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I read the reviews of one of my favorites albuns ever and I noticed something.I would like to add an information that for me is very important about this album.Steve Gaines is the lead singer in 'Ain't no good life, and makes the duet with Van Zant in You got tha right.I think his energy and talent is the best thing at this album. (inclued the guitar riff of I know a Little)
The result was the band's best studio album since SECOND HELPING, with its centerpiece, "That Smell" (inspired by guitarist Gary Rossington's DUI accident), warning of the dangers of alcohol and drug use, and inspiring me to toast my grandparents with water instead of wine at their 75th anniversary dinner in 2009. STREET SURVIVORS was the last album to feature the classic Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. New member Steve Gaines had given the existing members a push to do better with his unique guitar style and songwriting abilities, and Ronnie Van Zant had begun to wean himself off of alcohol. Another song, "I Never Dreamed", extols the virtues of monogamy. This album is a must-own for anyone even remotely interested in rock & roll.
And I love the reissued cover, with the angelic light over the singer's head. These guys were so good that you can bet your a*$#@ that they have real estate on one of those stars on the American flag by now. One of the finest albums to come out of the mid 70's- and that era produced it ALL, maybe the last great era. But also, I think that one hundred years from now, Van Zant will be a real Southern myth, spectral, living side-by-side with characters out of some of Old Dixie's finest Civil War ballads. The ambiguity of "That Smell," which was retooled by ZZ Top for "Gimme All Your Lovin'"; the virtuosity of Gaines, co-writer of my favorite song: "I Got To Go But I Can't Stay Long (ha); but as Christgau hinted, with Gaines, the rest of the players really started to show their hand. And it's a pure rock record with some country motifs.
We all know the songs, the metaphors are visceral and sneaky, but the band is always playing on the edge here. When I listen to this album (CD), probably once or twice a year, it only gets richer- and if I lived forever I'd miss them more and more each day. Street Survivors has even kept a cynical New York rock critic alive in my book, Robert Christgau, who loved the original band. Forget the stupid Southern tag. I'm a Yankee and where I come from, we all loved this band, this album/some of Skynyrd's best fans hark from the Northeast according to Gene Odem. I read that Tom Dowd basically rewrote the horn chart for "What's Your Name," advised on a few other things, leaving Rodney Mills in control.
And Ronnie: Fat Ed King was right about him all along- a genius, no doubt.
My favorite Skynyrd album. I thought this was the coolest album cover for a couple weeks and then.we know the rest of the story. No, it's not your classic Southern Rock, but d@mn it's gooood. Enjoyed the bonus tracks too. Great album overall. Wonder what if.
The Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Studio Album. This one contains the hits: "What's Your Name", "That Smell" (an excellent Ronnie Van Zant original, with a great theme), "One more Time", "I know a Little" (written by Steve Gaines.)., "You Got that Right" (co-written by Ronnie & Steve), "I Never Dreamed" (co-written by Ronnie & Steve), "Honky Tonk Night Time Man" (a Merle Haggard song), "Ain't No Good Life" (written & sung by Steve Gaines). Plus, you get 5 bonus songs: "Georgia Peaches" (Outstanding co-written by Steve Gaines & Ronnie Van Zant), "Sweet Little Missy", "You Got That Right" (Alternative version), "I Never Dreamed" (Alternative Version), and "Jacksonville Kid" (A story about the legendary late/great Ronnie Van Zant, based on a Merle Haggard song, and altered to describe Ronnie - Excellent.).This is the last legendary album by the original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band before the October 20, 1977 plane crash. What else can I say.
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