Album Reviews
Three days after the release of Street Survivors, in 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van
Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines died in a plane crash that severely
injured the rest of the band members. But even without the added
resonance of tragedy, the album's second track, "That Smell," would have
stood out in the band's catalog: It bites the chord progression and the
apocalyptic vibe of "All Along the Watchtower" for a tale of the "smell
of death" that surrounds a character trapped in drug addiction (and a
pretty heavy habit at that: The lyrics allude to coke, weed, alcohol and
ludes). The swampy groove and Van Zant's bluesy, understated vocals
— listen to his offhandedly contemptuous delivery of the line
"stuck a needle in your arm" — manage to sustain the ominous mood
even when the female backing singers harmonize on the phrase "Hell,
yeah!" Early versions of "That Smell" (including a slower take that
comes in at seven and a half minutes, thanks to epic, "Freebird"-worthy
guitar duels) are the highlight of the bonus disc here, which includes a
more stripped-down early version of the entire album. Street Survivors
was the most meticulously crafted record of the original Skynyrd's
eleven-year career and, as a result, their most consistent: Album opener
and classic-rock-radio staple "What's Your Name" is the second-greatest
groupie song of all time (next to "Stray Cat Blues"), and the
Allmans-esque "I Never Dreamed" is its flip side, a redneck-emo tale of
lady-killer machismo thwarted by love: "I've had a thousand, maybe
more/But never one like you," Van Zant sings, as the lead guitars match
him, lament for lament. Perhaps best of all is the band's raucously
virtuosic take on Merle Haggard's "Honky Tonk Night Time Man," which
overflows with gorgeous country riffs that sound like pure chicken-fried
joy. And Van Zant's voice is rich and authentic enough to make you mourn
the pure country album he never got to record.
(Posted: Mar 6, 2008)
Review 1 of 2
BIGTOM65 writes:
Great CD it was cool to hear the origins of all the great songs that survivors had
Apr 27, 2008 17:49:16
Review 2 of 2
garywells writes:
Good feed, excellent remix. Collectors piece for sure!
Mar 20, 2008 09:35:51
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