Album review: LYNYRD SKYNYRD – Sweet Home Alabama (Live, 1974, 1996)

LYNYRD SKYNYRD - Sweet Home Alabama

Eagle Rock [Release date 01.06.15] 2-CD + DVD

One of my abiding gig-going memories is seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd on the cusp of wider UK recognition, playing Liverpool Empire in November 1974. It was the classic line-up three years before tragedy struck, and – not being familiar with their set-piece ‘Freebird’ – it was something of a revelation.

During that period, the same band played Hamburg Musikhalle (in December 1974) and three tracks are featured by way of padding out this three disc release.

The main gig here, though, is much later – Loreley Festival, Germany in 1996 – recorded for the Rockpalast TV show. This was an early outing for present guitarist Rickey Medlocke who at the time had not long rejoined the band. Hughie Thomasson (Outlaws) completed the usual three guitarist assault with the other original member Gary Rossington. Other originals were Leon Wilkeson on bass and Billy Powell (keyboards).

The set list is also familiar, pretty much a well-trodden greatest hits with heavy dependence on their first two, definitive, albums. Of course, you probably won’t really beat the original live album ‘One More From The Road’ with the classic band at the peak of their powers – but this is a good-sounding recording and a band still on form.

The bonus third disc here is a DVD of the original TV concerts, although understandably the 1974 gig is a bit rough visually if not aurally. However it makes a change from the Old Grey Whistle Test footage in 1975 that is invariably rolled out to commemorate ‘Freebird’ or “guitar rock”.

The lack of a decent liner note detracts from an otherwise excellent package and, yes, that triple guitar denouement still sounds sweet, twenty or forty years on. ****

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.

Gig review (April 2015)

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)