Second Helping Atlanta GA

Second Helping

Lynyrd Skynyrd

MCA Records, 1974

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 09/01/2001

The phrase "sophomore slump" is tossed around here at "The DailyVault" more often than a football at training camp. Usually,whenever an artist or band experiences any kind of success withtheir debut album, they always feel some kind of pressure to outdothat success - and in turn, release an album that disappointscritically and/or commercially.

In the case of Lynyrd Skynyrd, their dictionary must have leftthat phrase out, because Second Helping, their 1974 release, could well be one oftheir best albums, sitting on the shelf next to Street Survivors for that honor. Bringing back bassist LeonWilkeson into the fold after Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd was recorded, the group wasfiring on all cylinders and had learned many lessons, both fromthat first album and the accalim that followed. (Note: I'mreviewing my ancient vinyl copy; the album has since been re-issuedon CD with three bonus tracks.)

You can sum up Second Helping in three words: "Sweet Home Alabama". Quitepossibly the most recognized song in Skynyrd's catalog (next to"Free Bird"), this song captures the band's Southern roots whileholding onto their rock sensibility the best. It's been 27 yearssince this song was recorded, and with the exception of theWatergate references, this track doesn't seem to have aged at all.It still crackles with energy, and the wrong-key solo fromguitarist Ed King (he admitted later down the road he played it in"G", when the song was in the key of "D") is still an amazing sliceof six-string work.

But Second Helping is so much more. Continuing on the "mindaltering substances are bad" theme started by "Poison Whiskey,""The Needle And The Spoon" delivers a powerful anti-drug messagethat is still meaningful today. "Workin' For MCA" could be seen asa bitch-slap against their label at the time or as a partial praisefor someone taking a chance on them; either way, it's a fun song tolisten to, even today when the band is long removed from thosedays.