd’s real legacy is its songs, a half-century’s worth of material spread across 14 studio albums and on compilations and live recordings that over the years have unearthed unreleased gems and rarities that have only enhanced one of rock ‘n’ roll’s richest bodies of work.Skynyrd’s story is a well-told tale of triumph amidst and over tragedies. The group – its name a play on a long hair-hating high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner – was formed during the late ‘60s in Jacksonville, Florida spent years honing its craft, through hard touring and hot material – including “Sweet Home Alabama” and the anthemic opus “Free Bird” – made the band one of America’s biggest by the mid-70s, a bona fide arena headliner that even gave the likes of The Rolling Stones and The Who a run for their money when they opened for them, and even had the impudence to take shots at Neil Young for disrespecting the Southland.The group’s ascent abruptly and tragically stopped on October 20, 1977 when the plane taking Skynyrd to its next show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed in a Mississippi forest, killing three band members (vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines). Guitarists Gary Rossington & Allen Collins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, drummer Artimus Pyle and backing vocalist Leslie Hawkins were all seriously injured, and Skynyrd ceased to be for a decade.Its re-emergence in 1987 for what was supposed to be a one-off tribute tour was surprising and controversial – until the group hit the stage. With Johnny Van Zant out front – who Ronnie had told others was the best singer in the family – Skynyrd became a formidable force again, releasing nine more studio albums to date and welcoming a myriad of more members to the ranks as others passed on – Collins in 1990, Wilkeson in 2001, Powell in 2009, original guitarist Ed King in 1996 and, most recently, Rossington, the last co-founding member in March 2023.The career-spanning 50 tracks featured on FYFTY demonstrate the reward of the southern greats. It’s a travelogue, a tribute and mostly an illuminating celebration of what the band has achieved, from those early Muscle Shoals recordings through the career-defining songs of the ‘70s then to the ’87 tribute show that ignited the reunion, right up to the determined defiance of “Last of a Dyin’ Breed” and “Last of the Street Survivors” and most recently November 2022’s final show with Rossington on “Gimme Three Steps”. Featuring opening notes by band friend & esteemed rock journalist, screenwriter & director Cameron Crowe along with liner notes plus track-by-track notes written by Detroit journalist Gary Graff, the collection is filled with unreleased photos of the original band and reformed band.

4CD

CD 1

1. Comin’ Home (Original Version)
2. I Ain’t The One
3. Gimme Three Steps
4. Tuesday’s Gone
5. Simple Man
6. Sweet Home Alabama
7. The Ballad Of Curtis Loew
8. Workin’ For MCA
9. On The Hunt
10. Made In The Shade
11. Whiskey Rock-A-Roller (Live)
12. All I Can Do Is Write About It (Acoustic Version)
13. Gimme Back My Bullets
14. Double Trouble

CD 2

1. Saturday Night Special (Live)
2. T For Texas (Blue Yodel No. 1) (Live)
3. Travelin’ Man (Live)
4. Free Bird (Live – Unreleased)
5. What’s Your Name
6. You Got That Right
7. I Know A Little
8. Down South Jukin’
9. White Dove
10. Was I Right Or Wrong?
11. Georgia Peaches
12. Mr. Banker

CD 3

1. Call Me The Breeze (Live)
2. That Smell (Live)
3. Smokestack Lightning
4. Southern Women
5. The Last Rebel
6. Born To Run
7. Devil In The Bottle
8. Talked Myself Right Into It
9. Berneice
10. Voodoo Lake
11. Tomorrow’s Goodbye

CD 4

1. Mad Hatter
2. Pick ‘Em Up
3. Red White And Blue
4. Skynyrd Nation
5. Simple Life
6. Still Unbroken
7. God & Guns
8. Gifted Hands
9. Start Livin’ Life Again
10. Mississippi Blood
11. Last Of A Dyin’ Breed
12. Last Of The Street Survivors
13. Gimme Three Steps (Live – Unreleased)