Tag Archives: Southern Rock

Today: Lynyrd Skynyrd released Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd 40 years ago

lynyrd_skynyrd_pronounced_leh_nerd_skin_nerd_remastered_2001_retail_cd-front

(Pronounced ‘lĕh-‘nérd ‘skin-‘nérd) is the debut album from Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1973. The album features several of the band’s most well-known songs, including “Gimme Three Steps”, “Simple Man”, “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Free Bird”, the latter of which launched the band to national stardom.

Bassist Leon Wilkeson left the band during the album’s early recording sessions only playing on two tracks. Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King was asked to fill in for Wilkeson on bass during the remaining sessions, as Wilkeson already wrote many of the bass parts. This left Skynyrd with only six official members at the time of the album’s release. Not long after, King remained with the band, and was made a member, so that they could replicate the triple-guitar lead during live performances. Wilkeson returned to the band when it was time to take the photo for the album cover and embark on the tour for the album. It was certified gold on December 18, 1974, platinum and 2x platinum on July 21 1987 by the RIAA.

Rolling Stone Magazine named it the 39 best debut album of all time:

From the git-go, these shaggy folks from deepest Jacksonville, Florida played hard, lived harder and shot from the hip, all three guitars blazing in music that blew past the Mason-Dixon line to become America’s next top boogie-rock. Discovered and produced by from essential mid-Sixties Dylan sideman Al Kooper, Skynyrd offered taut rockers including “Poison Whiskey” and the perpetual lighter (well, now iPhone) waving anthem “Freebird.” Perhaps the ultimate Southern rock band and this record aged shockingly well; just ask the Drive-By Truckers.

Here’s Lynyrd Skynyrd in their prime, a full set from BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test:

“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” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic)

Let’s include another great set. Here’s  Lynyrd Skynyrd at 1976 Knebworth Fair Festival, England:

And the Album from Spotify:

 

What a great album, what a great band!

– Hallgeir

Sources: Allmusic, Wikipedia, Rolling Stone Magazine

Today: The Allman Brothers played Fillmore East in 1971 – 42 years ago

AB-fillmore

Recorded at the Fillmore East concert hall, the storied rock venue in New York City, on Friday and Saturday March 12, 1971–March 13, 1971, the album showcased the band’s mixture of blues, southern rock, and jazz.
~Wikipedia

[it] remains the pinnacle of the Allmans and Southern rock at its most elastic, bluesy, and jazzy.
~Stephen Thomas Erlewine (allmusic.com)

Statesboro Blues (+ Duane Allman tribute video)

I’m pretty sure this album will rank top15 on Hallgeir’s 30 best live album’s countdown..

Released July 1971
Recorded March 12, 1971–March 13, 1971
Fillmore East, New York
Genre Blues-rock, southern rock
Length 76:26
Label Capricorn
Producer Tom Dowd

At Fillmore East is a double live album by The Allman Brothers Band. The band’s breakthrough success, At Fillmore East was released in July 1971. It ranks Number 49 among Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and remains among the top-selling albums in the band’s catalogue. The original album was released in both conventional two-channel stereo and four-channel quadraphonic mixes. This album has been certified as platinum by the RIAA as of August 25, 1992.

Allman Brother At Fillmore East

Recorded at the Fillmore East concert hall, the storied rock venue in New York City, on Friday and Saturday March 12, 1971–March 13, 1971, the album showcased the band’s mixture of blues, southern rock, and jazz. The cover of Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues” which opens the set showcases Duane Allman’s slide guitar work in open E Tuning. “Whipping Post” became the standard for a long, epic jam that never lost interest (opening in 11/4 time, unusual territory for a rock band), while the ethereal-to-furious “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”, with its harmonized melody, Latin feel, and burning drive invited comparisons with John Coltrane (especially Duane’s solo-ending pull-offs, a direct nod to the jazz saxophonist).

Wikipedia

allman brothers fillmore east

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed:

..these shows — recorded in New York on March 12th and 13th, 1971 — remain the finest live rock performance ever committed to vinyl.  .. At Fillmore East captures America’s best blues-rock band at its peak.
~Mark Kemp (rollingstone.com)

Tracks

Side one

  1. “Statesboro Blues” (Will McTell) – 4:17
  2. “Done Somebody Wrong” (Clarence L. Lewis, Bobby Robinson, Elmore James) – 4:33
  3. “Stormy Monday” (T. Bone Walker) – 8:44

Side two

  1. “You Don’t Love Me” (Willie Cobbs) – 19:15 (“Joy to the World” medley in the ending portions)

Side three

  1. “Hot ‘Lanta” (Gregg Allman, Duane Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Berry Oakley, Jai Johanny Johanson) – 5:17
  2. “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed” (Dickey Betts) – 13:04

Side four

  1. “Whipping Post” (Gregg Allman) – 23:03

allman brothers fillmore east back

Band

  • Duane Allman – lead guitar, slide guitar
  • Gregg Allman – organ, piano, Vocals
  • Dickey Betts – lead guitar
  • Berry Oakley – bass guitar
  • Jai Johanny Johanson – drums, congas, timbales
  • Butch Trucks – drums, tympani

JWandAllmanBros

Spotify:

Other March 13:

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