Street Survivors Chapel Hill NC

Street Survivors

Lynyrd Skynyrd

MCA Records, 1977

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/31/1997

On October 20, 1977, the face of rock and roll was changedforever when Lynyrd Skynyrd's charter plane crashed en route to aconcert, killing lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalistSteve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.

Lost in the overhype of the tragic anniversary this year is thefact that the album they released just days before the crash, Street Survivors, was easily the band's best work. (I wouldhave featured the album's original cover, but I could not find asuitable scan; the cover you see above was the replacement that MCArushed onto the market just after the crash.)

In 1977, Lynyrd Skynyrd was enjoying a rejuvenation of sorts.Van Zant had cleaned up his act after the birth of his daughter,guitarist Gary Rossington was in the process of straightening uphis life following a car crash the previous year, and Steve Gaines,who had just joined the band (replacing original guitarist EdKing), was providing a creative spark the band had been missing ontheir last studio outing, Gimme Back My Bullets. While Lynyrd Skynyrd would always beVan Zant's baby, he graciously allowed Gaines the freedom to kickin his own influences - and even take over lead vocals onoccasion.

This turned out to be an excellent decision for the band.Gaines' two songs (and two co-writing contributions) were the kickin the ass that began shifting Lynyrd Skynyrd from a Southernboogie band to a group that could be appreciated at all levels byall sorts of fans. In this manner, Street Survivors succeeds on all levels.