One More From the Road
Dismissed by some as the redneckLed Zeppelin, yet beloved by a faithful and grassroots following for just that reason, Lynyrd Skynyrd sailed above it all--even the dark tragedy that befell them less than a year after this landmark live set was recorded in Atlanta. A triple-platinum perennial in its classic-rock heyday, this 25th anniversary edition has been digitally restored and authentically remixed on vintage '70s equipment to great effect. The band's performances have also been resequenced to their original running order to accurately recreate the Skynyrd '70s live experience.Even Allen Collins's later-overdubbed intro to their ubiquitous epic "Free Bird" has been restored with the original. Cameron Crowe's original notes are also here, long beforeAlmost Famous, and he insightfully puts the album in its proper historical perspective. But the real premium here is the almost full disc of bonus cuts, including previously unreleased versions of "Simple Man," "Gimme Back My Bullets," "Workin' for MCA," "I Ain't the One," "Searching," and other alternate versions recorded during the Atlanta stand ("Gimme Three Steps," "Call Me the Breeze," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Crossroads," "Free Bird"), but until now scattered elsewhere in the Skynyrd catalog.--Jerry McCulley