Music Non Stop

LYNYRD SKYNYRD:

STREET SURVIVORS

(MCA / 1977)

The album itself is an ordinary release by an ordinary band. But during the years it has gathered a sort of legendary status around itself.

It was Lynyrd Skynyrd's 5th studio album. The best of their career, actually. The band had a reputation being a hard living gang. From that came some of the songs in the album. "That Smell" and "Ain't No Good Life" show, that the band itself was aware of the situation they were in.

About a year before this album guitarist Steve Gaines joined into the band. His entering had a refreshing influence over Allen Collins and Gary Rossington's playing. In Skynyrd there was group of three guitarists, who whip each others to take everything out of their instruments. Results can heard in this album.

The original cover art shows the band standing in line on the dark street surrounded by flames. The message is clear. You don't mess with these guys.

Overall, in the band things were fine. The new album turned out good and the tour had just started. Then one day they stepped into the aeroplane, the plane took off and ran out of fuel.

In the accident two band members died while others suffered serious insuries. A record company withdraw the album from stores. The cover art had suddenly turned tasteless and it was replaced with another shot from the same photo session. The legend was born.

It took ten years before a band called Lynyrd Skynyrd next time took over the stage. Today the band soldiers on with two original members. People have come, people have left, people have died. There are still people who want to sing along "Freebird".