Post - Plane Crash Releases

Southern By The Grace Of God - 1988

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Produced by Jimmy Johnson

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Ed King (guitar, Yamaha DX7), Randall Hall (guitar, vocals), Leon Wilkeson (bass, vocals), Billy Powell (piano, organ, Yamaha DX7), Artimus Pyle (drums), Dale Krantz Rossington, Carol Bristow (background vocals), Allen Collins (arrangement consultant).

Additional personnel: Jeff Carlisi, Toy Caldwell, Steve Morse (guitar); Charlie Daniels (fiddle, vocals); Donnie Van Zant (vocals); Muscle Shoal Horn Section: Ronnie Eades, Harvey Thompson.

Comments: Recorded live at the Omni in Atlanta, GA on 10-15-87, Starwood Amphitheater in Nashville, TN on 10-23-87, and Reunion Areana in Dallas, TX on 11-1-87. Skynyrd finally reunited for a tribute tour ten years after the plane crash, and this live album documents that tour. Johnny Van Zant stepped amiably steps into his big brother's shoes as lead vocalist, Ed King returned on guitar, and Randall Hall took Allen Collins' place (Collins had been paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident a few years back). While it doesn't compare to One More from The Road, there are still plenty of great moments on this CD. Among them are "Comin' Home" and "Swamp Music", which have yet to appear in any other live versions. Current Deep Purple axeman Steve Morse tears it up on an extended "Gimme Back My Bullets". Toy Caldwell, Charlie Daniels, and Jeff Carlisi join the band on an extra long "Call Me The Breeze", featuring a fiddle solo from Daniels. An instrumental version of Dixie leads into a rousing version of "Sweet Home Alabama", featuring vocals by Charlie Daniels, Johnny, & Donnie Van Zant (of .38 Special). Finally, an instrumental version of "Free Bird" closes the album, with thousands of Skynyrd fans singing the words of the great Ronnie Van Zant. An excellent live album which is well worth the money. Check it out.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991- 1991

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Produced by Tom Dowd

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Ed King (guitar), Randall Hall (guitar), Leon Wilkeson (bass), Billy Powell (keyboards), Artimus Pyle (drums, percussion), Custer (drums), Dale-Krantz Rossington (background vocals).

Comments It took Skynyrd 14 years to record a follwup to Street Survivors, but it was worth the wait. Every song on here kicks ass. From the opening "Smokestack Lightning" to the closer "End Of The Road", there is nothing but a steady stream of great songs. There is some argument as to whether Artimus Pyle plays drums on here or not (some say Ed King erased Pyle's drum tracks, replacing them with Custer's, unbeknownst to the rest of the band or Tom Dowd). But nevertheless, there's some great stuff here. Well worth checking out.

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The Last Rebel - 1993

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Produced by Barry Beckett

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van-Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington, Randall Hall (guitars), Ed King (acoustic & electric guitars, 12-string guitar, 6-string bass), Billy Powell (piano, Hammond B-3, synthesizer), Leon Wilkeson (bass), Custer (drums, percussion), Dale Krantz-Rossington (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Jim Horn, Charles Rose, Michael Haynes, Denis Solee (horns), Kim Morrison, Jimmy Hall, Michael Lunn (background vocals).

Comments: Artimus Pyle was gone before the recording of this album. Another Skynyrd classic, this album showed that Lynyrd Skynyrd had indeed returned. "The Last Rebel" is one of the greatest Skynyrd songs ever, and the album contains Skynyrd's first real ballad, "Love Don't Always Come Easy". If their's any doubt to the new band's musical ability, just check out the rocking album closer "Born To Run".

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Endangered Species - 1994

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Produced by Barry Beckett

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals); Mike Estes (acoustic guitar); Gary Rossington (acoustic & National guitars); Ed King (acoustic guitar, mandolin); Billy Powell (piano); Leon Wilkeson (acoustic bass); Owen Hale (drums, percussion); Debbie Davis, Dale Krantz-Rossington (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Wendall Mobley (background vocals).

Comments: Both Randall Hall (who would later sue the band) and Custer had been dismissed for this album, replaced by Mike Estes and Owen Hale, respectively. This is Skynyrd's "Unplugged" album, an all acoustic affair featuring some of the band's biggest hits, lesser known tracks, 4 new songs, and a terrific cover of Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel". The four new songs (particularly "Devil In the Bottle") are great, as is the Elvis cover. The older songs are all given new acoustic arrangements , with dobro and mandolin replacing Stats and Gibsons. It works really well too. Check it out.

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Southern Knights - 1996

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Produced by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals); Gary Rossington, Ed King, Mike Estes (guitar); Leon Wilkeson (bass); Billy Powell (piano); Owen Hale (drums); Dale Krantz-Rossington, Debbie Davis (background vocals).

Comments: This double CD, Skynyrd's third live album, was released only in Europe but is available in the US on import (see the CDNOW link for this album below). Overall, this is about the worst live album Skynyrd ever did, but keep in mind that Skynyrd's worst is better than most bands' best. There are still some great moments on this album. Among them are an electric version of "Devil in The Bottle" and the first live appearance of "Down South Jukin'". Elsewhere, the band sounds kind of tired. But this is still a quite enjoyable live album, and features Johnny singing Free Bird for the first time on record. Buy it if you can find it.

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Twenty - 1997

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Produced by Josh Leo

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals); Gary Rossington (electric, slide & acoustic guitars); Rickey Medlocke (electric, slide & acoustic guitars, dobro, background vocals); Hughie Thomasson (electric, slide & acoustic guitars, background vocals); Billy Powell (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Leon Wilkeson (bass); Owen Hale (drums, percussion), Dale Krantz-Rossington, Carol Chase (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Ronnie Van Zant (vocal on "Travelin' Man"); Josh Leo (acoustic guitar); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); John Catchings (cello); John Hobbs (Wurlitzer, Hammond B-3 organ); Bill Cuomo (synthesizer); Randy Cutlip (keyboards); Tom Roady (percussion); Vicki Hampton, Kimberly Fleming (background vocals); Big Dance Horns: Chris Dunn, Doug Moffet, Denis Solee, Vincent Ciesielski, William Fanning.

Comments: Skynyrd's finest effort of the '90s. Ed King and Mike Estes were gone, replaced by Outlaws guitarist/singer Hughie Thomasson and Blackfoot guitarist/singer (and former Skynyrd drummer) Rickey Medlocke. This album is so good, it ranks right up there with the '70s releases. Among the highlights are a duet with Johnny and his late brother Ronnie on the Skynyrd classic "Travelin' Man", the spooky "Voodoo Lake", the boogie tune about Gary's guitar "Berniece", and the Gimme Three Steps-style boogie of Bring It On. Every song on this album is a winner. Get it. Now. I'm not joking. You won't be disappointed.

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Lyve From Steel Town - 1998

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Produced by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ben Fowler

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (vocals); Rickey Medlocke (electric, slide & acoustic guitars, dobro, vocals); Hughie Thomasson (electric, slide & acoustic guitars, background vocals); Gary Rossington (electric, slide & acoustic guitars); Billy Powell (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Owen Hale (drums, percussion); Dale Krantz-Rossington, Carol Chase (background vocals).

Addictional personnel: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals on Travelin' Man).

Comments:

Recorded live at The Coca Cola Star Lake Amphitheater, Burgettstown, Pennsylvania on July 15, 1997. Skynyrd's fourth live album is also their best since 1976's One More From The Road. Skynyrd kicked some major ass on their 1997 tour, which is documented here (I should know, I saw them twice on that tour). This album really brings you the excitement of a Skynyrd show, and makes a great souvenier for those who saw them on the tour. Classic Skynyrd tunes such as "On The Hunt" (it's first appearance live"), "You Got That Right" (with Rickey Medlocke taking Steve Gaines's place on vocals), and, of course, "Free Bird" are mixed with a few tracks from Twenty, the strongest being an extended jam of "Bring It On". There are some fun radio interviews with the band at the end of Disc 2, and, as a special bonus, the CD is enhanced. Pop it into your CD-ROM for live videos of "We Ain't Much Different", "Voodoo Lake", and the music video of "Travelin' Man". A tremendous package which is worth every penny. This album is pretty cheap too, considering it's a double-CD. This went on to become the new band's first Gold album, selling over a half-a-million copies. Buy it now.

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Edge Of Forever - 1999

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Produced by Ron Nevison

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (Lead Vocals); Gary Rossington, Rickey Medlocke, Hughie Thommason (Guitars); Leon Wilkeson (Bass); Billy Powell (Keyboards); Michael Cartellone (Percussion); Dale Krantz-Rossington, Carol Chase (Background Vocals).

Additional personnel: Kenny Arnoff (Drums On All Tracks); Chris Eddy (Background Vocals)

Comments: Skynyrd's last album of the millennium has arrived, at it is spectacular. Definitely Skynyrd's best album of the '90s, this one ranks right up there with their '70s material. "Workin'" (the first single from the album) gets the album off to a good start and has that classic Skynyrd sound, very reminiscent of "Searchin'" (especially on the chorus). "Full Moon Night" follows that, and has a "Voodoo Lake" kinda vibe to it, only harder rocking (check out Rossington's screaming guitar!) "Preacher Man" is a hard rocker and features some of Johnny's best singing to date, as well as a killer wah-wah solo by Rickey. It's also one of the new songs Skynyrd has been performing live this summer, and it really makes that transition well. "Mean Streets" is next, a really good, rocking Skynyrd tune. Following that is "Tomorrow's Goodbye", one of the best ballads the band has ever done. "Like my brother before me," Van Zant sings, "all I can do is write this song." A beautiful song about our dying planet.. The title track, somewhat about the Y2K bug, is really good as well. "Gone Fishin'" sounds a little like "I Got The Same Old Blues" musically, and lyrically harkins back to the themes of "On The Hunt" and "Swamp Music". "Through It All" is about the lawsuits and tragedies the band has gone through, and how they've stuck together all these years. A really good anthem-type of song. "Money Back Guarantee" is a classic sounding Skynyrd tune, one that I could hear Ronnie singing easily. G.W.T.G.G (that's Gettin' While The Gettin's Good) is a good boogie-type song, featuring a red-hot piano solo from Billy Powell. "Rough Around The Edges" sounds like it is partially about Ronnie Van Zant, and is the albums's other ballad (and a terrific one at that). The album closes on a high note with the band's homage to it's home state, "FLA". All in all a great album, one that no Skynyrd fan should be without.

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Christmas Time Again - 2000

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Produced by Gary Rossington, Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, and Hughie Thomasson

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Johnny Van Zant (Lead Vocals); Gary Rossington (Guitars), Rickey Medlocke, Hughie Thommason (Guitars, Lead and Background Vocals); Billy Powell (Keyboards); Michael Cartellone (Drums); Dale Krantz-Rossington (Lead and Background Vocals), Carol Chase (Background Vocals).

Additional personnel: The Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special, Mike Brignadello (Bass), Bill Cuomo (Keyboards), Mark Pfaff (Harp)

Comments: Skynyrd does a Christmas album. Some Skynyrd firsts on this album, as Dale duets with Johnny on the title track and Hughie and Rickey sing verses on "Run Run Rudolph". Billy does a great instrumental version of "Greensleeves". The best Christmas album you're ever going to own.

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