Street Survivors for the music (Street Survivors - Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Member Name: Lakerfanster

Product:	Street Survivors - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Date:	14/09/09 (46 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great material. That Smell

Disadvantages: Deaths three days later

**Introduction**

I doubt Few album releases in History have ever been like the release for Lynyrd Skynyrd's fifth album Street Survivors. The reason is just three days after the release the band were involved in a Plane crash that killed the following Ronnie Van Zant, New guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie Gaines as well as the pilot, co pilot and the bands assistant road manager. Guitarist Gary Rossington's injuries were so severe that he had steel rods fitted in his right arm and leg. He suffered broken bones to both arms, both legs, both wrists, both ankles and his pelvis,

**Street Survivors**

The original cover you see with the review was replaced out of respect for the deceased members of the band due to the flames around the band in the picture. This album was the first and only Lynyrd Skynyrd album that Steve Gaines featured on after he joined the band a year previously after a recommendation from his sister Cassie who was a backing singer with the band. Gaines took on a songwriting role with Van Zant and Rossington for the album.

1 What's Your Name
2 That Smell
3 One More Time
4 I Know A Little
5 You Got That Right
6 I Never Dreamed
7 Honky Tonk Night Time Man
8 Ain't No Good Life
9 Georgia Peaches
10 Sweet Little Missy
11 You Got That Right
12 I Never Dreamed
13 Jacksonville Kid

**My Review**

The album opens with the energetic "What's your name?" which is about a young woman they meet while on tour in Boise, Idaho. This gets things off to a great start with a very catchy flow. The three guitar line-up of Rossington, Collins and Gaines works really well and Billy Powell adds a nice touch on the piano.

"That Smell" is a cautionary tale written by Collins and Van Zant of drugs and booze centred on Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant at the time. Guitarist Gary Rossington crashed his near car into a tree whilst high on drugs and booze. That he plays the guitar solo makes the song all the more real. Brilliant track.

"One More Time" is a track that was actually recorded in 1971 two years before their debut album, It's a Rossington and Van Zant penned track that has the trademark slide guitar from Rossington. This shows the vocal delivery of Ronnie Van Zant in great detail. This shows that they were good even before they were known.

"I Know A Little" is is a "Rock and Roll guitar boogie that brings elements of swing to the southern rock sound that Lynyrd Skynyrd are more known for. This was a track written solely by Steve Gaines and indicates what he brought to the band compared to the usual sound.

"You Got that right" sees Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines sharing the vocal duties together. This is a very flowing track. There's some great guitar work here with the Piano of Billy Powell playing away in the background. This has a very good flow.

"I Never dreamed" is another very good track that features that typical Snooker loopy look. This track has a stripped down bluesy feel and although it does not have the same spark as the best on the album it still has potential. Good stuff.

"Honky Tonk Night Time Man" features a catchy drum intro and then the other instruments kick in on this slice of Southern Rock and Country. This track has a very good flow and shows again that it has a good catchy beat and great Piano solo from Billy Powell.

"Ain't no good life" is the self penned Steve Gaines blues track which has a wonderful feel. I was really impressed by his vocals and even said so. There's some really great Blues guitar work on show from all three of Lynyrd Skynyrd's guitar line-up. This is brilliant.

*Bonus Tracks*

"Georgia Peaches" is another catchy track which is a Gaines and Van Zant penned track about Beautiful women from Georgia. This is another catchy flowing track. Lovely guitar work towards the end. They are just brilliant musicians.

"Sweet Little Missy" is a flowing blues track that was written by Rossington and Van Zant. Here the mood is catchy and Ronnie's vocal is clear and there's some great Bluesy piano from Billy Powell before the thing started. Some great guitar work.

"Jacksonville Kid" Is a great end to the album, It openings with pounding drums and then the music begins to develop thanks to the piano. This track was written by Ronnie Van Zant with country artist Merle Haggard
This is a good end to the album.

**Overall**

The best tracks on the album are up there with Lynyrd Skynyrd's best, these come from the likes of "That Smell" which is a cautionary tale about Drink and Drugs. Street Survivors was the fifth release from Lynyrd Skynyrd, It was fourteen years before "Lynyrd Skynyrd" followed this up with "The Last Rebel" with Johnny Van Zant replacing older brother Ronnie who of course died on that plane fourteen years previously. Just think about it. You could get six or seven Lynyrd Skynyrd albums in that time. Think about how big they would be if that happened.

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