Personnel: Ronnie Van Zant (vocals); Al Kooper (acoustic guitar, piano, organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, bass, background vocals); Ed King (guitar, slide guitar, bass); Gary Rossington (guitar, slide guitar); Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Jeff Carlisi (guitar); Bobby Keys, Trevor Lawrence, Steve Madaio (horns); Billy Powell (piano, keyboards); Leon Wilkeson (bass, background vocals); Greg Walker (bass); Artimus Pyle (drums, percussion); Bob Burns, Robert Nix (drums); Rickey Medlocke (drums, background vocals); Bobbi Hall (percussion); Clydie King, Merry Clayton, Leslie Hawkins, Cassie Gaines, Jo Billingsley, Tim Smith, The Honnicutts (background vocals).
Includes liner notes by Ron O'Brien.
Digitally remastered by Doug Schwart.
Personnel: Ed King (guitar, slide guitar); Gary Rossington, Jeff Carlisi, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines (guitar); Al Kooper (acoustic guitar, piano, organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, background vocals); Trevor Lawrence, Bobby Keys (horns); Artimus Pyle (double bass, percussion); Leon Wilkeson (bass guitar, background vocals); Greg T. Walker (bass guitar); Bob Burns , Robert Nix (drums); Cassie Gaines, Leslie Hawkins, Merry Clayton, Tim Smith (background vocals).
Recording information: Criteria (??/1971-08/1977); Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Sheffield, AL (??/1971-08/1977); Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA (??/1971-08/1977); Studio One, Doraville, GA (??/1971-08/1977).
Putting together the definitive Lynyrd Skynyrd retrospective would be a daunting prospect to all but the most callous of critics who still deny the group their place at the table of rock & roll heroes and innovators. This two-disc, 25-track anthology makes the perfect introductory set to this Southern rock institution, and one great career overview for longtime fans. All the hits like "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "Saturday Night Special," and "That Smell" are aboard, along with "What's Your Name," "Workin' for MCA," "I Know a Little," and "Free Bird" in both live and original studio versions. Other highlights include great album tracks like "The Ballad of Curtis Loew," "Call Me the Breeze," and "You Got That Right," an acoustic version of "All I Can Do Is Write About It," and early demo versions of "Four Walls of Raiford" and "Comin' Home." If you're planning on only making one Lynyrd Skynyrd entry into your collection, this is certainly the one to get. ~ Cub Koda
The 1998 Lynyrd Skynyrd compilation THE ESSENTIAL follows for the most part the same set-up as its 1979 set, GOLD AND PLATINUM, the two discs both collecting the best tracks Skynyrd recorded during its original run from 1973-1977. But what makes the two sets different is the inclusion of several rarities--demo versions of "Four Walls of Raiford" and "Comin' Home," as well as an unplugged version of "All I Can Do Is Write About It." Add to this such Skynyrd classics as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "What's Your Name," "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller," "Freebird," and "Tuesday's Gone," and you have another solid career overview of these Southern rock co-founders. minimize